clotelle(有色女英雄)-第21节
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upon her countenance； which would have warmed the heart of an
anchorite。 Such was the personal appearance of the girl who was now in
prison by her own act to save the life of another。 Would she be hanged in
his stead； or would she receive a different kind of punishment？ These
questions Clotelle did not ask herself。 Open； frank； free； and generous to a
fault； she always thought of others； never of her own welfare。
The long stay of Clotelle caused some uneasiness to Miss Wilson； yet
she dared not tell her father； for he had forbidden the slave…girl's going to
the prison to see her lover。 While the clock on the church near by was
striking eleven； Georgiana called Sam； and sent him to the prison in search
of Clotelle。
〃The girl went away from here at eight o'clock；〃 was the jailer's
answer to the servant's inquiries。
The return of Sam without having found the girl saddened the heart of
the young mistress。 〃Sure； then；〃 said she； 〃the poor； heartbroken thing
has made way with herself。〃
Still； she waited till morning before breaking the news of Clotelle's
absence to her father。
The jailer discovered； the next morning； to his utter astonishment； that
his prisoner was white instead of black； and his first impression was that
the change of complexion had taken place during the night； through fear of
death。 But this conjecture was soon dissipated； for the dark； glowing
eyes； the sable curls upon the lofty brow； and the mild； sweet voice that
answered his questions； informed him that the prisoner before him was
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another being。
On learning； in the morning； that Clotelle was in jail dressed in male
attire； Miss Wilson immediately sent clothes to her to make a change in
her attire。 News of the heroic and daring act of the slave…girl spread
through the city with electric speed。
〃I will sell every nigger on the place；〃 said the parson； at the breakfast…
table；〃I will sell them all； and get a new lot； and whip them every day。〃
Poor Georgiana wept for the safety of Clotelle； while she felt glad that
Jerome had escaped。 In vain did they try to extort from the girl the
whereabouts of the man whose escape she had effected。 She was not
aware that he had fled on a steamer； and when questioned； she replied；
〃I don't know； and if I did I would not tell you。 I care not what you do
with me； if Jerome but escapes。〃
The smile with which she uttered these words finely illustrated the
poet's meaning； when he says；
〃A fearful gift upon they heart is laid； Womanthe
power to suffer and to love。〃
Her sweet simplicity seemed to dare them to lay their rough hands
amid her trembling curls。
Three days did the heroic young woman remain in prison； to be gazed
at by an unfeeling crowd； drawn there out of curiosity。 The intelligence
came to her at last that the court had decided to spare her life； on condition
that she should be whipped； sold； and sent out of the State within twenty…
four hours。
This order of the court she would have cared but little for； had she not
been sincerely attached to her young mistress。
〃Do try and sell her to some one who will use her well；〃 said
Georgiana to her father； as he was about taking his hat to leave the house。
〃I shall not trouble myself to do any such thing；〃 replied the hard…
hearted parson。 〃I leave the finding of a master for her with the slave…
dealer。〃
Bathed in tears； Miss Wilson paced her room in the absence of her
father。 For many months Georgiana had been in a decline； and any little
trouble would lay her on a sick bed for days。 She was； therefore； poorly
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able to bear the loss of this companion； whom she so dearly loved。
Mr。 Wilson had informed his daughter that Clotelle was to be flogged；
and when Felice came in and informed her mistress that the poor girl had
just received fifty lashes on her bare person； the young lady fainted and
fell on the floor。 The servants placed their mistress on the sofa； and went
in pursuit of their master。 Little did the preacher think； on returning to his
daughter； that he should soon be bereft of her； yet such was to be his lot。 A
blood…vessel had been ruptured； and the three physicians who were called
in told the father that he must prepare to lose his child。 That moral courage
and calmness； which was her great characteristic； did not forsake
Georgiana in her hour of death。 She had ever been kind to the slaves
under her charge； and they loved and respected her。 At her request； the
servants were all brought into her room； and took a last farewell of their
mistress。 Seldom； if ever； was there witnessed a more touching scene
than this。 There lay the young woman； pale and feeble； with death stamped
upon her countenance； surrounded by the sons and daughters of Africa；
some of whom had been separated from every earthly tie； and the most of
whose persons had been torn and gashed by the negro…whip。 Some were
upon their knees at the bedside； others standing around； and all weeping。
Death is a leveler； and neither age； sex； wealth； nor condition； can
avert when he is permitted to strike。 The most beautiful flowers must
soon fade and droop and die。 So； also； with man； his days are as
uncertain as the passing breeze。 This hour he glows in the blush of
health and vigor； but the next； he may be counted with the number no
more known on earth。 Oh； what a silence pervaded the house when this
young flower was gone！ In the midst of the buoyancy of youth； this
cherished one had dropped and died。 Deep were the sounds of grief and
mourning heard in that stately dwelling when the stricken friends； whose
office it had been to nurse and soothe the weary sufferer； beheld her pale
and motionless in the sleep of death。
Who can imagine the feeling with which poor Clotelle received the
intelligence of her kind friend's death？ The deep gashes of the cruel
whip had prostrated the lovely form of the quadroon； and she lay upon her
bed of straw in the dark cell。 The speculator had brought her； but had
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postponed her removal till she should recover。 Her benefactress was dead；
and
〃Hope withering fled； and mercy sighed farewell。〃
〃Is Jerome safe？〃 she would ask herself continually。 If her lover could
have but known of the sufferings of that sweet flower；… …that polyanthus
over which he had so often been in his dreams；he would then have
learned that she was worthy of his love。
It was more than a fortnight before the slave…trader could take his prize
to more comfortable quarters。 Like Alcibiades； who defaced the images
of the gods and expected to be pardoned on the ground of eccentricity； so
men who abuse God's image hope to escape the vengeance of his wrath
under the plea that the law sanctions their atrocious deeds。
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CHAPTER XXII
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT AND WHAT FOLLOWED
IT was a beautiful Sunday in September； with a cloudless sky； and the
rays of the sun parching the already thirsty earth； that Clotelle stood at an
upper window in Slater's slave…pen in New Orleans； gasping for a breath
of fresh air。 The bells of thirty churches were calling the people to the
different places of worship。 Crowds were seen wending their way to the
houses of God； one followed by a negro boy carrying his master's Bible；
another followed by her maid…servant holding the mistress' fan； a third
supporting an umbrella over his master's head to shi
