Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-01
Th5E EfIL-s'ALE EskARy.
one 0; Edgar Allen Pov's Eamou.
Sketches.

True !-ner9ous-yery, very drsadiully
nervous l had been and am but why
WiU you say that ] am mad ? The dis
ease had shaFpened my senses-uot de-
ttroyed-not duiled them. Above Ill
was the sense Of hearing acute. I heard
all things ii the heaven aud III the earth
l heard many things In hell How, then,
am l mad? Hearken and observe how
healthily-how calmly, can tell You the
whole story.
1t IS impossible TO say how first the
idea entered my brain but orce con.
celved, 1t haunted me day and night
Object there was none. Passion there
was none. [ loved the old man. He had
never wronged NE. He had never given
me insult. For his gold | had no desire.
l think II was his cye' yes, it was this
One Of his eyes resembled that Of vul
ture-a pale blue eye, with film over it.
Whenever 1t fell upon me, my blood ran
cold and SO by degrees-very gradually
i made up my mind to take the life Of
the old n al, and thus rid myself of the
eye forever.
Now this is the point. You fancy me
mad. Madmen know nothing. But You
should have seen me. You should have
seen how wisely / proceeded with what
caution-with what foresight-with what
discrimination went to work Iwasney-
er was kinder to the old man than during
the whole week before [ killed him
And every night about midnight. I Turned
the latch of his door and opened it-ob so
gently And then, when [ had made an
opening sufficient fer my head. | put in n
dark lantern, all closed, closed, go that
no hight shone out, and then | thrust in
my head. Oh, You would have laughed
to see how cunnlngly thrust it in /
moved 1t slowly-very, very slowly so
that might not disturb the old man &
sleep. 1t took me an hour to place nv
whole head within the opening so far that
l could see HIM MS he lay upon his bed
Ha would a mailman have been Or
wise as this? Aud then, when nv head
was well III the room, uudid the Lantern
eentlously-ob, so cautiously (for the
hinges creaked)-I undid it lust 40 much
that single thin ray fell upon the ynl.
ture eye. And this l did for seven Ion,
nlghts--every night just at midnight
put found the eye always closed nnl
SO 1t was impossible TO do the work fol
it was not the old man who vexed me bu
ms EVIL Eye. And every morning, whe1
the day broke, went boldly into tb,
chamber, and spoke courageouslv to him
calling HIM by name in hearty tone
and lnqniring how he had passed IN,
night. 80 you see he would have been ,
very profound old man indeed, to suspec
that every night, Just at twelve, lookeC
in upon him while lie slept.
upon the eighth night / was more thp,
usually cautious in opening the door, !
Watehs minute hand moves more ouickl,
Than ald mine. Never before that had
IsH the extent OF my own powers-of IN,
sagaclty l could scarcely contain m,
feelings of triumph. To think that tber
was, opening the door, little by little
ind he not even to dream of nv secre
deeds or thoughts. L fairly chuckled a
me idea and perhaps he heard me. 70
he moved on the bed suddenly, MS if start
ied. Now you may think that / drey
back-Dut no. His room was as black n
pitch with the thick darkness for th
shutters We're close fastened, through fen
OF roppers), and go ] knew that he coul,
not see the opening Of the door. and
Kept pushing 1t on steadily, steadily.
had ny head in, and was about T.
open the lantern, when my thumb slippe,
upon the TIN fastening, and the old MAJ
sprang up IN bed, crying out-'who'
II Kept quite still and said nothing
FOR whole hour I did not move a mus
sie, ana IN the meantime did not hea
nun ne down. He was still sitting up Il
pea, Hstenln1g;-Just as I have done
nlgns AFTER night, hardening to the death
watches in the wall.
presently heard slight groan, and
kneW u was the grosn Of mortal terror
~ was no1 groan OF pain or of grief-ol
40 Ill was the low stiaed sound tina
aflees IRON the bottom Of the soul .whel
oyefcharged with ave. knew the soun,
TSH. Mary night just at midnight
~Hen eli the world slept, it has wsllsd ri