The Mask of the Red Death - Graham's Magazine, May 1842 — reading text

aae  PROCRASTINATION. 261 ‘* Are my clothes in readiness, Lucy ?” the time pass comfortably to my friend?’ Lucy felt She colored with vexation, and shame. “The baby all the meaning conveyed in the emphasis on a word has been very cross; I have not indeed had time. that from his lips sounded alinost formidable in her But I will go now.” Clifton went down to his soli- ears. tary dinner, and when he returned found Lucy busy “T will do what I can,” she answered sadly. with her needle ; it was evident even to his unskilled “Do not scruple Lucy to get assistance. Have eye there was much to be done. every thing ready in time, and do not fail in having ‘* It is impossible to wait. Give me the things as order, and good arrangement. There was a time they are; I am so accustomed to wearing my shirts Lucy when Eustace heard much of you; I should be without buttons, and my stockings with holes in, that gratified to think he found the wife worthy of the I shall find it nothing new—nor more annoying than praise the lover lavished so freely upon her. Sing I daily endure.” He threw the things carelessly for us to night—it is long since the piano was opened ! into his carpet-bag, and left the room, nor did he say —and look, and smile as you once did, in the days one kindly word in farewell, or affection. It was that are gone, but not forgotten Lucy.” His voice this giving away to violent anger, and using harsh softened unconsciously, he had gone back to that language to his wife that had broken her spirit, early time, when love of Lucy absorbed every feel- almost her heart. She never even thought of reform- ing of his heart. He sighed; the stern, and bitter re- ing herself; she grieved bitterly, but hopelessly. alities of his life came with their heavy weight upon Surely it is better when man and wife are joined him, and there was no balm in the future, for the together by the tie that “no man may put asunder,” endurance of present evils. to strive seriously, and in affection to correct one He turned and left the room ; Lucy’s eye followed another’s faults. There is scarcely any defect of him, and as the door closed she murmured—“ ot character, that a husband, by taking the right method forgotten! Oh, Clifton how little reason I have to may not cure; always providing his wife is not un- believe you!” Lucy was absorbed in her own principled. But he must be very patient ; bear for a thoughts so long as to be unconscious of the flight of season ; add to judicious counsel much tenderness time. When she roused, she thought she would go and affection; making it clear to her mind that love down stairs and see what was to be done, but her for herself and solicitude for their mutual happiness little boy asked her some question, which she stopped are the objectsin view. Hard in heart, and with little to answer ; half an hour more elapsed before she got of woman’s devotion unto him to whom her faith is tothe kitchen. She told Betty she meant to hire a plighted, must the wife be who could long resist. cook for the morrow—thought she had better go at Not such an one was Lucy Clifton; but her husband once and engage one—yet, no, on second thoughts, in the stormy revulsion of feeling that had attended she might come with her to the parlors and assist the first breaking up of his domestic happiness, had in arranging them; it would be quite time enough to done injustice to her mind, to the sweetness of dis- engage the cook when they were completed. To the position that had borne all his anger without retorting parlors they went, and Lucy was well satisfied with in like manner. If Clifton was conscious of his own the result of their labor—but mark her comment: quickness of temper, approaching to violence, he did ‘‘ What a great while we have been detained here ; not for one moment suppose, that he was the cause well, Iam sure I have meant this three weeks to of any portion of the misery brooding over his daily clean the parlors, but never could find time. If I path. He attributed it all to the procrastinating spirit could but manage to attend them every day, they of Lucy, and upon her head he laid the blame with would never get so out of order.” no unsparing hand. He forgot that she had numbered The next morning came, the cook not engaged yet. twenty years, and was the mother of two children ; Betty was despatched in haste, but was unsuccessful that her situation was one of exertion, and toil un- —all engaged for theday. So Betty must be trusted, der the most favorable circumstances; that he was who sometimes did well, and at others signally failed. much her senior, had promised to cherish her ten- Lucy spent the