The Fall River Axe Murders-2

  Heretheylieiogether,livingembodimentsoftwooftheSevenDeadlySins,butheknowshisavariooffencebecauseheneverspendsanymoneyandsheknowssheisnotgreedybecausethegrubsheshovelsdowngivesherdyspepsia.

  SheemploysanIrishcookandBridgetsrough-and-readyhandifulfilsAbbyseverycriterion.Bread,meat,cabbage,potatoes--Abbywasmadefortheheavyfoodthatmadeher.Bridgetmerrilyslapsoableboileddinners,boiledfish,ealmush,Indianpudding,johnnycakes,cookies.

  Butthosecookies...ah!thereyoutouAbbyslittleweakness.Molassescookies,oatmealcookies,raisincookies.Butwheacklesastickybrownie,oozingchocolate,thenshefeelsaqueasysenseofhavinggonealmosttoofar,thatsinmightbejustaroundtheerifherstomachdidnotimmediatelypalpitatelikeaguiltysce.

  Herflannelnightdressisthesamelinesashisnightshirtexceptforthelimpflannelfrillroundtheneck.Sheweighstwohundredpounds.Sheisfivefeetnothingtall.Thebedsagsonherside.Itisthebedinwhichhisfirstwifedied.

  Lastnight,theydosedthemselveswithcastoroil,duetotheindispositionthatkeptthembothawakeandvomitingthewholenightbeforethat;thecopiousresultsoftheirpurgesbrimthechamber-potsbehebed.Itisfittomakeasewerfaint.

  Backtobacktheylie.Youcouldrestaswordinthespacebetweentheoldmanandhiswife,betweentheoldmansbae,theidthingheeverofferedher,andhersoft,warm,enormousbum.Theirpurgesflailedthem.Theirfacesshowupdeposinggreeninthegloomofthecurtainedroom,inwhichtheairistoothickforfliestomove.

  Theyoudaughterdreamsbehindthelockeddoor.

  Lookatthesleepiy!

  Shethrewbackthetopsheetandherwindowiswideopenbutthereisnobreeze,outside,thism,toshiverdeliriouslythes.Brightsunfloodstheblindssothatthelinen-colouredlightshowsushowLizziehasgoobedasforalevéeiy,rufflednightdressofsnatchedwhitemuslinwithribbonsofpastelpinksatinthreadedthroughtheeyeletsofthelace,forisitnotthe"naughtyies"everywherebutdourFallRiver?DontthegildedsteamshipsoftheFallRiverLinesignifyallthesquanderedluxuryoftheGildedAgewithintheirmahoganyanddelieredinteriors?ButdonttheysailawayfromFallRiver,towhere,elsewhere,itistheBelleEpoque?InNewYork,Paris,London,champagnecorkspop,inMonteCarlothebankisbroken,womenfallbackwardsinacrispmeringueofpetticoatsforfunandprofit,butnotinFallRiver.Oh,no.So,intheimmutableprivacyofherbedroom,forherowndelight,Lizzieputsirlsprettynightdress,althoughshelivesinameanhouse,becausesheisarichgirl,too.

  Butsheisplain.

  Thehemhtdressisruckedupaboveherkneesbecausesheisarestlesssleeper.Herlight,dry,reddishhair,cragwithstatic,slippingloosefromthenight-timeplait,crispsandstuttersoverthesquarepillowatwhichsheclutchesasshesprawlsoomach,haviedhercheekoarchedpillowcaseforesssakeatsomeearlierhour.

  Lizziewasnotaionatediminutivebutthehwhichshehadbeenchristened.Sinceshewouldalwaysbeknownas"Lizzie",soherfatherreasoned,whyburdehtheeffeteandfancyprolongationof"Elizabeth"?Amiserihing,heevencroppedoffhalfhernamebefaveittoher.So"Lizzie"itwas,starkandunadorned,andsheisamotherlesschild,orphawoyearsold,poorthing.

