AmericanHorror(ThreeTerrifyingTales)byEdgarAllanPoeContentsTheBlackCat.............................................................................................3ChapterOne.........................................................................................3ChapterTwo.........................................................................................4ChapterThree.......................................................................................6TheOvalPortrait.......................................................................................7ChapterOne.........................................................................................8ChapterTwo.........................................................................................8TheTell-taleHeart.....................................................................................9ChapterOne.........................................................................................9ChapterTwo.......................................................................................10ChapterThree.....................................................................................15TheBlackCatChapterOneIdonotthinkpeoplewillbelievemystory.ButIamnotmad,andIamnotdreaming.TomorrowIwilldieandIwanttomakeaconfession.TheeventswhichIamgoingtodescribeherehaveterrifiedme,havetorturedme,havedestroyedme.Tometheyseemedhorribleandsupernatural,butperhapssomebodywhoiscalmerandmorerationalwillfindalogicalexplanation.Thisismystory.Iwasaverykindandgentlechildwholovedanimals.AsIgrewupthisloveforanimalsbecamegreater.Thisiseasytounderstand:itisdifficulttotrustpeople,butyoucanalwaystrustafaithfuldog.ImarriedwhenIwasyoungandmywifelikedanimalstoo.Wehadbirds,gold-fish,adog,rabbits,asmallmonkey,andacat.Thiscatwasquitelarge,beautiful,completelyblackandextremelyintelligent.Infact,mywifesometimessaidthatourcatwasprobablyawitchindisguise.Shewasnotreallyseriousaboutthis,andImentionitnowonlybecausebychanceIrememberit.Pluto—thiswasthecat'sname—wasmyfavoritepetandplaymate.Hefollowedmeeverywhere.Unfortunately,Ibecameavictimofalcohol.Idrankmoreandmore.Ofcourse,mypersonalitychanged.Ibecamemoodyandirritablewithmywifeandpets.Atthebeginning,though,IrespectedPlutoandneverhurthim.ButonenightIreturnedhomeveryintoxicated.IthoughtthatPlutowasavoidingme.Iheldhimviolentlyandinhisfrightthecatbitmyhand.Ibecamefurious.Iwaspossessedbyademon.Icaughtthecatagain.ThenItookapocket-knifefrommypocket,openeditandcutouthiseye!Iblush,IburnwhileInowwritethesefacts.ThenextdayIfelthorrorformyaction,butIcontinuedtodrink,andwinemademeforgetthehorriblethingIhaddone.Thecatgotbetter.TheemptyeyesocketIwasfrightening,butthecatwasnolongerinpain.Hewentaboutthehouseasusual,but,obviously,heranawayfrommeinterror.AtfirstIwassorryaboutthis,butsoonitmademeangry.AndthencamethespiritofPERVERSENESS.Philosophydoesnottalkaboutthisspirit,butitisafundamentalpartofthehumanheart.Wehavealldonestupidorterriblethingssimplybecauseweknowthatweshouldnotdothem.This,then,isPERVERSENESS.Thisspiritofperverseness,Isay,destroyedmebecauseonedayIdecidedtokillpoorPluto.WithtearsinmyeyesandsadnessinmyheartIputanoosearoundhisneckandhangedhimfromatree.IhangedPlutoonlybecauseIknewhelovedme,onlybecausehehadneverhurtme,onlybecauseIknewthatGodwouldneverpardonmeforthecrime.ChapterTwoThenightofthiscrimetherewasa...
