The Yellow Sign by Robert W. Chambers (part 2)

Speaker: 00:00:24

Gather round and welcome.

Speaker: 00:00:27

This is Liminal Flares, Bedtime Stories From Beyond and in-between,

Speaker: 00:00:33

readings of eldritch literature drawn from the public domain and amended to be gender-inclusive.

Speaker: 00:00:41

My name is Maika, and I am your queer, trans, nonbinary narrator.

Speaker: 00:00:46

And today we are reading part two of The Yellow Sign by Robert W. Chambers.

Speaker: 00:00:54

Last week we met our narrator, Mr. Scott,

Speaker: 00:00:57

an artist working in his New York City studio with an art model named Tessie Reardon,

Speaker: 00:01:03

both of whom were experiencing distress:

Speaker: 00:01:06

An inexplicably ruined painting for Mr. Scott and a recurring nightmare for Tessie,

Speaker: 00:01:13

both somehow connected to an unsettling individual working as a guard at the church next door to Scott's studio.

Speaker: 00:01:21

And now, let's continue with our tale...

Speaker: 00:01:35

The next morning, Thomas, the bellhop, brought me the Herald and a bit of news.

Speaker: 00:01:40

The church next door had been sold.

Speaker: 00:01:42

I thanked heaven for it.

Speaker: 00:01:44

Not that, being a Catholic, I had any repugnance for the congregation next door,

Speaker: 00:01:49

but because my nerves were shattered by a blatant exhorter

Speaker: 00:01:53

whose every word echoed through the aisle of the church as if it had been my own rooms,

Speaker: 00:01:58

and who insisted on their Rs with a nasal persistence which revolted my every instinct.

Speaker: 00:02:05

Then, too, there was a fiend in human shape,

Speaker: 00:02:09

an organist who reeled off some of the grand old hymns with an interpretation of their own.

Speaker: 00:02:15

And I longed for the blood of a creature who could play the doxology with an amendment of minor chords

Speaker: 00:02:22

which one hears only in a quartet of very young undergraduates.

Speaker: 00:02:27

I believe the minister was a good person.

Speaker: 00:02:30

But when they bellowed

Speaker: 00:02:32

"And the Lord said unto Moses, the Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.

Speaker: 00:02:41

My wrath shall wax hot and I will kill you with the sword!"

Speaker: 00:02:49

I wondered how many centuries of purgatory it would take to atone for such a sin.

Speaker: 00:02:55

"Who bought the property?" I asked Thomas.

Speaker: 00:02:58

"Nobody that I knows, sir.

Speaker: 00:03:00

They do say the gent wot owns this here Hamilton Flats was lookin at it.

Speaker: 00:03:04

They might be buildin' more studios."

Speaker: 00:03:07

I walked to the window.

Speaker: 00:03:08

The young person with the unhealthy face stood by the churchyard gate,

Speaker: 00:03:13

and at the mere sight of them, the same overwhelming repugnance took possession of me.

Speaker: 00:03:20

"By the way, Thomas," I said, "who is that citizen down there?"

Speaker: 00:03:24

Thomas sniffed.

Speaker: 00:03:26

"That there worm, sir? He's guard of the church, sir.

Speaker: 00:03:29

They make me tired a-sittin out all night on them steps an lookin at you, insultin' like.

Speaker: 00:03:34

I'd a punched their head, sir. Beg pardon, sir."

Speaker: 00:03:37

"Go on, Thomas."

Speaker: 00:03:39

"One night comin' home with Harry, the other bellhop, I sees them a-sittin there on them steps.

Speaker: 00:03:45

We had Molly and Jen with us, sir, the two girls on the tray service,

Speaker: 00:03:49

An' they looks so insultin' at us that I up and says, 'what you lookin' at, slug?'

Speaker: 00:03:54

Beg pardon, sir, but that's how I sez, sir.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:03:57

'Come out and I'll punch that puddin' head.'

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:02

Then I opens the gate and goes in, but they don't say nothin', only looks insultin' like.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:08

Then I hits 'em one, but ugh! Their head was so cold and mushy, it'd sicken you to touch 'em."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:15

"What did they do then?" I asked curiously.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:19

"Them? Nothin'."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:21

"And you, Thomas?"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:23

The young fellow flushed with embarrassment and smiled uneasily.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:27

"Mr Scott, sir, I ain't no coward an' I can't make it out at all why I run.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:32

I was in the 5th Lancers, sir, bugler at Tel-el-Kebir, an' was shot by the wells."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:38

"You don't mean to say you ran away?"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:41

"Yes, sir, I - I run."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:45

"Why?"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:47

"That's just what I want to know, sir.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:49

I grabbed Molly an' run, an' the rest was as frightened as I."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:53

"But what were they frightened at?"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:57

Thomas refused to answer for a while,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:04:59

but now my curiosity was aroused about the repulsive young person below and I pressed him.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:05

Three years sojurn in America had not only modified Thomas's Cockney dialect,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:09

but had given him the American's fear of ridicule.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:13

"You won't believe me, Mr Scott, sir."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:16