  Nowsheistwo-and-thirtyahememoryofthatmothersheemberremainsanabidingsourceofgrief:"Ifmotherhadlived,everythingwouldhavebeendifferent."

  How?Why?Differentinwhatway?Shewouldnthavebeeoahat,lostinanostalgiaforunknowhowcouldshehavebeeterthanbyhersister,Emma,wholavishedthepent-uptreasuresofaNewEnglandspinstersheartupolething?Different,perhaps,becausehernaturalmother,thefirstMrsBorden,subjectasshewastofitsofsudden,wild,inexplicablerage,mighthavetakechettoOldBordenonherownat?ButLizzielovesherfather.Allareagreedonthat.Lizzieadorestheadfatherwho,afterhermotherdied,tooktohimselfanotherwife.

  Herbarefeettwitchalittle,likethoseofadogdreamingofrabbits.Hersleepisthinandunsatisfying,fullofvagueterrorsandierminatemeowhichsheotputanameorformoncesheisawake.Sleepopenswithinheradisorderlyhouse.Butallsheknowsis,shesleepsbadly,andthislast,stiflingnighthasbeentroubled,too,byvaguenauseaandthegripesofherfemalepain;herroomisharshwiththemetallicsmellofmenstrualblood.

  Yesterdayeveningsheslippedoutofthehousetovisitawomanfriend.Lizziewasagitated;shekeptpignervouslyattheshirringonthefrontofherdress.

  "Iamafraid...thatsomebody...willdosomething,"saidLizzie.

  "MrsBorden..."andhereLizzieloweredhervoidhereyeslookedeverywhereintheroomexceptatMissRussell..."MrsBorden--oh!willyoueverbelieve?MrsBordenthinkssomebodyistryingtopoisonus!"

  Sheusedtocallherstepmother"mother",asdutybade,but,afteraquarrelaboutmoerherfatherdeededhalfaslumpropertytoherstepmotherfiveyearsbefore,Lizziealways,withcoolscrupulosity,spokeof"MrsBorden"whenshewasforcedtospeakofher,andcalledher"MrsBorden"toherface,too.

  "Lastnight,MrsBordenandpoorfatherweresosick!Iheardthem,throughthewall.And,asforme,Ihavemyselfallday,Ihavefeltse.Sovery...strange."

  Fortherewerethosesomnambulistfits.Sinceachild,sheenduredoccasional"peculiarspells",astheidiomofthepladtimecalledoddlapsesofbehaviour,ued,involuntarytrances,momentsofdise.Thosetimeswhenthemindmissesabeat.MissRussellhasteodiscoveranexplanationwithinreason;shewasembarrassedtomentionthe"peculiarspells".EveryoherewasnothingoddabouttheBirls.

  "Somethingyouate?Itmusthavebeehingyouhaveeaten.Whatwasyesterdayssupper?"solicitouslyqueriedkindMissRussell.

  "Warmed-overswordfish.WehadithotfordihoughIcouldnottakemuch.ThenBridgetheateduptheleftoversforsupperbut,again,formyself,Icouldodownaforkful.MrsBordeheremainsandscouredherplatewithherbread.Shesmackedherlipsbutthenwassickallnight."(Noteofsmugness,here.)

  "Oh,Lizzie!Inallthisheat,thisdreadfulheat!Twice-cookedfish!Youknowhowquicklyfishgoesoffinthisheat!Bridgetshouldhaveknowerthantogiveyoutwice-cookedfish!"

  ItwasLizziesdifficulttimeofthemonth,too;herfriendcouldtellbyacertainhaggard,glazedlookonLizziesface.Yethergentilityforbadehertomentionthat.ButhowcouldLizziehavegotitintoherheadthattheentirehouseholdwasundersiegefrommalignforceswithout?

  "Therehavebees,"Lizziepursuedremorselessly,keepinghereyesonhernervousfiips."Somanypeople,youuand,dislikefather."

