the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第23节
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perceptible effect upon the racial type。
Such people were； for the most part； merely on the ragged edge of the
white world； seldom rising above the level of overseers； or slave…catchers；
or sheriff's officers； who could usually be relied upon to resent the drop of
black blood that tainted them； and with the zeal of the proselyte to visit
their hatred of it upon the unfortunate blacks that fell into their hands。
One curse of negro slavery was； and one part of its baleful heritage is； that
it poisoned the fountains of human sympathy。 Under a system where
men might sell their own children without social reprobation or loss of
prestige； it was not surprising that some of them should hate their distant
cousins。 There were not in Patesville half a dozen persons capable of
thinking Judge Straight's thoughts upon the question before him； and
perhaps not another who would have adopted the course he now pursued
toward this anomalous family in the house behind the cedars。
〃Well； here we are again； as the clown in the circus remarks；〃
murmured the judge。 〃Ten years ago； in a moment of sentimental
weakness and of quixotic loyalty to the memory of an old friend； who；
by the way； had not cared enough for his own children to take them away
from the South； as he might have done； or to provide for them handsomely；
as he perhaps meant to do；I violated the traditions of my class and
stepped from the beaten path to help the misbegotten son of my old friend
out of the slough of despond； in which he had learned； in some strange
way； that he was floundering。 Ten years later； the ghost of my good deed
returns to haunt me； and makes me doubt whether I have wrought more
evil than good。 I wonder；〃 he mused； 〃if he will find her out？〃
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The judge was a man of imagination； he had read many books and had
personally outlived some prejudices。 He let his mind run on the various
phases of the situation。
〃If he found her out； would he by any possibility marry her？〃
〃It is not likely；〃 he answered himself。 〃If he made the discovery
here； the facts would probably leak out in the town。 It is something that a
man might do in secret； but only a hero or a fool would do openly。〃
The judge sighed as he contemplated another possibility。 He had
lived for seventy years under the old regime。 The young man was a
gentleman so had been the girl's father。 Conditions were changed； but
human nature was the same。 Would the young man's love turn to disgust
and repulsion； or would it merely sink from the level of worship to that of
desire？ Would the girl； denied marriage； accept anything less？ Her
mother had；but conditions were changed。 Yes； conditions were
changed； so far as the girl was concerned； there was a possible future for
her under the new order of things； but white people had not changed their
opinion of the negroes； except for the worse。 The general belief was that
they were just as inferior as before； and had； moreover； been spoiled by a
disgusting assumption of equality； driven into their thick skulls by Yankee
malignity bent upon humiliating a proud though vanquished foe。
If the judge had had sons and daughters of his own； he might not have
done what he now proceeded to do。 But the old man's attitude toward
society was chiefly that of an observer； and the narrow stream of sentiment
left in his heart chose to flow toward the weaker party in this unequal
conflict； a young woman fighting for love and opportunity against the
ranked forces of society； against immemorial tradition； against pride of
family and of race。
〃It may be the unwisest thing I ever did；〃 he said to himself； turning to
his desk and taking up a quill pen； 〃and may result in more harm than
good； but I was always from childhood in sympathy with the under dog。
There is certainly as much reason in my helping the girl as the boy； for
being a woman； she is less able to help herself。〃
He dipped his pen into the ink and wrote the following lines：
MADAM；If you value your daughter's happiness； keep her at home
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for the next day or two。
This note he dried by sprinkling it with sand from a box near at hand；
signed with his own name； and； with a fine courtesy； addressed to 〃Mrs。
Molly Walden。〃 Having first carefully sealed it in an envelope； he
stepped to the open door； and spied； playing marbles on the street near by；
a group of negro boys； one of whom the judge called by name。
〃Here； Billy；〃 he said； handing the boy the note； 〃take this to Mis'
Molly Walden。 Do you know where she livesdown on Front Street； in
the house behind the cedars？〃
〃Yas； suh； I knows de place。〃
〃Make haste； now。 When you come back and tell me what she says；
I'll give you ten cents。 On second thoughts； I shall be gone to lunch； so
here's your money；〃 he added； handing the lad the bit of soiled paper by
which the United States government acknowledged its indebtedness to the
bearer in the sum of ten cents。
Just here； however； the judge made his mistake。 Very few mortals
can spare the spring of hope； the motive force of expectation。 The boy
kept the note in his hand； winked at his companions； who had gathered as
near as their awe of the judge would permit； and started down the street。
As soon as the judge had disappeared； Billy beckoned to his friends； who
speedily overtook him。 When the party turned the corner of Front Street
and were safely out of sight of Judge Straight's office； the capitalist
entered the grocery store and invested his unearned increment in
gingerbread。 When the ensuing saturnalia was over； Billy finished the
game of marbles which the judge had interrupted； and then set out to
execute his commission。 He had nearly reached his objective point when
he met upon the street a young white lady； whom he did not know； and for
whom； the path being narrow at that point； he stepped out into the gutter。
He reached the house behind the cedars； went round to the back door； and
handed the envelope to Mis' Molly； who was seated on the rear piazza；
propped up by pillows in a comfortable rocking…chair。
〃Laws…a…massy！〃 she exclaimed weakly； 〃what is it？〃
〃It's a lettuh； ma'm；〃 answered the boy； whose expanding nostrils had
caught a pleasant odor from the kitchen； and who was therefore in no
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hurry to go away。
〃Who's it fur？〃 she asked。
〃It's fuh you； ma'm；〃 replied the lad。
〃An' who's it from？〃 she inquired； turning the envelope over and over；
and examining it with the impotent curiosity of one who cannot read。
〃F'm ole Jedge Straight； ma'm。 He tole me ter fetch it ter you。 Is
you got a roasted 'tater you could gimme； ma'm？〃
〃Shorely； chile。 I'll have Aunt Zilphy fetch you a piece of 'tater pone；
if you'll hol' on a minute。〃
She called to Aunt Zilphy； who soon came hobbling out of the kitchen
with a large square of the delicacy；a flat cake made of mashed sweet
potatoes； mixed with beaten eggs； sweetened and flavored to suit the taste；
and baked in a Dutch oven upon the open hearth。
The boy took the gratuity； thanked her； and turned to go。 Mis' Molly
was still scanning the superscription of the letter。 〃I wonder；〃 she
murmured； 〃what old Judge Straight can be writin' to me about。 Oh；
boy！〃
〃Yas 'm；〃 answered the messenger； looking back。
〃Can you read writin'？〃
〃No 'm。〃
〃All right。 Never mind。〃
She laid the letter carefully on the chimney… piece of the kitchen。 〃I
reckon it's somethin' mo' 'bout the