morning in the kitchen assisting derly. Yet the first harsh word that dwelt on Lucy’s Betty and arranging every thing she could do, but heart was from the lips of her husband! How ten- matters above were in the mean time sadly ne- derly in years long gone had she been nurtured! glected, her children dirty, and ill dressed, the The kind arm of a father had guided and guarded nursery in confusion, and Lucy almost bewildered her; the tender voice of a mother had lighted on her in deciding what had better be done, and what left path like sunshine—and now? Oh ye, who would undone: She concluded to keep the children in the crush the spirit of the young and gentle, instead of nursery without changing their dress, and then hast- leading it tenderly by a straight path in the way of ened to arrange her own, and go down stairs, as her wisdom—go down into the breaking heart and learn husband and his friend had by this time arrived. Her its agony ; its desolation, when the fine feelings of a face was flushed, and her countenance anxious ; she wasted nature go in upon the brain and consume it! was conscious that Mr. Eustace noticed it, and her One morning Clifton entered the nursury, ‘‘ Lucy,” uncomfortable feelings increased. The dinner, the he said; ‘‘my old classmate, and very dear friend dinner—if it were only over! she thought a hundred Walter Eustace is in town. He came unexpectedly; times. It came at last, and all other mortifications his stay is short; I should like to ask him to spend were as nothing in comparison. There was not a the day with me. Could you manage, love, to have dish really well cooked, and every thing was served  4 f eee 262 GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. up in a slovenly manner. Lucy’s: cheeks tingled Clifton more. It was perhaps an hour after her con with shame. Oh, if she had only sent iz tvme for a versation with Clifton, Lucy sat alone in the nursery ; cook. It was her bitterest thought even then. When her baby was asleep in the ci adle beside her ; they the dinner was over Mr. Eustace asked for the were alone together, and as she gazed on its happy children, expressing a strong desire to see them. face, she hoped with an humble hope, to rear it up, Lucy colored, and in evident confusion, evaded the that it might be enabled to give and receive happi- request. Her husband was silent, having a suspicion ness. There was a slight rap at the door; she opened how matters stood. it, and a glad cry escaped her,—‘‘ Uncle Joshua !” Just then a great roar came from the hall, and the she exclaimed. He took her in his arms for a mo- || oldest boy burst into the room. ‘ Mother! mother! ment,—that kindly and excellent old man, while a Hannah shut me up she did!” A word from his tear dimmed his eye as he witnessed her joy at see- father silenced him, and Lucy took her dirty, ill ing him. She drew a stool towards him, and sat dressed boy by the hand and left the room. She down at his feet as she had often done before in her tetavenane, pier could not restrain her tears, but her keen sense of happy, girlish days; she was glad when his hand right prevented her punishing the child, as she was rested on her head, even as it had done in another fully aware, had he been properly dressed, she would time; she felt a friend had come back to her, who not have objected to his presence, and that he was had her interest nearly at heart, who had loved her only claiming an accorded privilege. Mr. Eustace long and most tenderly. Mr. Tremaine was the very soon left, and as soon as the door closed on him brother of Lucy’s mother—he had arrived in town Clifton thought: ‘‘I never can hope to see a friend unexpectedly ; indeed had come chiefly with a view in comfort until I can afford to keep a house-keeper. of discovering the cause of Lucy’s low-spirited let- Was there ever such a curse in a man’s house as a ters—he feared all was not right, and as she was the procrastinating spirit?”? With such feelings it may object of almost his sole earthly attachment, he could be supposed he could not meet his wife with any not rest in peace while he believed her unhappy, degree of cordiality. Lucy said, ‘‘ there was no help He was fast approaching three score years and ten ; nn Pos: eamarncnn for it, she had done her very best.’ Clifton answered never was there a warmer heart, a more incorrupti- her contemptuously ; wearied and exhausted with ble, or sterling nature. Eccentric in many things, the fatigues of the day, she made no reply, but rose possessing some prejudices, which inclined to ridi- sat ntejeennie sia — senamibestmsisaecsret sssesseeretieninershmnirerh up and retired to rest, glad to seek in sleep forgetful- cule in himself, no man had sounder