  Thisotbedenied.MissRussellpolitelyremaie.

  "MrsBordenwassoverysickshecalledthedoctorinandFatherwasabusivetowardsthedoctorandshoutedathimandtoldhimhewouldnotpayadoctorsbillswhilstwehadoodcastoroilinthehouse.HeshoutedatthedoctorandalltheneighboursheardandIwassoashamed.Thereisaman,yousee..."andheresheduckedherhead,whilehershort,paleeyelashesbeatonhercheekbones..."suchaman,adarkman,withtheaspect,yesofdeathuponhisface,MissRussell,adarkmanIveseenoutsidethehouseatodd,atuedhours,earlyinthem,lateatnight,wheneverIotsleepinthisdreadfulshadeifIraisetheblinda,thereIseehimintheshadowsofthepeartrees,intheyard,adarkman...perhapsheputspoisoninthemilk,inthems,afterthemilkmanfillshis.Perhapshepoisonstheice,whentheies."

  "Howlonghashebeenhauntingyou?"askedMissRussell,properlydismayed.

  "Siheburglary,"saidLizzieandsuddenlylookedMissRussellfullinthefacewithakindoftriumph.Hehereyeswere;promi,yetveiled.Andherwell-manicuredfingerswentonpegawayatthefrontofherdressasifsheweretryingtounpicktheshirring.

  MissRussellknew,shejustkhisdarkmanwasafigmentofLizziesimagination.Allinarush,shelostpatiehthegirl;darkmenstandingoutsideherbedroomwindow,indeed!Yetshewaskindandcastaboutforwaystoreassure.

  "ButBridgetisupandaboutwhenthemilkman,theicallandthewholestreetisbusyandbustling,too;whowoulddaretoputpoisohermilkorice-bucketwhilehalfofSedStreetlookson?Oh,Lizzie,itisthedreadfulsummer,theheat,theintolerableheatthatsputusalloutofsorts,makesusfractiousandnervous,makesussick.Soeasytoimagihingsinthisterribleweather,thattaintsthefoodandsowswormsinthemind...Ithoughtyoudplaogoaway,Lizzie,totheo.Didntyouplantotakealittleholiday,bythesea?Oh,dogo!Seaairwouldblowawaythesesillyfancies!"

  Lizziehernodsnorshakesherheadbuttioworryathershirring.FordoesshenothaveimportantbusinessinFallRiver?Onlythatm,hadshenotbeendowntothedrug-storetotrytobuysomeprussicacidherself?ButhowshetellkindMissRussellsheisgrippedbyanimperiousostayinFallRiverandmurderherparents?

  Shewenttothedrug-storeontheerofMaiiobuyprussicacidbutnobodywouldsellittoher,soshecamehomeempty-handed.Hadallthattalkofpoisoninthevomitinghouseputherinmindofpoisoopsywillrevealnotraceofpoisoniomachsofeitherparent.Shedidnottrytopoisonthem;sheonlyhaditinmindtopoisonthem.Butshehadbeenuobuypoison.Theuseofpoisonhadbeendeniedher;sowhatshebeplanning,now?

  "Andthisdarkman,"shepursuedtotheunwillingMissRussell,"oh!Ihaveseenthemoonglintuponanaxe!"

  Whenshewakesup,sheeverrememberherdreams;sheonlyremembersshesleptbadly.

  Hersisapleasantroomofnotungenerousdimensions,seeingthehouseissoverysmall.Besidesthebedandthedresser,thereisasofaandadesk;itisherbedroomandalsohersittingroomandheroffice,too,forthedeskisstackedwithatbooksofthevariouscharitableanisationswithwhichsheoccupiesheramplesparetime.TheFruitandFlowerMission,underwhoseauspicesshevisitstheioldinhospitalwithgifts;theWomensChristianTemperanion,forwhomsheextractssignaturesforpetitionsagainsttheDemonDrink;ChristianEndeavour,whateverthatis--thisisthegoldenageofgoodworksandsheflingsherselfintoitteeswithavengeance.Whatwouldthedaughtersoftherichdowiththemselvesifthepoorceasedtoexist?ThereistheNewsboysThanksgivingDinnerFund;andtheHorse-troughAssociation;andtheeseversionAssociation--noclassnorkindissafefromhermercilesscharity.

