the red acorn-第37章

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lding　the　edges　of　even　the　blackest　with　silvery　promise；　so　the　thoughts　of　Rachel　Bond　suffused　with　some　brightness　every　possible　happening　to　him。　If　he　achieved　anything　the　achievement　would　have　for　its　chief　value　that　it　won　her　commendation；　if　he　fell；　the　blackness　of　death　would　be　gilded　by　her　knowledge　that　he　died　a　brave　man's　death　for　her　sweet　sake。

He　listened　awhile　to　the　mournful　whinny　of　the　mules；　to　the　sound　of　artillery　rolling　up　the　resonant　pike；　to　the　crashing　of　newly…arrived　regiments　through　the　cedars　as　they　made　their　camps　in　line…of…battle；　to　little　spurts　of　firing　between　the　nervous　pickets；　and　at　last　fell　asleep　to　dream　that　he　was　returning　to　Sardis；　maimed　but　honor…crowned；　to　claim　Rachel　as　his　exultant　bride。

…

The　Christmas　forenoon　was　quite　well…advanced　before　the　fatigue　of　Rachel　Bond's　long　ride　was　sufficiently　abated　to　allow　her　to　awaken。　　Then　a　soft　hum　of　voices　impressed　itself　upon　her　drowsy　senses；　and　she　opened　her　eyes　with　the　idea　that　there　were　several　persons　in　the　room　engaged　in　conversation。　　But　she　saw　that　there　was　only　Aunt　Debby；　seated　in　a　low　rocking…chair　by　the　lazily　burning　fire；　and　reading　aloud　from　a　large　Bible　that　lay　open　upon　her　knees。　　The　reading　was　slow　and　difficult；　as　of　one　but　little　used　to　it；　and　many　of　the　longer　words　were　patiently　spelled　out。　　But　this　labored　picking　the　way　along　the　rugged　path　of　knowledge；　stumbling　and　halting　at　the　nouns；　and　verbs；　and　surmounting　the　polysyllables　a　letter　at　a　time；　seemed　to　give　the　reader　a　deeper　feeling　of　the　value　and　meaning　of　each　word；　than　is　usually　gained　by　the　more　facile　scholar。　　As　Rachel　listened　she　became　aware　that　Aunt　Debby　was　reading　that　wonderful　twelfth　chapter　of　St。　Luke；　richest　of　all　chapters　in　hopes　and　promises　and　loving　counsel　for　the　lowly　and　oppressed。　She　had　reached　the　thirty…fifth　verse；　and　read　onward　with　a　passionate　earnestness　and　understanding　that　made　every　word　have　a　new　revelation　to　Rachel：


〃Let　your　loins　be　girded　up；　and　your　lights　burning；

〃And　ye　yourselves　like　unto　men　that　wait　for　their　Lord　when　he　will　return　from　the　wedding；　that　when　he　cometh　and　knocketh　they　may　open　unto　him　immediately。

〃Blessed　are　those　servants　whom　the　Lord　when　he　cometh　shall　find　watching；　verily　I　say　unto　you　that　he　shall　gird　himself　and　make　them　to　sit　down　to　meat；　and　will　come　forth　and　serve　them。

〃And　if　ye　shall　come　in　the　second　watch；　or　come　in　the　third　watch；　and　shall　find　them　so；　blessed　are　those　servants。

〃And　this　now　that　if　the　good　man　of　the　house　had　known　what　the　hour　the　thief　would　come　he　would　have　watched；　and　not　suffered　his　house　to　be　broken　through。

〃Be　ye　therefore　ready　also；　for　the　Son　of　Man　cometh　at　an　hour　when　ye　think　not。〃


