THE UNBRIDLED MADNESS.
The night did not promise to be a good one. The clouds were scudding
wildly from east to west. The air was moist and chill. There was no
light from moon or stars, and I strode with difficulty, though still
rapidly, through the unpaved streets. I was singularly and painfully
excited by the conversation with Kingsley. My own experience before,
had prepared me to become so, with the slightest additional provocation.
Facts were rapidly accumulating to confirm my fears, and lessen my
doubts. That dark, meaning letter of Mrs. Delaney! The adventure in the
streamlet.--The scream--the look--the secrecy! What a history seemed to
be compressed in these few topics.
I hurried forward--I was now among the trees. I had almost to grope my
way, it was so dark. I was helped forward by some governing instincts.
My fiend was busy all the while. I fancied, now, that there was
something exulting in his tone. But he drove me forward without
forbearance. I felt that these clouds in the sky--this gloom and
excitement in my heart--were not for nothing. Every gust of wind brought
to me some whisper of fear; and there seemed a constant murmur among the
trees--one burden--whose incessant utterance was only shame and wo. How
completely the agony of one's spirit sheds its tone of horror upon the
surrounding world. How the flowers wither as our hearts wither--how
sickly grows sunlight and moonlight, in our despair--how lonely and
utter sad is the breath of winds, when our bosoms are about to be laid
bare of hope and sustenance by the brooding tempest of our sorrows.
I had a terrible prescience of some dreadful experience which awaited me
as I drove forward. Obstructions of tree and shrub, and tangled vines,
encountered me, but did not long arrest, and I really felt them not. I
put them aside without a consciousness.
At length a glimmering light informed me I was near the cottage. I could
see the heavy dark masses of foliage that crowded before the entrance.
The light was in the parlor. There was also one in the room of Mrs.
Porterfield. Ours, which was on the same floor with hers, was in
darkness. I never experienced sensations more like those of a drunken
man than when, working my way cautiously among the trees, I approached
the window. The glasses were down, possibly in consequence of the
violence of the gust. But there was one thing unusual. The curtains were
also down at both windows. These curtains were half-curtains only. They
fell from the upper edge of the lower sash, and were simply meant to
protect the inmates from the casual glance of persons in front. The
house was on an elevation of two or three feet from the ground. It was
impossible to see into the apartment unless I could raise myself at
least that much above my own stature. I looked around me for a stump,
bench, block--anything; but there was nothing, or in the darkness I
failed to find it. To clamber up against the side of the house would
have disturbed the inmates. I ascended a tree, and buried within its
leaves, looked directly into the apartment.
They were together! alone!--at the eternal chess! Julia sat upon the
sofa. Edgerton in front of her. A small table stood between them. I had
arrived at an opportune moment. Julia's hand was extended to the board.
I saw the very piece it rested upon. It was the white queen; but, just
at that moment--nothing could be more clearly visible--the hand of
Edgerton was laid upon hers. She instantly withdrew it, and looked
upward. Her face was the color of carnation--flushed--so said my demon,
with the overwhelming passions in her breast. The next moment the table
was thrust aside--the chess-men tumbled upon the floor, and Edgerton
kneeling before my wife had grasped her about the waist, and was
dragging her to his knee.
I saw no more. A sudden darkness passed over my eyes. A keen, quick,
thrilling pang went through my whole frame, and I fell from the tree,
upon the earth below, in utter unconsciousness.