Part 10 (1/2)

Up and down the oaken stairways flitted dainty-footed ladies, Lighting up the shadowy twilight with the l.u.s.tre of their bloom; Like the varied sunlight streaming through an old cathedral window Went their brightness glancing through the unaccustomed gloom, But Blue-beard's wife was restless, and a strong desire possessed her Through it all to get a single peep at that forbidden room.

And so one day she slipped away from all her guests, unnoted, Down through the lower pa.s.sage, till she reached the fatal door, Put in the key and turned the lock, and gently pushed it open-- But, oh the horrid sight that met her eyes! Upon the floor There were blood-stains dark and dreadful, and like dresses in a wardrobe, There were women hung up by their hair, and dripping in their gore!

Then, at once, upon her mind the unknown fate that had befallen The other wives of Blue-beard flashed--'twas now no mystery!

She started back as cold as icicles, as white as ashes, And upon the clammy floor her trembling fingers dropped the key.

She caught it up, she whirled the bolt to, shut the sight behind her, And like a startled deer at sound of hunter's gun, fled she!

She reached her room with gasping breath,--behold, another terror!

Upon the key within her hand; she saw a ghastly stain; She rubbed it with her handkerchief, she washed in soap and water, She scoured it with sand and stone, but all was done in vain!

For when one side, by dint of work, grew bright, upon the other (It was bewitched, you know,) came out that ugly spot again!

And then, unlooked-for, who should come next morning, bright and early, But old Blue-beard himself who hadn't been away a week!

He kissed his wife, and, after a brief pause, said, smiling blandly: ”I'd like my keys, my dear.” He saw a tear upon her cheek, And guessed the truth. She gave him all but one. He scowled and grumbled: ”I want the key to the _small room_!”

Poor thing, she could not speak!

He saw at once the stain it bore while she turned pale and paler, ”You've been where I forbade you! Now you shall go there _to stay_!

Prepare yourself to die at once!” he cried. The frightened lady Could only fall before him pleading: ”Give me time to pray!”

Just fifteen minutes by the clock he granted. To her chamber She fled, but stopped to call her sister Anne by the way.

”O, sister Anne, go to the tower and watch!” she cried, ”Our brothers Were coming here to-day, and I have got to die!

Oh, fly, and if you see them, wave a signal! Hasten! hasten!”

And Anne went flying like a bird up to the tower high.

”Oh, Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”

Called the praying lady up the tower-stairs with piteous cry.

”Oh Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”

”I see the burning sun,” she answered, ”and the waving gra.s.s!”

Meanwhile old Blue-beard down below was whetting up his cutla.s.s, And shouting: ”Come down quick, or I'll come after you, my la.s.s!”

”One little minute more to pray, one minute more!” she pleaded-- To hope how slow the minutes are, to dread how swift they pa.s.s!

”Oh Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”

She answered: ”Yes I see a cloud of dust that moves this way.”

”Is it our brothers, Anne?” implored the lady. ”No, my sister, It is a flock of sheep.” Here Blue-beard thundered out: ”I say, Come down or I'll come after you!” Again the only answer: ”Oh, just one little minute more,--one minute more to pray!”

”Oh, Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”

”I see two hors.e.m.e.n riding, but they yet are very far!”

She waved them with her handkerchief; it bade them, ”hasten, hasten!”

Then Blue-beard stamped his foot so hard it made the whole house jar; And, rus.h.i.+ng up to where his wife knelt, swung his glittering cutla.s.s, As Indians do a tomahawk, and shrieked: ”How slow you are!”

Just then, without, was heard the beat of hoofs upon the pavement, The doors flew back, the marble floors rang to a hurried tread.