The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3Poe, Edgar Allan
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The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3
Poe, Edgar Allan
American fiction -- 19th century; Fantasy fiction; Horror tales, American
The middle of June at length arrived, and every thing had been
matured. The note was written and delivered, and on a Monday
morning I left the house for the New Bedford packet, as supposed.
I went, however, straight to Augustus, who was waiting for me at
the corner of a street. It had been our original plan that I
should keep out of the way until dark, and then slip on board the
brig; but, as there was now a thick fog in our favor, it was
agreed to lose no time in secreting me. Augustus led the way to
the wharf, and I followed at a little distance, enveloped in a
thick seaman’s cloak, which he had brought with him, so that my
person might not be easily recognized. Just as we turned the
second corner, after passing Mr. Edmund’s well, who should
appear, standing right in front of me, and looking me full in the
face, but old Mr. Peterson, my grandfather. “Why, bless my soul,
Gordon,” said he, after a long pause, “why, why,—whose dirty
cloak is that you have on?” “Sir!” I replied, assuming, as well
as I could, in the exigency of the moment, an air of offended
surprise, and talking in the gruffest of all imaginable
tones—“sir! you are a sum’mat mistaken—my name, in the first
place, bee’nt nothing at all like Goddin, and I’d want you for to
know better, you blackguard, than to call my new obercoat a darty
one.” For my life I could hardly refrain from screaming with
laughter at the odd manner in which the old gentleman received
this handsome rebuke. He started back two or three steps, turned
first pale and then excessively red, threw up his spectacles,
then, putting them down, ran full tilt at me, with his umbrella
uplifted. He stopped short, however, in his career, as if struck
with a sudden recollection; and presently, turning round, hobbled
off down the street, shaking all the while with rage, and
muttering between his teeth: “Won’t do—new glasses—thought it was
Gordon—d—d good-for-nothing salt water Long Tom.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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