"Yes, I will."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:17

"You will laugh at me, sir."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:19

"Nonsense!"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:20

He hesitated.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:22

"Well, sir, it's Gawd's truth that when I hit them, they grabbed me wrists, sir,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:28

and when I twisted their soft, mushy fist, one of their fingers come off in me hand."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:35

The utter loathing and horror of Thomas' face must have been reflected in my own,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:41

for he added, "It's awful. An' now when I see them, I just go away. They make me ill."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:49

When Thomas had gone, I went to the window.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:52

The person stood beside the church railing with both hands on the gate.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:05:56

But I hastily retreated to my easel again, sickened and horrified,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:01

for I saw that the middle finger of their right hand was missing.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:07

At nine o'clock, Tessie appeared and vanished behind the screen with a merry "Good morning, Mr Scott."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:14

When she had reappeared and taken her pose upon the model-stand,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:18

I started a new canvas, much to her delight.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:21

She remained silent as long as I was on the drawing.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:24

But as soon as the scrape of the charcoal ceased and I took up my fixative, she began to chatter.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:31

"Oh, I had such a lovely time last night. We went to Tony Pastor's."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:36

"Who are we?" I demanded.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:38

"Oh, Maggie, you know Mr. Whyte's Model and Pinkie McCormick—

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:43

we call them Pinkie because they've got that beautiful red hair you artists like so much —And Lizzie Burke."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:49

I sent a shower of spray from the fixative over the canvas and said, "Well, go on."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:06:55

"We saw Kelly and Baby Barnes, the skirt-dancer —and all the rest. I made a mash."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:02

"Then you have gone back on me, Tessie?"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:04

She laughed and shook her head.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:07

"He's Lizzie Burke's brother, Ed. He's a perfect gen'l'man."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:10

I felt constrained to give her some parental advice concerning mashing,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:15

which she took with a bright smile.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:17

"Oh, I can take care of a strange mash," she said, examining her chewing gum.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:23

"But Ed is different. Lizzie is my best friend."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:27

Then she related how Ed had come back from the stocking mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, to find her and Lizzie grown up,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:34

and what an accomplished young man he was,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:36

and how he thought nothing of squandering half-a-dollar for ice-cream and oysters

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:41

to celebrate his entry as clerk into the woolen department of Macy's.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:46

Before she finished, I began to paint, and she resumed the pose, smiling and chattering like a sparrow.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:52

By noon I had the study fairly well rubbed in, and Tessie came to look at it.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:07:58

"That's better," she said.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:00

I thought so too, and ate my lunch with a satisfied feeling that all was going well.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:05

Tessie spread her lunch on a drawing table opposite me,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:08

and we drank our claret from the same bottle and lighted our cigarettes from the same match.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:14

I was very much attached to Tessie.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:17

I had watched her shoot up into a slender but exquisitely formed woman from a frail, awkward child.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:23

She had posed for me during the last three years,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:26

and among all my models she was my favorite.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:30

It would have troubled me very much indeed had she become "tough" or "fly," as the phrase goes.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:36

But I never noticed any deterioration of her manner and felt at heart that she was all right.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:43

She and I never discussed morals at all, and I had no intention of doing so,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:48

partly because I had none myself and partly because I knew she would do what she liked in spite of me.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:08:55

Still, I did hope she would steer clear of complications, because I wished her well,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:01

and then also I had a selfish desire to retain the best model I had.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:06

I knew that mashing, as she termed it, had no significance with girls like Tessie,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:11

and that such things in America did not resemble in the least of the same things in Paris.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:17

Yet, having lived with my eyes open, I also knew that somebody would take Tessie away someday,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:23

in one manner or another,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:25

and though I professed to myself that marriage was nonsense,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:29

I sincerely hoped that in this case there would be a priest at the end of the vista.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:35

I am a Catholic.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:36

When I listen to high mass, when I sign myself,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:39

I feel that everything, including myself, is more cheerful,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:43

and when I confess, it does me good.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:46

A person who lives as much alone as I do, must confess to somebody.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:51

Then again, Sylvia was Catholic, and it was reason enough for me.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:56

But I was speaking of Tessie, which is very different.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:09:59

Tessie was also Catholic and much more devout than I, so taking it all in all,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:05

I had little fear for my pretty model until she should fall in love.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:10

But then I knew that fate alone would decide her future for her,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:14

and I prayed inwardly that fate would keep her away from people like me

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:19

and throw into her path nothing but Ed Burkes and Jimmy McCormicks, bless her sweet face.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:26

Tessie sat blowing rings of smoke up to the ceiling and tinkling the ice in her tumbler.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:32

"Do you know that I also had a dream last night?" I observed.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:37

"Not about that church guard," she laughed.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:40

"Exactly. A dream similar to yours, only much worse."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:46

It was foolish and thoughtless of me to say this, but you know how little tact the average painter has.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:53

'I must have fallen asleep about ten o'clock," I continued,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:10:56