  Bureau;dressing-table;closet;bed;sofa.Shespendsherdaysinthisroom,moviweeneachofthesedullitemsoffurnitureinacircumscribed,uing,plaaryround.Shelovesherprivacy,shelovesherroom,shelocksherselfupinitallday.Ashelftainsabookortwo:HeroesoftheMissioheRomarade,WhatKatyDid.Onthewalls,framedphotographsofhigh-schoolfriends,seallyinscribed,with,tuckedinsideoneframe,apicturepostcardshowingablackkittenpeekingthroughahorseshoe.AwatercolourofaCapeCodseascapeexecutedwithpoignantamateurinpetence.Amonoephotographortwoofworksofart,aDeliaRobbiamadonnaandtheMonaLisa;thesesheboughtintheUffiziandtheLouvrerespectivelywhetoEurope.

  Europe!

  FordontyourememberwhatKatydidhestory-bookheroiookthesteamshiptosmokyoldLondon,toelegant,fasatingParis,tosunny,antiqueRomeandFlorehestory-bookheroineseesEuroperevealitselfbeforeherlikeaingseriesofmagiternslidesonagigantics.AllispresentandalluheTowerofLondon;cliotreDame;click.TheSistineChapel;click.Thenthelightsgooutandsheisinthedarkagain.

  Ofthisjourneysheretainedonlythemostcircumspectofsouvenirs,thatmadonna,thatMonaLisa,reprodusofobjectsofartsecratedbyauniversalapprovaloftaste.Ifshecamebackwithabagfullofmemoriesstamped"obeFotten",sheputthebagawayuhebedonwhichshehaddreamedoftheworldbeforeshesetouttoseeitandonwhich,athomeagaiiodream,thedreamhaviransformednotintolivedexperieintomemory,whichisonlyanotherkindofdreaming.

  Wistfully:"WhenIwasinFlorence..."

  Butthen,withpleasure,shecorrectsherself:"ereinFlorence..."

  Becauseagooddeal,infactmost,ofthegratificatioripgavehercamefromhavifromFallRiverwithaselectgroupofthedaughtersofrespectableandaffluentmill-owners.OnceawayfromSedStreet,shewasabletomovefortablyinthesegmentofFallRiversocietytowhichshebelongedbyrightofoldnameandnewmofromwhich,whenshewasathome,herfathersplentifulpersonaletricitiesexcludedher.Sharingbedrooms,sharingstate-rooms,sharihs,thegirlstravelledtogetherieelgagglethatboreitsdoomalreadyuponit,fortheywerethegirlswhowouldnotmarry,now,andanypleasuretheymighthaveobtainedfromthevarietyaementofthetripoiledinadvahekheywereeatingupwhatmighthavebeentheirownwedding-cake,usingupwhatshouldhavebeen,iftheydhadanyluck,theirmarriagesettlements.

  Allgirlspushingthirty,privilegedtogooutandlookattheworldbeforetheyresighemselvestothethinditionofNewEnglandspinsterhood;butitwasacaseoflook,donttouch.Theykheymustheirhandsdirtiedortheirdressescrushedbytheworld,whiletheiraffeatepanionshipenroutehadacertainsteadfast,determinedqualityaboutitastheybravelymadethebestofthesed-best.

  Itwasasourtrip,insomeways,sour;anditwasaroundtrip,itehesourplawhereithadsetout.Home,again;thenarrowhouse,theroomsalllockedlikethoseinBluebeardscastle,a,whitestepmotherwhomnobodylovessittinginthemiddleofthespiderweb,shehasnotbudgedasingleinchwhileLizziewasawaybutshehasgrownfatter.

