Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-09-29
FRANKENSTEIN
Or
THE MODERN PRoMETHEUs.
BY MRS. M. w. SHELLEY.
CHAPTER XIV.

"A
"Cursed, cursed creator! Why
did | live? Why, in that instant
did / not extinguish the spark oi
existence which you had SO wan'
tonly bestowed? 1 know not de-
spair had not yet taken possession
of me; my feelings were those OF
rage and revenge. ! could with
pleasure have destroyed the cottage
and its inhabitants, and have glut-
ted myself with their shrieks and
misery.
"When night came 1 Iquitted my
retreat, and wandered in the wood ;
and now, no longer restrained by
! the fear of discovery, / gave vent
to my anguish in fearful howlings.
/ was like a wild beast that had
broken the tolls, destroying the
objects that obstructed me, and
ranging through the woods with a
stag-like sWiftness. Oh, what a
miserable night passed the cold
stars shone in mOckery, and the
bare trees waved their branches
above me; now and then the sweet
voice of bird burst forth amidst
the universal stiffness. All, save ! !,
were at rest or in enjoyment; i,
like the archfiend, bore a hell with
in me; and finding myself unsym-
pathized with, wished to tear up
the trees, spread havoc and de5truc-
tiOn around me, and then to have
sat down and enjoyed the ruin.
"But this was a luxury of sensa-
ton that could not endure; / be-
came fatigued with excess of bodily
exertion, and sank on the damp
grass in the sick impotence of de-
spair. There was none among the
myriads of men that existed who
would pity or assist me; and should
I feel kindness toward my enemies
No; from that moment | declared
everlasting war on the species, and
more than all, against him who had
formed me and sent me forth to
this insupportable misery.
"The sun rose L heard the vol
ces of men, and knew that it was
impossible to return to my retreat
during that day. Accordingly 1
hid myself in some thick under
wood, determining to- devote the
ensuing hours to reflection on my
situation.
"The pleasant sunshine and the
pure air of day restored me to some
degree of tranquility and when l
considered what had passed at the
cottage, could not help believing
that | had been too hasty in my
conclusions. / had certainly acted
imprudently. 1t was apparent that
my, oonx,cpooti ton ba1 inforoafod tho
father in my behalf, and / was a
fool in having exposed my person
to the horror of his children. l
ought to have familiariZed the old
DeLacey to me, and by degrees
have discovered myself to the rest
of his family, when they should
have been prepared for my ap-
proach. But I did not believe my
errors to be irretrievable; and after
much consideration, l resolved to
raturn to the cottage, seek the old
man, and by my. representations
win him to my party.
"These thoughts calmed me, and
in the afternoon / sank into a pro-
found sleep; but the fever of my
blood did not allow me to be visited
by peaceful dreams. The horrible
scene of the preceding day was for
ever acting before my eyes; the
females were flying, and the en-
ragged Felix tearing me from his
fathers feet. / aWOke exhausted
and, finding that it was already
night, crept forth from my hiding
place, and went around in search of
food.
"When my hunger was appeaSed,
l directed my steps toward the well
known path that conducted me to
the cottage. All there was at peace.
[ crept into my hovel and remained
in silent expectation of the accus-
toned hour when the family arose.
That hour past, the sun mounted
high in the heavens, but the Gotta
gers did not appear. l trembled
violently. apprehending some
dreadful misfortune. The inside of
the cottage was dark, and l heard
no motion; J. cannot describe the |
agony of this suspense.
"Presently two countrymen pass |
ed by, but pausing near the cottage, |
they entered into conversation,
using violent gesticulations; but |
did not understand what they said,
as they spoke the language of the |
which differed from that |
of my protectors. Soon after, how
ever, Felix approached with an
other man. | was surprised, as |
knew that he had not quilted the
cottage that morning, and waited
to discover, from his dis /
course, the meaning of these unusu-
al appearances.
"'Do you consider said his COM
panion 10 him, that you will be
obliged to pay three months rent,
and to lose the produce of your gar
den? I do not wish to take any
unfair advantage. and / beg there
fore, that you will take some days
to consider of your determinations
g." 1T is utterly useless replied
Felix, I'VE can never again inha bit
your cottage. The life of my father
is in the greatest danger, owing to
the dreadful circumstance that l
have related. My wife and sister
will never recover their horror. /
entreat you not to reason with me
any more. Take possession of your
and let me fly from this
place.
Felix trembled violently as he
said this. He and his companion
entered the cottage, in which they
remained for few minutes, and
then departed. ] never saw any of
the family of DeLacey more.
81 continued for the remainder of
the day in my hovel in a state of
utter and stupid despair. My pro-
tectOrs has departed, and had bro
ken the only link that held me to
the world. For the first time the
feelings of revenge and hatred fill
I'd my bosom, and / did not strive
10 control them but allowing N.Y.
,elf to be borne away by the stream,
bent my mind toward injury and
leath. When / thought of my
of the mild voice of Della
eey, the gentle eyes of Agatha, and
he exquisite beauty of the Arabian,
.hese thoughts vanished, and
sush of tears somewhat soothed me.
But again, when reflected that
hey had spurned and deserted me,
anger returned, and a rage OF anger
and unable to injure anything hui
man, turned my fury toward in
animate objects. AS night advanced
placed variety of combustibles
around the cottage; and after hav-
mo- daSfrOvad every VeStipa of