Rachel　stirred　a　little；　and　Aunt　Debby　looked　up　and　closed　the　book。

〃I'm　afeared　I've　roused　ye　up　too　soon；〃　she　said；　coming　toward　the　bed　with　a　look　of　real　concern　upon　her　sad；　sweet　face。　　〃I　raylly　didn't　intend　ter。　　I　jest　opened　the　book　ter　read　teh　promise　'bout　our　Father　heedin'　even　a　sparrer's　fall；　an'　forgot　'bout　our　Father　heedin'　even　a　sparrer's　fall；　an'　forgot；　an'　read　on；　an'　when　I　read；　I　must　read　out　loud；　ter　git　the　good　of　hit。　　Some　folks　pretend　they　kin　understand　jest　ez　well　when　they　read　ter　themselves。　　Mebbe　they　kin。〃

〃O；　no；〃　replied　Rachel　cheerfully；　〃you　didn't　disturb　me　in　the　least。　　It　was　time　that　I　got　up；　and　I　was　glad　to　hear　you　read。　I'm　only　troubled　with　the　fear　that　I've　overslept　myself；　and　missed　the　duty　that　I　was　intended　for。〃

〃Make　yourself　easy　on　that　'ere　score。　　Ye'll　not　be　needed　to…day；　nor　likely　to…morrow。　　Some　things　hev　come　up　ter　change　Jim's　plans。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　said　Rachel；　sitting　up　in　the　bed　and　tossing　back　her　long；　silken　mane　with　a　single　quick；　masterful　motion。　〃I　wished　to　go　immediately　about　what　I　am　expected　to　do。　　I　can　do　anything　better　than　wait。〃

Aunt　Debby　came　impulsively　to　the　bedside；　threw　an　arm　around　Rachel's　neck；　and　kissed　her　on　the　forehead。　　〃I　love　ye；　honey；〃　she　said　with　admiring　tenderness。　　〃Ye'　're　sich　ez　all　women　orter　be。　　Ye　'll　make　heroes　of　yer　husband　and　sons。　　Ye　've　yit　ter　l'arn　though；　thet　the　most　of　a　woman's　life；　an'　the　hardest　part　of　hit；　is　ter　wait。〃

In　her　fervid　state　of　mind　Rachel　responded　electrically　to　this　loving　advance；　made　at　the　moment　of　all　others　when　she　felt　most　in　need　of　sympathy　and　love。　　She　put　her　strong　arms　around　Aunt　Debby；　and　held　her　for　a　moment　close　to　her　heart。　　From　that　moment　the　two　women　became　of　one　accord。　　Womanlike；　they　sought　relief　from　their　high　tension　in　light；　irrelevant　talk　and　care　for　the　trifling　details　of　their　surroundings。　　Aunt　Debby　brought　water　and　towels　for　Rachel's　toilet；　and　fluttered　around　her；　solicitous；　helpful　and　motherly；　and　Rachel；　weary　of　long　companionship　with　men；　delighted　in　the　restfulness　of　association　once　more　with　a　gentle；　sweet…minded　woman。

The　heavy　riding…habit　was　entirely　too　cumbersome　for　indoor　wear；　and　Rachel　put　on　instead　one　of　Aunt　Debby's　〃linsey〃　gowns；　that　hung　from　a　peg；　and　laughed　at　the　prim；　demure　mountain　girl　she　saw　in　the　glass。　　After　a　good　breakfast　had　still　farther　raised　her　spirits　she　ventured　upon　a　little　pleasantry　about　the　dramatic　possibilities　of　a　young　lady　who　couls　assume　different　characters　with　such　facility。

The　day　passed　quietly；　with　Rachel　studying　such　of　the　Christmas　festivities　as　were　visible　from　the　window；　and　from　time　to　time　exchanging　personal　history　with　Aunt　Debby。　　She　learned　that　the　latter　had　left　her　home　in　Rockcastle　Mountains　with　the　Union　Army　in　the　previous　Spring；　and　gone　on　to　Chattanooga；　to　assist　her　nephew；　Fortner；　in　obtaining　the　required　information　when　Mitchell's　army　advanced　against　that　place　in　the　Summer。　　When　the　army　retreated　to　the　Ohio；　in　September；　she　had　come　as　far　back　as　Murfreesboro；　and　there　stopped　to　await　the　army's　return；　which　she　was　confident　would　not　be　long　delayed。

