The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-18
The Mystery Of
Edwin brood
- By--
Charles Dickens
W

resumed MIR. Gfewgious, and Will throw IN a
few touches from the life. l dare say II Is
wrong IN many particulars. and wants many
touches from life. for l was horn a Chip and
nave helther soft sympathies nor sott eApe-
riences. Well. l hazard the guess that the true
bSIe g MIND Is completely Permeatea py me ~
guess that her dear name is precious TO him,
cannot be heard repeated without emotion. and
ing appellation Of fondness for her, il is re-
served for her. and is not for common ears. A
lame mat II would be a privilege 10 cali. her
by. being alone with her own bright self, it
w0ula De a liberty, a GOODNESS; an insensiollty,
Almost a breach Of good faith, to nount else
1t was wonderful to see Mr.. Grewgious sit
ting belt upright, with his hands on his knees,
eontinLously %ehopping this discourse out of hl dI5:d
memory might get his catechism said: and
evinclne no correspondent emotion whatever,
pereeptibie at the end Of his nose.
My picture Mr.. Grewgious proceeded. goes
Fn e the true } 1onee a so gyeT impa aren't ytI to be in
the presence or vicinity Of the beloved object
ease in any other society: and as constantly
seeking that: If 1 was TO say seeking that, as a
myself, because that would trench upon what |
understand TO be poetry; and l am so far from
TO my knowledge, get within ten thousand miles
OF ii. And | am besides totally unacquainted
Staple Inn, who seek their nests on lodges. and
IN gutter-pipes and chimney-pots not constructed
for them by the benehcent hand of Nature. L
the birds nest. But my picture does represent
the true lover as having no existence separable
from that of the beloved object Of his affec;
a halved life. And if 1 do not clearly express
what mean by that. it is either for the reason
cypress X What ne I mean. or fhat having no mean eaD
ing, l do not mean what / fail TO express.
Which, to the best of my belief, is not the
Edwin had turned red and turned white, as
certain points of this picture zane into the light.
He now sat looking at the fire, and bit his lip.
The speculations Of an Angular man. re-
stunned Mr.. Grewgious, still sitting and speak
ing exactly as before, ARE probably erroneous
on so slobular a topic. But L figure to myself
Subject as before. to Mr.. Edwin's correction
that there can be no GOODNESS. no Iassitude. no
doubt. no difference, no half fire and half smoke
state OF mind. in a real lover: Pray am l at all
near the mark in my picture?'
mencenlent and progress, he terked this inquiry
at Edwin, and stopped when one might have
supposed him in the middle of his Grafton.
you refer the question to me
Yes" said Mr.. Grewgious, Il refer it TO you,
4 should say. then. sir Edwin went on
is generally correct; but 1 submit that perhaps
lover"
Likely So" assented Mr.. Grewgious, likely
so; l am a hard man in the grain" an
There he stopped so long, to find the rest of
his sentence, that Mr.. Grewgious rendered his
mo. to be sure; he may notl'
After that. they all sat silent; the silence of
Mr.. Bazzard being occasioned by slumber.
His responsibility is very great, though said
fire.
Edwin nodded assent, with his eyes on the
"And let him be sure that he trifes with no
one said Mr.. Grewgious; neither with him.
self. nor with any other"
Edwin bit his lip again, and still sat looking
He must not make a ~plaything of a treasure.
Woe betide him If he does. Let him take that
we'll TO heart" said Mr.. Grewgious.
Though he said these things in short SEN
terces, much as the suposititious charity boy
or two from the Book of Proverbs, there was
something dreamy Gor SO literal a MANI in the
at the live Goals in the CRATE, and again fell
silent.
in his chair, he suddenly raped his knees, like
the carved image Of some queer Joss or other
6 fnish th GS' bottle e. Mr.. Edwin a. L "a me help lei T yo1'
I'll help Bazzard too, though he is asleep. He
Ne helped them both, and helped himself. and
drained his glass and stood 1t bottom upward
On the table, as though he had just caught a
And now. Mr.. Edwin he proceeded. wiping
his mouth and hands upon his handkerchief::
ito a little piece of business. You received from
NE the other day; a certified copy Of Miss Rosa's
received il from me as a matter Of business.
Miss Rosa's wishing it to come straight to you,
in preference, You received itT'
You should have acknowledged its receipt,p
said Nj. Grewgious: business being business all
sI meant to have ackroWiedged It when I
first came in this evening. sir"
turned Mr.. Grewsious; however, let that pass.
Now, in that documen you have observed a few
t @pG discharge IA ge"a a little trust oonade of't to me- met in 10 cone one
versation. at such time az L in my discretion
may think best"
"Yes, sir"
Mr.. Edwin, it came into my mind just now,
when | was looking at the fire. that 1 could, in
my discretion acquit myself of that trust at no
better time than the present Favor me with
He took q bunch of KEYS from his pOcket
singled out by the olndle-light the key he
went TO a bureau or e~scritoire, unlocked IL
touched the spring of a little secret drawer. and
s s20s fT Tims. 1t Nth M 0r this IN hn hsnd. m Re ret6 69T g
TO mis- chair As he held it up for the young
man TO see, his hand trembled.
Mr.: Edwin, this rose of diamonds and rubies.
aslieat ess set in Inot bold vas "a "a ring belonging to
her dead hand, in my presence. with such dis
t tp a61ta gpiGf a. as s ! h8pe + llama Ta9y m never be my lot
am not hard enough for that. See how bright
the eyes that We're so much brighter. ann nd' tSSe et
so often looked upon them with a light and a
dust among dust. some years! If l had any
imagination (which it is needless to say | have
Of these stones was almost cruel"
He closed the case again as he spoke.
was drowned so early in her beautiful and banny
career by her husband, when they first pligbted
moved i5r from her unconscious hand. W ana re it
was he who, when his death drew very near
L q IL III ALlhta 4AA II l2k III nUlIH Il IHDAl ~
it was that. you and Miss Rosa growing TO
manhood and womanhood, and your betr9tbaI
prospecting and coming to maturity, should
give il to you to place upon her finger. Failing
those desired results. it was to remain in my
possession"
Some trouble was in the young mans face
and some indecision was in the action of his
hand, as Mr.. Grewgious, looking steadfastlv at
him. gave him the ring.
Your placing 1t on her frger," said Mr.
Grewgious. will be the solemn seal upon vour
strict fidelity TO the living and the dead. You
are going TO her, to make the last irrevoeabIs
| prpparatiOnS for your marriage. Take IL rr;+h
The young man took the little case. and
placed it in his breast.
az anything should be amiss. II ANYTHING
YOU should have any secret consciousness that
yOu are committing yourself to this step for no
higher reason than because you have long been
s ST. G29%9id SG i09fk 6 6RaTsFd y6 69 i Once sh9 more said lid
the living and 10y the dead, 10 bring that ring
back to mel"
ing; and, as is usual in such cases. sat apopIect-
ically staring at vacancy, as defying vacancy IN
accuse him Of having been asleep.
.Bazzardf' said Mr.. Grewgious. harder than
ever.
~ follow you. sir" said Bazzard. 'and l have
"in discharge of a trust, I have handed NJ
Edwin brood a ring Of diamonds and rubies
You seeY'
Edwin reproduced the little case. and opened
it; and Bazzard looked into il.
Il follow YOU both, sir" returned Bazzard
land l witness the transaction"
Evidently anxious 10 get away and be alone
Edwi in brood now resumed his outer clothing
m%uttering something about time and appoinf,
ments. The fog was reported no clearer 6by the
/ flying waiter, who alighted from a speculative
into it. and Bazzard. after his manner. FOL.
I lowed him.