"and after a while I dreamt that I awoke. So plainly did I hear the midnight bells,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:02

the wind in the tree-branches, and the whistle of steamers from the bay,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:07

that even now I can scarcely believe I was not awake.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:11

I seemed to be lying in a box which had a glass cover.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:15

Dimly I saw the street lamps as I passed.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:18

For I must tell you, Tessie,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:20

the box in which I reclined appeared to lie in a cushioned wagon which jolted me over a stony pavement.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:28

After a while I became impatient and tried to move, but the box was too narrow.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:33

My hands were crossed on my breast, so I could not raise them to help myself.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:38

I listened and then tried to call.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:41

My voice was gone.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:43

I could hear the trample of the horses attached to the wagon and even the breathing of the driver.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:49

Then another sound broke upon my ears like the raising of a window sash.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:11:54

I managed to turn my head a little and found I could look, not only through the glass cover of my box,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:01

but also through the glass panes in the side of the covered vehicle.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:06

I saw houses, empty and silent, with neither light nor life about any of them excepting one.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:13

In that house a window was open on the first floor, and a figure all in white stood looking down into the street.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:22

It was you."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:24

Tessie had turned her face away from me and leaned on the table with her elbow.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:29

"I could see your face," I resumed, "and it seemed to me to be very sorrowful.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:35

Then we passed on and turned into a narrow black lane.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:39

Presently the horses stopped.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:41

I waited and waited, closing my eyes with fear and impatience,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:45

but all was silent as the grave.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:48

After what seemed to me hours, I began to feel uncomfortable.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:52

A sense that somebody was close to me made me unclose my eyes.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:12:57

Then I saw the white face of the hearse-driver looking at me through the coffin-lid—"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:03

A sob from Tessie interrupted me. She was trembling like a leaf.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:07

I saw I had made an ass of myself and attempted to repair the damage.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:12

"Why, Tess," I said.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:14

"I only told you this to show you what influence your story might have on another person's dreams.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:21

You don't suppose I really lay in a coffin, do you? What are you trembling for?

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:27

Don't you see that your dream and my unreasonable dislike for that inoffensive guard of the church

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:34

simply set my brain working as soon as I fell asleep?"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:38

She laid her head between her arms, and sobbed as if her heart would break.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:44

What a precious triple donkey I had made of myself.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:47

But I was about to break my record.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:50

I went over and put my arm about her.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:13:53

"Tessie, dear, forgive me," I said. "I had no business to frighten you with such nonsense.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:00

You are too sensible a girl, too good a Catholic to believe in dreams."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:05

Her hand tightened on mine and her head fell back upon my shoulder,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:10

but she still trembled and I petted her and comforted her.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:15

"Come, Tess, open your eyes and smile."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:20

Her eyes opened with a slow, languid movement and met mine,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:24

but their expression was so queer that I hastened to reassure her again.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:30

"It's all humbug, Tessie; you surely are not afraid that any harm will come to you because of that?"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:38

"No," she said, but her scarlet lips quivered.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:43

"Then what's the matter? Are you afraid?"

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:47

"Yes. Not for myself."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:50

"For me, then?" I demanded gaily.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:54

"For you," she murmured in a voice almost inaudible.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:14:58

"I—I care for you."

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:02

At first I started to laugh, but when I understood her, a shock passed through me,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:08

and I sat like one turned to stone.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:11

This was the crowning bit of idiocy I had committed.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:14

During the moment which elapsed between her reply and my answer

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:19

I thought of a thousand responses to that innocent confession.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:23

I could pass it by with a laugh, I could misunderstand her and assure her as to my health,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:29

I could simply point out that it was impossible che could love me.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:33

But my reply was quicker than my thoughts,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:36

and I might think and think now, when it was too late,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:40

for I had kissed her on the mouth.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:49

This concludes part two of The Yellow Sign by Robert W. Chambers.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:55

Thank you for listening to Liminal Flares.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:15:58

Our music is by The Parlor Trick.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:01

Audio Engineering by Meredith Yayanos.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:05

I hope you've enjoyed our time together in this twilit space.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:09

If you did and would like to help support our show,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:12

subscribe and leave us a rating and a review on your favorite podcast platform.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:17

And please share us with others who might enjoy

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:20

our haunted and haunting gender-inclusive story time.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:25

Next week, we return to continue reading Robert W. Chambers' tale of

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:31

Yhe Yellow Sign, part three of four.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:34

I do hope you'll join me.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:37

P.S.

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:38

If you have a favorite author or a specific piece of writing,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:42

a short story, poem, or passage from a book, that's in the public domain in the US,

Then they don't say nothin', and I sez 00:16:48

I welcome your requests for future episodes.

You'll find links to archives of public domain literature in the Resources section of our website 00:16:51

liminalflares.com,

You'll find links to archives of public domain literature in the Resources section of our website 00:16:59

where you'll also find more information about us, this show, and individual episodes as they air.

You'll find links to archives of public domain literature in the Resources section of our website 00:17:06

Submit your requests via the website or via social media @liminslflares,

You'll find links to archives of public domain literature in the Resources section of our website 00:17:11

where you can learn about future episodes