condensed novels(压缩小说)-第27节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Highness the Prince of Wales； her immediate successor。 It would be
unnecessary to state that suspicion would at once point to the real culprit；
which would of course be his Royal Highness。 This is logic。
But I have done。 After having thus stated my opinion in favor of the
South； I would merely remark that there is One who judgeth all things；
who weigheth the cause between brother and brother；and awardeth the
perfect retribution； and whose ultimate decision I； as a British subject；
have only anticipated。
G。 A。 S。
147
… Page 148…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER I。
Every reader of Belle Boyd's narrative will remember an allusion to a
〃lovely； fragile…looking girl of nineteen；〃 who rivalled Belle Boyd in
devotion to the Southern cause； and who； like her； earned the enviable
distinction of being a 〃rebel spy。〃
I am that 〃fragile〃 young creature。 Although on friendly terms with the
late Miss Boyd； now Mrs。 Hardinge； candor compels me to state that
nothing but our common politics prevents me from exposing the
ungenerous spirit she has displayed in this allusion。 To be dismissed in a
single paragraph after years of But I anticipate。 To put up with this feeble
and forced acknowledgment of services rendered would be a confession of
a craven spirit； which； thank God； though 〃fragile〃 and only 〃nineteen；〃 I
do not possess。 I may not have the 〃blood of a Howard〃 in my veins； as
some people； whom I shall not disgrace myself by naming； claim to have；
but I have yet to learn that the race of McGillup ever yet brooked slight or
insult。 I shall not say that attention in certain quarters seems to have turned
SOME PEOPLE'S heads； nor that it would have been more delicate if
certain folks had kept quiet on the subject of their courtship； and the
rejection of certain offers； when it is known that their forward conduct was
all that procured them a husband！ Thank heaven； the South has some
daughters who are above such base considerations！ While nothing shall
tempt me to reveal the promises to share equally the fame of certain
enterprises； which were made by one who shall now be nameless； I have
deemed it only just to myself to put my own adventures upon record。 If
they are not equal to those of another individual； it is because； though
〃fragile；〃 my education has taught me to have some consideration for the
truth。 I am done。
148
… Page 149…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER II。
I was born in Missouri。 My dislike for the Northern scum was
inherent。 This was shown； at an early age； in the extreme distaste I
exhibited for Webster's spelling…book；the work of a well…known Eastern
Abolitionist。 I cannot be too grateful for the consideration shown by my
chivalrous father；a gentleman of the old school；who resisted to the last
an attempt to introduce Mitchell's Astronomy and Geography into the
public school of our district。 When I state that this same Mitchell became
afterward a hireling helot in the Yankee Army； every intelligent reader will
appreciate the prophetic discrimination of this true son of the South。
I was eight years old when I struck the first blow for Southern freedom
against the Northern Tyrant。 It is hardly necessary to state that in this
instance the oppressor was a pale； overworked New England
〃schoolmarm。〃 The principle for which I was contending； I felt； however；
to be the same。 Resenting an affront put upon me； I one day heaved a
rock* at the head of the Vandal schoolmistress。 I was seized and
overpowered。 My pen falters as I reach the climax。 English readers will
not give credit to this sickening story；the civilized world will avert its
head；but I； Mary McGillup； was publicly SPANKED！
* NOTE； BY G。 A。 S。In the Southwest； any stone larger than a pea
is termed 〃a rock。〃
149
… Page 150…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER III。
But the chaotic vortex of civil war approached； and fell destruction；
often procrastinated； brooded in storm。* As the English people may like to
know what was really the origin of the rebellion； I have no hesitation in
giving them the true and only cause。 Slavery had nothing to do with it；
although the violation of the Declaration of Independence； in the disregard
by the North of the Fugitive Slave Law；** might have provoked a less
fiery people than the Southrons。 At the inception of the struggle a large
amount of Southern indebtedness was held by the people of the North。 To
force payment from the generous but insolvent debtorto obtain
liquidation from the Southern planterwas really the soulless and
mercenary object of the craven Northerners。 Let the common people of
England look to this。 Let the improvident literary hack； the starved
impecunious Grub Street debtor； the newspaper frequenter of sponging…
houses； remember this in their criticisms of the vile and slavish Yankee。
* I make no pretension to fine writing； but perhaps Mrs。 Hardinge
can lay over that。 O； of course！ M。 McG。
** The Declaration of Independence grants to each subject 〃the pursuit
of life； liberty； and happiness。〃 A fugitive slave may be said to personify
〃life； liberty； and happiness。〃 Hence his pursuit is really legal。 This is logic。
G。 A。 S。
150
… Page 151…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER IV。
The roasting of an Abolitionist； by a greatly infuriated community；
was my first taste of the horrors of civil war。 Heavens！ Why will the North
persist in this fratricidal warfare？ The expulsion of several Union refugees；
which soon followed； now fairly plunged my beloved State in the seething
vortex。
I was sitting at the piano one afternoon； singing that stirring refrain； so
justly celebrated； but which a craven spirit； unworthy of England； has
excluded from some of her principal restaurants； and was dwelling with
some enthusiasm on the following line：
〃Huzza！ she spurns the Northern scum！〃
when a fragment of that scum； clothed in that detestable blue uniform
which is the symbol of oppression； entered the apartment。 〃I have the
honor of addressing the celebrated rebel spy； Miss McGillup；〃 said the
Vandal officer。
In a moment I was perfectly calm。 With the exception of slightly
expectorating twice in the face of the minion； I did not betray my agitation。
Haughtily； yet firmly； I replied：
〃I am。〃
〃You looked as if you might be；〃 the brute replied； as he turned on his
heel to leave the apartment。
In an instant I threw myself before him。 〃You shall not leave here
thus；〃 I shrieked； grappling him with an energy which no one； seeing my
frail figure； would have believed。 〃I know the reputation of your hireling
crew。 I read your dreadful purpose in your eye。 Tell me not that your
designs are not sinister。 You came here to insult me；to kiss me； perhaps。
You sha'n't；you naughty man。 Go away！〃
The blush of conscious degradation rose to the cheek of the Lincoln
hireling as he turned his face away from mine。
In an instant I drew my pistol from my belt； which； in anticipation of
some such outrage； I always carried； and shot him。
151
… Page 152…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER V。
〃Thy forte was less to act than speak； Maryland！ Thy politics were
changed each week； Maryland！ With Northern Vandals thou wast meek；
With sympathizers thou wouldst shriek； I know