  Thisstepmotheroppressedherlikeaspell.

  Thedaysopentheircrampedspatoothercrampedspadoldfurnitureandneveranythingtolookforwardto,nothing.

  WhenOldBordenduginhispockettoshelloutforLizziestriptoEurope,theeyeofGodonthepyramidblioseedaylight,butravagaooexcessiveforthemisersyoungerdaughterwhoisthewildcardinhishouseand,itseems,haveanythis,playduddrakeswithherfatherssilverdollarsifitsopleasesher.Hepaysallherdressmakersbillsoandhowshelovestodressupfine!Sheisaddictedtodandyism.Hegiveshereachweekinpin-mohesameasthecookgetsfesandLizziegivesthatwhichshedoesnotspendonpersonaladorothedeservingpoor.

  HewouldgivehisLizzieanything,anythingintheworldthatlivesuhegreensignofthedollar.

  Shewouldlikeapet,akittenorapuppy,shelovessmallanimalsandbirds,too,poor,helplessthings.Shepileshighthebird-tableallwinter.Sheusedtokeepsomewhitepeonsinthedisusedstable,thekindthatlooklikeshuttlecodgo"vroocroo",softasacloud.

  SurvivingphotographsofLizzieBordenshowafaceitisdifficulttolookatasifyoukhingabouther;iscasttheirshadowacrossherface,orelseyouseetheshadowstheseeventshavecast--somethingterrible,somethingominousinthisfacewithitsjuttiangularjawandthosemadeyesoftheNewEnglandsaihatbelongtoapersonwhodoesnotlistentoyou...fanaticseyes,youmightsay,ifyoukhingabouther.Ifyouweresthroughaboxofoldphotographsinajunkshopandcameacrossthisparticular,sepia,fadedfaceabovethechokedcollarsofthe1890s,youmightmurmurwhenyousawher:"Oh,whatbigeyesyouhave!"asRedRidingHoodsaidtothewolf,butthenyoumightnotevenpausetopickheroutandlookathermoreclosely,forhersisnot,initself,astrikingface.

  Butassoonasthefacehasaname,onceyniseher,whenyouknowwhosheisandwhatitwasshedid,thefacebeesasifofonepossessed,andnowithauntsyou,youlookatitagainandagain,itsecretesmystery.

  Thiswoman,withherjawofatration-campattendant,andsucheyes...

  Inheroldage,sheworepinez,andtrulywiththeyearsthemadlighthasdepartedfromthoseeyesorelseisdeflectedbyherglasses--if,iwasamadlight,inthefirstplace,fordontweallcealsomewherephotographsofourselvesthatmakeuslooklikecrazedassassins?And,inthoseearlyphotographsofheryoungwomanhood,sheherselfdoesnotlooksomuchlikeacrazedassassinassomebodyiremesolitude,obliviousofthatcamerainwhosediresheobscurelysmiles,sothatitwouldnotsurpriseyoutolearnthatsheisblind.

  Thereisamirroronthedresserinwhichshesometimeslooksatthosetimeswhentimesnapsintwoandthensheseesherselfwithblind,clairvoyanteyes,asthoughshewereanotherperson.

  "Lizzieisnotherself,today."

  Atthosetimes,thoseirremediabletimes,shecouldhaveraisedhermuzzletosomeagmoonandhowled.

  Atothertimes,shewatchesherselfdoingherhairandtryingherclothesomirrorreflectsherwiththequeasyfidelityofwater.Sheputsondressesandtheakesthemoff.Shelooksatherselfinhercorset.Shepatsherhair.Shemeasuresherselfwiththetape-measure.Shepullsthemeasuretight.Shepatsherhair.Shetriesonahat,alittlehat,achiclittlestrawtoque.Shepuncturesitin.Shepullstheveildown.Shepullsitup.Shetakesthehatoff.Shedrivesthehatpinintoitwithastrengthshedidnotknowshepossessed.

