clotelle(有色女英雄)-第13节
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out with a joyous sheen； that Mark and two of the other boys passed the
greenhouse； and heard Uncle Tony in his devotions。
〃Let's have a little fun；〃 said the mischievous Marcus to his young
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companions。 〃I will make Uncle Tony believe that I am old mistress； and
he'll give us an extra touch in his prayer。〃 Mark immediately commenced
talking in a strain of voice resembling； as well as he could； Mrs。 Miller；
and at once Tony was heard to say in a loud voice； 〃O Lord； thou knowest
that the white people are not fit to die； but； as for old Tony； whenever the
angel of the Lord comes； he's ready。〃 At that moment； Mark tapped
lightly on the door。 〃Who's dar？〃 thundered old Tony。 Mark made no
reply。 The old man commenced and went through with the same remarks
addressed to the Lord； when Mark again knocked at the door。 〃Who dat
dar？〃 asked Uncle Tony； with a somewhat agitated countenance and
trembling voice。 Still Mark would not reply。 Again Tony took up the
thread of his discourse； and said； 〃O Lord； thou knowest as well as I do
that dese white folks are not prepared to die； but here is old Tony； when de
angel of de Lord comes； he's ready to go to heaven。〃 Mark once more
knocked on the door。 〃Who dat dar？〃 thundered Tony at the top of his
voice。
〃De angel of de Lord；〃 replied Mark； in a somewhat suppressed and
sepulchral voice。
〃What de angel of de Lord want here？〃 inquired Tony； as if much
frightened。
〃He's come for poor old Tony； to take him out of the world；〃 replied
Mark； in the same strange voice。
〃Dat nigger ain't here； he die tree weeks ago；〃 responded Tony； in a
still more agitated and frightened tone。 Mark and his companions made
the welkin ring with their shouts at the old man's answer。 Uncle Tony
hearing them； and finding that he had been imposed upon； opened his door；
came out with stick in hand； and said； 〃Is dat you； Mr。 Mark？ you imp； if I
can get to you I'll larn you how to come here wid your nonsense。〃
Mark and his companions left the garden； feeling satisfied that Uncle
Tony was not as ready to go with 〃de angel of de Lord〃 as he would have
others believe。
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CHAPTER XIV
THE PRISON
WHILE poor little Clotelle was being kicked about by Mrs。 Miller；
on account of her relationship to her son…in…law； Isabella was passing
lonely hours in the county jail； the place to which Jennings had removed
her for safe…keeping； after purchasing her from Mrs。 Miller。 Incarcerated
in one of the iron…barred rooms of that dismal place； those dark； glowing
eyes； lofty brow； and graceful form wilted down like a plucked rose under
a noonday sun； while deep in her heart's ambrosial cells was the most
anguishing distress。
Vulgar curiosity is always in search of its victims； and Jennings' boast
that he had such a ladylike and beautiful woman in his possession brought
numbers to the prison who begged of the jailer the privilege of seeing the
slave…trader's prize。 Many who saw her were melted to tears at the pitiful
sight； and were struck with admiration at her intelligence； and； when she
spoke of her child； they must have been convinced that a mother's sorrow
can be conceived by none but a mother's heart。 The warbling of birds in
the green bowers of bliss； which she occasionally heard； brought no
tidings of gladness to her。 Their joy fell cold upon her heart； and seemed
like bitter mockery。 They reminded her of her own cottage； where； with
her beloved child； she had spent so many happy days。
The speculator had kept close watch over his valuable piece of
property； for fear that it might damage itself。 This； however； there was
no danger of； for Isabella still hoped and believed that Henry would come
to her rescue。 She could not bring herself to believe that he would allow
her to be sent away without at least seeing her； and the trader did all he
could to keep this idea alive in her。
While Isabella； with a weary heart； was passing sleepless nights
thinking only of her daughter and Henry； the latter was seeking relief in
that insidious enemy of the human race； the intoxicating cup。 His wife did
all in her power to make his life a pleasant and a happy one； for Gertrude
was devotedly attached to him； but a weary heart gets no gladness out of
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sunshine。 The secret remorse that rankled in his bosom caused him to
see all the world blood…shot。 He had not visited his mother…in…law since
the evening he had given her liberty to use her own discretion as to how
Isabella and her child should be disposed of。 He feared even to go near the
house； for he did not wish to see his child。 Gertrude felt this every time he
declined accompanying her to her mother's。 Possessed of a tender and
confiding heart； entirely unlike her mother； she sympathized deeply with
her husband。 She well knew that all young men in the South； to a greater
or less extent； became enamored of the slave…women； and she fancied that
his case was only one of the many； and if he had now forsaken all others
for her she did not wish to be punished； but she dared not let her mother
know that such were her feelings。 Again and again had she noticed the
great resemblance between Clotelle and Henry； and she wished the child in
better hands than those of her cruel mother。
At last Gertrude determined to mention the matter to her husband。
Consequently； the next morning； when they were seated on the back
piazza； and the sun was pouring its splendid rays upon everything around；
changing the red tints on the lofty hills in the distance into streaks of
purest gold； and nature seeming by her smiles to favor the object； she
said；
〃What； dear Henry； do you intend to do with Clotelle？〃 A paleness
that overspread his countenance； the tears that trickled down his cheeks；
the deep emotion that was visible in his face； and the trembling of his
voice； showed at once that she had touched a tender chord。 Without a
single word； he buried his face in his handkerchief； and burst into tears。
This made Gertrude still more unhappy； for she feared that he had
misunderstood her； and she immediately expressed her regret that she had
mentioned the subject。 Becoming satisfied from this that his wife
sympathized with him in his unhappy situation； Henry told her of the
agony that filled his soul； and Gertrude agreed to intercede for him with
her mother for the removal of the child to a boarding…school in one of the
Free States。
In the afternoon； when Henry returned from his office； his wife met
him with tearful eyes； and informed him that her mother was filled with
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rage at the mention of the removal of Clotelle from her premises。
In the mean time； the slave…trader； Jennings； had started for the South
with his gang of human cattle； of whom Isabella was one。 Most quadroon
women who are taken to the South are either sold to gentlemen for their
own use or disposed of as house…servants or waiting…maids。 Fortunately
for Isabella； she was sold for the latter purpose。 Jennings found a
purchaser for her in the person of Mr。 James French。
Mrs。 French was a severe mistress。 All who lived with her； though
well…dressed； were scantily fed and over…worked。 Isabella found her new
situation far different from her Virginia cottage…life。 She had frequently
heard Vicksburg spoken of as a cruel place for slaves； and now she was in
a position to test the truthfulness of the assertion。
A few weeks after her arrival； Mrs。 French began to show to Isabella
that she was anything but a pleasan
