The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-06-18

selves. but in their results. shudder
at the thought of any. even the most
trivial incident, which may operate
upon this intocrable agitation of soul.
l have indeed no adherence Of danger
except in its absolute etfect-in terror.
In this unnerved, in this pitiable condi-
ton, feel that the period will sooner
or later arrive when must abandon
life and reason together in some strus-
gle with the grim phantasm-fear."
learned. moreover, at intervals
and through broken and equivocal
hints, that he was enchaincd by certain
supcrs1tious impressions in 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 Il more natural and
far more palpable origin, to the severe
and long continued illness--indc,H to
the evidently approaching dissolution
of a tenderly beloved sister, his sole
companion for long years. his last and
only relative on earth "Her decease."
he said with ii bitterness which l 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 Madelinefor SO
she was called, passed slowly through
Il remote portion of the apartment. and
without having noticed my presence.
disappeared regarded her with an
utter establishment not unmingled with
dread, and yet l found it impossible
to account for such feelings. A sensa
ton Of stupor oppressed me, as my
eyes followed her retreatins steps.
The disease of the Lady Madeline had
long baft]ed the skill of her physicians.
A 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 (as 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
I should obtain-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 l was
busted in earnest endeavors to allevi-
ate the melancholy of my friend. We
painted and read together or listen
ed as if in dream to the wild imprO-
viva tons to his speaking guitar
shall ever bear about me memory
Of the many solemn hours thus spent
alone with the master Of the house Of
Usher Yet l should fail in any at
tempt to convey an idea of the exact
character of the studies or of the Oc-
equations in which he involved me or
led me the way. An excited and high
ly distempered ideality threw sui
phurous luster over all.
One of the phantasmagOric concep-
tons 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
tangular vault or tunnel, with low
walls, smooth. white and without In
terruption or device. Certain Access
sorry points of the design served well
to convey the idea that this excavation
lay at an exceeding depth below the
surface Of the earth. No outlet was
observed in any portion Of its vast ex-
tent, and no torch or other artificial
source of light was discernible. Yet
food Of intense rays rolled throughout
and bathed the whole in CHASTITY and
inappropriate splendor.
The words of his wild fantasies (fOr
he not infrequently accompanied him
self on the guitar with improvisations)
were the result of that intense col
lectedness and concentration to which
have previously alluded as observa-
BILE only in particular moments OF the
highest artificial excitement. The
words of one of these rhapsOdies l
have easily remembered. l was per-
haps the more forcibly impressed with
it as he gave it, because in the under
or mystic current of its meaning fan
cied that perceived, and for the first
time, a full consciousness on the part
of Usher of the lettering OF bis lofty
reason upon her throne. The verses,
which were entitled 'The Haunted
Palace" ran very nearly if not accu-
rately thus:
In the greenest of our valleys
BY good angels tenanted
Once a fair and stately palace
Radiant palace-reared its head.
In the monarch Thoughts dominion
It stood there.
Never seraph spread a pinion
Over fabric half so fair.
Banners yellow, glorious. golden
On its roof did float and flow
(This. all this. was in the olden