  Timegoesbyandnothinghappens.

  Shetracestheoutlinesofherfacewithaainhandasifshewerethinkingofunfasteningthebandagesonhersoulbutitisnttimetodothat,yet:sheisobesee.

  Sheisagirlassocalm.

  Sheusedtokeepherpigeonsiabovethedisusedstableahemgrainoutofthepalmsofhercuppedhands.Shelikedtofeelthesoftscratchoftheirbeaks.Theymurmured"vroocroo"withinfienderness.ShegedtheirwatereverydayandeduptheirleprousmessesbutOldBordentookadisliketotheirg,itgotonhisnerves,whodhavethoughthehadanyheiedsome,theygotonthem,oernooookoutthehatchetfromthewoodpileinthecellarandchoppedthosepigeonsheadsrightoff,hedid.

  AbbyfaheslaughteredpigeonsforapiebutBridgettheservantgirlputherfootdown,atthat:what?!?makeapieoutofMissLizziesbelovedturtledoves?JesusMaryandJoseph!!!sheexclaimedwithcharacteristicimpetuousness,whattheybethinkingof!MissLizziesonervywithherfunnyturnsandall!(Themaidistheonlyohehousewithanysehatsthetruthofit.)LizziecamehomefromtheFruitandFlowerMissionforwhomshehadbeenreadingatracttoanoldwomaninapoorhouse:"Godblessyou,MissLizzie."Athomeallwasbloodahers.

  Shedoeshisoisure,sheisstillwaters,but,whenmoved,shegescolour,herfaceflushes,itgoesdark,angry,mottledred.Theoldmanloveshisdaughterthissideofidolatryandpaysforeverythis,butallthesamehekilledherpigeonswhenhiswifewaogobblethemup.

  Thatishowsheseesit.Thatishowsheuandsit.Sheotbeartowatchherstepmothereat,now.Eachbitethewomantakesseemstogo:"Vroocroo."

  OldBordenedoffthehatchetandputitbathecellar,othewoodpile.Theredregfromherface,Lizziewentdowntoiheinstrumentofdestru.Shepickeditupandweigheditinherhand.

  Thatwasafewweeksbefore,atthebeginningofthespring.

  Herhandsawithersleep;thenervesandmusclesofthisplicatedmeismwontrelax,justwontrelax,sheisalltwang,alltensioautasthestringsofawind-harpfromwhidomcurrentsoftheairpluckouttuhatarenotourtunes.

  AtthefirststrokeoftheCityHallclock,thefirstfactoryhooterblares,andthen,onae,another,andaheMetaill,theAmeriMill,theMeicsMill..untileverymilliiretownsingsoutaloudinaonanthemofsummoningandhotalleyswherethefactoryfolkliveblawiththehurryingthrong:hurry!scurry!toloom,tobobbin,tospiodye-shopastoplacesofworship,men,andwomen,too,andchildrereetsbla,theskydarkensastheeysnowbelchforth,theg,bang,clatterofthemillsences.

  Bridgetsclockleapsandshuddersonitschair,abouttosounditsownalarm.Theirday,theBordensfatalday,tremblesonthebrinkofbeginning.

  Outside,above,inthealreadyburningair,see!theangelofdeathroostsontheroof-tree.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

• 推荐自己的新书《天命讨债人》

  齐天大魔猴

  桀骜齐天圣，铮铮大魔猴
• 第817章 四公子当真与众不同？

  清穿后每天被迫撩

  【欢脱独宠，沙雕撩夫日
• 新书《谜城》开启

  神峰

  一次偶然， 他踏足修
• 第270章 酒吧偶遇

  网游之影子大师

  我，在黑夜中行走 我
• 007儿女成群

  婚城难入

  十八岁的她，一心想用高
• 第四百一十六章 邀请

  剑神之剑弑乾坤

  《剑神之剑弑乾坤》是一