Evening star., 1927-10-18

Edgar Anan Poe is .prooably the best
known of American short story writer's; ne
recosSition' Tse GS He He was born IN is9o and died
in 1S49. His work is chiefly characterized .s
tragic Many of his stories are what would
be called today psychological studies III va, va
rious moods and emotional states TO wnlcn
the atmosphere. or general surroundings
largely contribute-l
Truei Nervous-very, very dread
fully nervous / had been and am. But
why will you say that l am mad? The
disease had sharpened my senses-not
DESTROYED, not dulled them. Above all
was the sense of hearing acute. l
heard all things in the heaven and in
the earth. l heard many things in
hell. How, then am mad? Hearken!
and observe how healthily-how calm
ly can tell you the whole story.
It is impossible to tell how first the
idea entered my brain; but once con-
ceived, it haunted me day and night.
Object there was none. Passion there
was none. 1 loved the old man. He
had never wronged me. He had never
given me insult. For his gold l had
no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes,
It was this, One of his eyes resembled
that of a vulture-a pale blue eye,
with a film over it. Whenever it fell
upon me my blood ran cold; and so by
degrees-very gradually made up
nv mind to take the life of the old
man 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 fore
sight-with what discrimination went
to work!
was never kinder to the old man
than during the whole week before
/ killed him. And every night, about
midnight, / turned the latch of his
door and opened it-oh, so gently! And
then, when had made an opening suf-
ficient for my head, put in dark
lantern, all closed, closed, so that no
light shone out, and then I thrust in
my head. Oh, you would have laughed
to see how cunningly thrust 1t in! /
moved it slowly-very, very slowly, so
that might not disturb the old mans
sleep. 1t took me an hour to place my
whole head within the opening so far
that I could see him as he lay upon
the bed. Ha.-would madman have
been so wise as this? And then, when
my head was we'll within the room, /
undid the lantern cautiously-oh, so
cautiously-cautiously (for the hinges
creaked(-I undid it just so much that
a single thin ray fell upon the vulture
eye. And this did for seven long
nights-every night just at midnight
but I found the eye always closed; and
so it was impossible to do the work;
| for it was not the old man who vexed
me, but his Evil Eye. And every
morning when the day broke 1 went
boldly into the chamber, and spoke
| courageously to him, calling him by
name in a hearty tone, and inquiring
how he had passed the night. So you
see he would have been a very pro-
found old man, indeed, to suspect that
every night, just at 12, looked in
upon him while he slept.
Upon the eighth night was more
than usually cautious in opening the
door. A watch's minute hand moves
more quickly than did mine. Never
| before that night had felt the extent
of my own powers-of my sagacity
I could scarcely contain my feelings
Of triumph. There was, opening the