The Mistery of Choice E-Book

Robert W. Chambers

• Herausgeber: Robert W. Chambers
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

The Mystery of Choice is a collection of short stories by Robert W. Chambers, author of The King In Yellow and The Maker of Moons. Published by D. Appleton, New York, in 1897. Distinguished by an atmospheric use of natural scenery, the stories are mostly set in Breton in France. The macabre and eerie feature throughout.

Leseprobe

The Mystery of Choice

by

Robert W. Chambers

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Dedication.

Introduction.

The Purple Emperor.

Pompe Funèbre.

The Messenger.

The White Shadow.

Passeur.

The Key to Grief.

A Matter of Interest.

Envoi.

Dedication.

There is a maid, demure as she is wise,

With all of April in her winsome eyes,

And to my tales she listens pensively,

With slender fingers clasped about her knee,

Watching the sparrows on the balcony.

Shy eyes that, lifted up to me,

Free all my heart of vanity;

Clear eyes, that speak all silently,

Sweet as the silence of a nunnery —

Read, for I write my rede for you alone,

Here where the city’s mighty monotone

Deepens the silence to a symphony —

Silence of Saints, and Seers, and Sorcery.

Arms and the Man! A noble theme, I ween!

Alas! I cannot sing of these, Eileen —

Only of maids and men and meadow-grass,

Of sea and fields and woodlands, where I pass;

Nothing but these I know, Eileen, alas!

Clear eyes that, lifted up to me,

Free all my soul from vanity;

Gray eyes, that speak all wistfully —

Nothing but these I know, alas!

R. W. C.

April, 1896.

Introduction.

1.

Where two fair paths, deep flowered

And leaf-embowered,

Creep East and West across a World concealed,

Which shall he take who journeys far afield?

2.

Canst thou then say, “I go,”

Or “I forego”?

What turns thee East or West, as thistles blow?

Is fair more fair than fair — and dost thou know?

3.

Turn to the West, unblessed

And uncaressed;

Turn to the East, and, seated at the Feast

Thou shalt find Life, or Death from Life released.

4.

And thou who lovest best

A maid dark-tressed,

And passest others by with careless eye,

Canst thou tell why thou choosest? Tell, then; why?

5.

So when thy kiss is given

Or half-forgiven,

Why should she tremble, with her face flame-hot,

Or laugh and whisper, “Love, I tremble not”?

Or when thy hand may catch

A half-drawn latch,

What draws thee from the door, to turn and pass

Through streets unknown, dim, still, and choked with grass?

7.

What! Canst thou not foresee

The Mystery?

Heed! For a Voice commands thy every deed!

And it hath sounded. And thou needs must heed!

R. W. C.

1896.

The Purple Emperor.

Un souvenir heureux est peut-être, sur terre,

Plus vrai que le bonheur.

A. de Musset.

1.

The Purple Emperor watched me in silence. I cast again, spinning out six feet more of waterproof silk, and, as the line hissed through the air far across the pool, I saw my three flies fall on the water like drifting thistledown. The Purple Emperor sneered.

“You see,” he said, “I am right. There is not a trout in Brittany that will rise to a tailed fly.”

“They do in America,” I replied.