The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-05-28

wbisperngly around, there arose at length
from the whole company buzz, or murmur,
expressive ofdisapprobation and surprise-then,
finally, Of terror, of horror and disgust.
In assembly of phantasms such as | have
painted, it may well be supposed that no ordi-
| nary appearance could have excited such sensa-
ton. In truth the masquerade license OF the
night was nearly unlimited; but the figure in
question had out Heroded Herod and gone be-
yond the bounds OF even the Princes indefinite
decorum. There are cords in the hearts of the
most reckless which cannot be touched without
emotion. Even with the utterly lost, TO whom
iiie and death are equally j@sts, there are mat
teTs OF which no jest can be made The whole
company indeed, seemed now deeply to feel
that IN the custom and bearing of the stranger
nelther wit nor propriety existed. The figure
was tall and gaunt, and shronded from head to
foot IN the habilimentS off the grave. The mask
which concealed the viSage was made SO nearly
to resemble the countenance OF stiifened corpse
that the closest scratiny must have had difficult
ty in detecting the cheat And yet all this
might have been endured If not approved by
the mad jewellers around. But the murmur had
gone 50 lar as to assume the type of Red Death.
His vesture was dabbled in biood-and bis broad
brow, with all the features OF the face, was be-
sprnkled with the scarlet horror.
When the eyes of Prince Prospero fell upon
this spectral image (Which with slow and sol
emn movement, as if more fully 10 sustain lis
role, stalked 10 and fro among the waltzers) he
was seen 70 be convulsed, in the first moment,
with strong shudder either of terror dis
taste bat in the next his brow reddene ed with
rage.
'sWho dares - be demanded hoarsely of The
h.
suit US with this blasphemous mockery Seize
him and unmask him-that we may know
whom we have to hang at sunrise, from the
battlementsl'
1t was in the eastern or blue chamber in
which stood the Prince Prospero as he uttered
these words: They rang Throughout the seven
rooms loudly and clearly-ior the Prince was
bold and robust man, and the music had becono
hushed al the waving of bis hand.
1t was in the blue room where stood the
Prince with group Of pale courtiers by his side
At first, as he spoke, there was slight rushing
movement OF this group in the direction of the
intruder, who at that moment was also near at
hand, and now win it1fbrrdte agrri stat~ig sty ~
made closer approach 10 the speaker. But from
a certain nameeSs awe with which the mad as
sumptIons of the murmur had inspired the whole
party, there W. re found none who put forth
hand TO seize him; so that unimpeded, he passed
within yard Of the Princes person; aud while
the vast assembly, as with one impulse, shrank
from the centres Of the rooms to the walls, he
made his way uninterrupted, but with the same
slow and measured step which bad distinguished
him from the first, through the blue chamber to
the purple through the purple 10 the green
throHgh the green to the orange-through this
again 70 tue White-aQd even thence 10 the yio-
let, ere decided movement had been made TO
arrest him. II was then, however, that The
Prince ProSpero, maddening with rage and the
shame OF his own momentary cowardice, rushed
hurrledly through the six chambers, while none
followed him on account Of a deadly terror that
had seized upon all. He bore aloft = drawn
dagger, and had approached, in rapid impetuos-
Ity, 10 within three four feet of the retrpating
figure, when the latter, having attained the eX-
tremiy Of the velvet apartment, turned sud
denly and confronted his pursuer. There was
sharp cry-and the dagger dropped cleaning |
upon the sable carpet, upon which, instantly |
afterwards, fell prostrated in death the Prince |
ProSpero. Then summoning :he wild courage /
Of despair, thTong of the jewellers at once
threw themselves into the black apartment, and |
selzing the murderer, whose tall figure stood I
erect and moIonIesS within the shadow of the /
ebony clock, gasped in unutterabe horror at
hndIng the grave cerements atd corpse-like mask .
which they handled with 50 violent rudeness,
nntenanted by any tangible form.
And now fas acknowledged the presence of
The Red Death. He had come like thief in
The night. And one by one dropped the revel-
IerS in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel,
and died each in The despairing posture of his
fall. And the life of the ebony clock went out
with that of the last OF the gay. And the flames
OF The tripods expired. And Darkness, and De-
cay and the Red Death held ilimitable domin-
ion over all.