The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-08-27
the events or the future. not In them.

| Tue eNehIS ot tue future. not In them
selves, but i'm their results. shudder
at the thought of any. even the most
trivial incident which may operate
upon this intolerable agitation of soul.
have indeed no adherence of danger
except in its absolute effect-in terror.
In this unnerved. i'm this pitiable condi-
ton. feel that the period will sooner
or later arrive when must abandon
life and reason together in some strug-
gle with the grim phantasm-fear."
/ learned. moreover. at intervals
and through broken and equivocal
hints, that he was enchained by certain
superstitious impressions i'm regard to
the dwelling which he tenanted and
whence. for many years. he had never
ventured forth.
He admitted. however. although
with hesitation. that much of the pc
culiar gloom which thus afflicted him
could be traced to more natural and
far more palpable origin. TO the severe
and long continued illness-indeed, to
the evidently approaching dissolution
of tenderly beloved sister. his sole
companion for long years, his last and
only relative ON earth. "Her decease."
he said with bitterness which can
never forget. would leave him-him
the hopeless and the frail-the last of
the ancient race of the Ushers" While
he spoke the Lady Madeline-for so
she was called, passed slowly through
remote portion of the apartment, and
without having noticed my presence.
disappeared. I regarded her with an
utter establishment not unmingled with |
dread. and vet I found it impossible |
to account for such feelings. A sensa- |
ton Of stupor oppressed me, as my
eyes followed her retreating steps.
The disease of the Lady Madeline had |
long baffied the skill of her physicians.
settled apathy. gradual wasting |
away of the person and frequent al |
though transient affections of a par
TALLY cataleptical character, were the
unusual diagnoses. Hitherto she had
steadily borne up against the pressure
OF her malady. and had not betaken
herself finally to bed: but. on the clos
ing in of the evening of my arrival
at the house. she succumbed las her
brother told me at night with mex
pressible agitation to the prostrating
power of the destroyer. and learned
that the glimpse had obtained Of her
person would thus probably be the last
should obtajn-that the lady. at least
while living. would be seen by me no
more
For several days ensuing her name
was unmentioned by either Usher or
myself. and during this period was
busted In earnest endeavors to allevi-
ate the melancholy of my friend We
painted and read together. or 1 listen
ed as if in dream to the wild impro-
vizations to his speaking guitar.
I shall ever bear about me memory
OF the many solemn hours ] thus spent
alone with the master of the house Of
Usher. Yet 1 should fail in any at
tempt to convey an idea of the exact
character of the studies or Of the &C.
equations In which he involved me or
led me the way. An excited and high
" distempered ideality threw a sui ;
phurous luster over all.
One Of the phantasmagoric concep- ,
lions of my friend. partaking not so |.
rigidly Of the spirit Of abstraction, may ,
be Swallowed forth, although feebly, in )
words A small picture presented the :
Interior of an immensely long and rec !
angular vault or tunnel, with low
walls. smooth. white and without in !
Or device. Certain Access
'ory points of the design served well
o convey the idea that this excavation =
ay at an exceeding depth below the :
surface Of the earth. No outlet was
observed in any portion of its vast ex-
ent. and no torch or other artificial
Ource of light was discernible. Yet !,
loOd of intense rays rolled throughout =
nd bathed the whole in CHASTITY and !.
splendor. .
The words Of his wild fantasies (for ).
e not infrequently accompanied him. :. :.
ELF on the guitar with improvisations) =
we're the result Of that intense COL !"
,ctedness and concentration to which -
have previously alluded as observa- a.
lie only in particular moments Of the =.
ighest artificial excitement. The -
lords Of one Of these rhapsodies 1
ave easily remembered. 1 was per- ~
APPS the more f0rcibly impressed with ..
as he gave it. because in the under 70
: mystic current of its meaning 1 fan o
ed that / perceived. and for the first u .'s
me. full consciousness on the part ~
Usher Of the tottering of his lofty :.
JASON upon her throne. The verses, 10
hich were entitled 1.-The Haunted "a
alace." ran very nearly If not accu- =.
tely thus: LII
the greenest Of our valleys Tel
By good angels tenanted oh
ice fair and stately palace oh
Radiant palace-reared its head -,
the monarch Thoughts dominion e'
L stood there. mt
aver seraph spread a pinion ne
over fabric half SO fair Th
II. tol