twice-told tales- the birthmark-第6部分

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concentrated　upon　the　last。

　　　While　thus　employed；　he　failed　not　to　gaze　often　at　the　fatal　Hand；

and　not　without　a　shudder。　Yet　once；　by　a　strange　and　unaccountable

impulse；　he　pressed　it　with　his　lips。　His　spirit　recoiled；　however；　in

the　very　act；　and　Georgiana；　out　of　the　midst　of　her　deep　sleep；　moved

uneasily　and　murmured；　as　if　in　remonstrance。　Again；　Aylmer　resumed

his　watch。　Nor　was　it　without　avail。　The　Crimson　Hand；　which　at

first　had　been　strongly　visible　upon　the　marble　paleness　of

Georgiana's　cheek　now　grew　more　faintly　outlined。　She　remained　not

less　pale　than　ever；　but　the　birthmark；　with　every　breath　that　came

and　went；　lost　somewhat　of　its　former　distinctness。　Its　presence　had

been　awful；　its　departure　was　more　awful　still。　Watch　the　stain　of　the

rainbow　fading　out　of　the　sky；　and　you　will　know　how　that　mysterious

symbol　passed　away。

　　　〃By　Heaven；　it　is　well…nigh　gone！〃　said　Aylmer　to　himself；　in

almost　irrepressible　ecstasy。　〃I　can　scarcely　trace　it　now。　Success！

Success！　And　now　it　is　like　the　faintest　rose…color。　The　slightest

flush　of　blood　across　her　cheek　would　overcome　it。　But　she　is　so

pale！〃

　　　He　drew　aside　the　window…curtain；　and　suffered　the　light　of　natural

day　to　fall　into　the　room；　and　rest　upon　her　cheek。　At　the　same

time；　he　heard　a　gross；　hoarse　chuckle；　which　he　had　long　known　as　his

servant　Aminadab's　expression　of　delight。

　　　〃Ah；　clod！　Ah；　earthly　mass！〃　cried　Aylmer；　laughing　in　a　sort　of

frenzy。　〃You　have　served　me　well！　Master　and　Spirit…　Earth　and　Heaven…

have　both　done　their　part　in　this！　Laugh；　thing　of　the　senses！　You

have　earned　the　right　to　laugh。〃

　　　These　exclamations　broke　Georgiana's　sleep。　She　slowly　unclosed　her

eyes；　and　gazed　into　the　mirror；　which　her　husband　had　arranged　for

that　purpose。　A　faint　smile　flitted　over　her　lips；　when　she　recognized

how　barely　perceptible　was　now　that　Crimson　Hand；　which　had　once

blazed　forth　with　such　disastrous　brilliancy　as　to　scare　away　all

their　happiness。　But　then　her　eyes　sought　Aylmer's　face；　with　a

trouble　and　anxiety　that　he　could　by　no　means　account　for。

　　　〃My　poor　Aylmer！〃　murmured　she。

　　　〃Poor？　Nay；　richest！　Happiest！　Most　favored！〃　exclaimed　he。　〃My

peerless　bride；　it　is　successful！　You　are　perfect！〃

　　　〃My　poor　Aylmer！〃　she　repeated；　with　a　more　than　human

tenderness。　〃You　have　aimed　loftily！　you　have　done　nobly！　Do　not

repent；　that；　with　so　high　and　pure　a　feeling；　you　have　rejected　the

best　the　earth　could　offer。　Aylmer…　dearest　Aylmer；　I　am　dying！〃

　　　Alas；　it　was　too　true！　The　fatal　Hand　had　grappled　with　the　mystery

of　life；　and　was　the　bond　by　which　an　angelic　spirit　kept　itself　in

union　with　a　mortal　frame。　As　the　last　crimson　tint　of　the　birthmark…

that　sole　token　of　human　imperfection…　faded　from　her　cheek；　the

parting　breath　of　the　now　perfect　woman　passed　into　the　atmosphere；

and　her　soul；　lingering　a　moment　near　her　husband；　took　its　heavenward

flight。　Then　a　hoarse；　chuckling　laugh　was　heard　again！　Thus　ever　does

the　gross　Fatality　of　Earth　exult　in　its　invariable　triumph　over　the

immortal　essence；　which；　in　this　dim　sphere　of　half…development；

demands　the　completeness　of　a　higher　state。　Yet；　had　Aylmer　reached　a

profounder　wisdom；　he　need　not　thus　have　flung　away　the　happiness；

which　would　have　woven　his　mortal　life　of　the　self…same　texture　with

the　celestial。　The　momentary　circumstance　was　too　strong　for　him；　he

failed　to　look　beyond　the　shadowy　scope　of　Time；　and　living　once　for

all　in　Eternity；　to　find　the　perfect　Future　in　the　present。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

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