twice-told tales- old esther dudley-第3节

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on　her　knees　and　tremblingly　held　forth　the　heavy　key。

　　　〃Receive　my　trust！　take　it　quickly！〃　cried　she；　〃for　methinks　Death

is　striving　to　snatch　away　my　triumph。　But　he　comes　too　late。　Thank

Heaven　for　this　blessed　hour！　God　save　King　George！〃

　　　〃That；　Madam；　is　a　strange　prayer　to　be　offered　up　at　such　a

moment；〃　replied　the　unknown　guest　of　the　Province　House；　and

courteously　removing　his　hat；　he　offered　his　arm　to　raise　the　aged

woman。　〃Yet；　in　reverence　for　your　gray　hairs　and　long…kept　faith；

Heaven　forbid　that　any　here　should　say　you　nay。　Over　the　realms

which　still　acknowledge　his　sceptre；　God　save　King　George！〃

　　　Esther　Dudley　started　to　her　feet；　and　hastily　clutching　back　the

key；　gazed　with　fearful　earnestness　at　the　stranger；　and　dimly　and

doubtfully；　as　if　suddenly　awakened　from　a　dream；　her　bewildered

eyes　half　recognized　his　face。　Years　ago　she　had　known　him　among　the

gentry　of　the　province。　But　the　ban　of　the　King　had　fallen　upon　him！

How；　then；　came　the　doomed　victim　here？　Proscribed；　excluded　from

mercy；　the　monarch's　most　dreaded　and　hated　foe；　this　New　England

merchant　had　stood　triumphantly　against　a　kingdom's　strength；　and

his　foot　now　trod　upon　humbled　Royalty；　as　he　ascended　the　steps　of

the　Province　House；　the　people's　chosen　Governor　of　Massachusetts。

　　　〃Wretch；　wretch　that　I　am！〃　muttered　the　old　woman；　with　such　a

heart…broken　expression　that　the　tears　gushed　from　the　stranger's

eyes。　〃Have　I　bidden　a　traitor　welcome？　Come；　Death！　come　quickly！〃

　　　〃Alas；　venerable　lady。　said　Governor　Hancock；　lending　her　his

support　with　all　the　reverence　that　a　courtier　would　have　shown　to　a

queen。　〃Your　life　has　been　prolonged　until　the　world　has　changed

around　you。　You　have　treasured　up　all　that　time　has　rendered

worthless…　the　principles；　feelings；　manners；　modes　of　being　and

acting；　which　another　generation　has　flung　aside…　and　you　are　a　symbol

of　the　past。　And　I；　and　these　around　me…　we　represent　a　new　race　of

men…　living　no　longer　in　the　past；　scarcely　in　the　present…　but

projecting　our　lives　forward　into　the　future。　Ceasing　to　model

ourselves　on　ancestral　superstitions；　it　is　our　faith　and　principle　to

press　onward；　onward！　Yet；〃　continued　he；　turning　to　his　attendants；

〃let　us　reverence；　for　the　last　time；　the　stately　and　gorgeous

prejudices　of　the　tottering　Past！〃

　　　While　the　Republican　Governor　spoke；　he　had　continued　to　support

the　helpless　form　of　Esther　Dudley；　her　weight　grew　heavier　against

his　arm；　but　at　last；　with　a　sudden　effort　to　free　herself；　the

ancient　woman　sank　down　beside　one　of　the　pillars　of　the　portal。　The

key　of　the　Province　House　fell　from　her　grasp；　and　clanked　against　the

stone。

　　　〃I　have　been　faithful　unto　death；〃　murmured　she。　〃God　save　the

King！〃

　　　〃She　hath　done　her　office！〃　said　Hancock　solemnly。　〃We　will

follow　her　reverently　to　the　tomb　of　her　ancestors；　and　then；　my

fellow…citizens；　onward…　onward！　We　are　no　longer　children　of　the

Past！

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。