〃How　brave　and　devoted　you　have　been；〃　said　Rachel　warmly；　as　Aunt　Debby　concluded　her　modestly…told　story。　　〃No　man　could　have　done　better。〃

〃No；　honey；〃　replied　the　elder　woman；　with　her　wan　face　coloring　faintly；　〃I've　done　nothin'　but　my　plain　duty；　ez　I　seed　hit。　　I've　done　nothin'　ter　what　THEY　would've　done　had　n't　they　been　taken　from　me　afore　they　had　a　chance。　　Like　one　who　speaks　ter　us　in　the　Book；　I've　been　in　journeyin's　often；　in　peril　of　robbers；　in　perils　of　mine　own　countrymen；　in　perils　in　the　city；　in　perils　in　the　wilderness；　in　weariness　an'　painfulness；　in　watchings　often；　in　hunger　an'　thirst；　in　fastings　often；　in　cold　an'　nakedness；　but　he　warns　us　not　ter　glory　in　these　things；　but　in　those　which　consarn　our　infirmities。〃

〃How　great　should　be　your　reward！〃

〃Don't　speak　of　reward。　　I　only　want　my　freedom　when　I've　'arned　hitthe　freedom　ter　leave　an　'arth　on　which　I've　been　left　behind；　an'　go　whar　my　husband　an'　son　are　waitin'　fur　me。〃

She　rose　and　paced　the　floor；　with　her　face　and　eyes　shining。

〃Have　you　no　fear　of　death　whatever？〃　asked　Rachel　in　amazement。

〃Fear　of　death！　　Child；　why　should　I　fear　death？　　Why　should　I　fear　death；　more　than　the　unborn　child　fears　birth？　　Both　are　the　same。　　Hit　can't　be　fur　ter　thet　other　world　whar　THEY　wait　fur　me。　　Hit　is　not　even　ez　a　journey　ter　the　next　townhit's　only　one　little　step　though　the　curtain　o'　green　grass　an'　violets　on　a　sunny　hillsideonly　one　little　step。〃

She　turned　abruptly；　and　going　back　to　her　chair　by　the　fireside；　seated　herself　in　it；　and　clasping　her　knees　with　her　hands；　rocked　back　and　forth；　and　sang　in　a　low；　sweet　croon：


〃Oh；　the　rapturous；　transporting　scene；　　　That　rises　ter　my　sight；　Sweet　fields　arrayed　in　livin'　green；　　　An'　rivers　of　delight。

〃All　o'er　those　wide；　extended　plains　　　Shines　one　eternal　day；　Thar　God；　the　Son；　forever　reigns；　　　An　scatters　night　away。

〃No　chillin'　winds　or　poisonous　breath　　　Kin　reach　thet　healthful　shore；　Sickness　an'　sorrow；　pain　an'　death；　　　Are　felt　an'　feared　no　more。〃


After　dark　Fortner　came　in。　　Both　women　studied　his　face　eagerly　as　he　walked　up　to　the　fire。

〃Nothin'　yet；　honey；〃　he　said　to　Aunt　Debby；　and　〃Nothin'　yet；　Miss；〃　to　Rachel；　and　after　a　little　stay　went　out。

When　Rachel　awoke　the　next　morning　the　sky　was　lowering　darkly。　　On　going　to　the　window　she　found　a　most　depressing　change　from　the　scene　of　bright　merriment　she　had　studied　the　night　before。　　A　chill　Winter　rain　was　falling　with　dreary　persistence；　pattering　on　the　dead　leaves　that　covered　the　ground；　and　soaking　into　the　sodden　earth。　　A　few　forlorn　little　birds　hopped　wearily　about；　searching　in　vain　in　the　dry　husks　and　empty　insect　shells　for　the　food　that　had　once　been　so　plentiful　there。　　Up　and　down　the　streets；　as　far　as　she　could　see；　men　in　squads　or　singly；　under　officers　or　without　organization；　plodded　along　dejectedly；　taking　the　cold　drench　from　above；　and　the　clinging　mud　around　their　feet；　with　the　dumb；　stolid　discontent　characteristic　of　seasoned　veterans。　When　mules　and　horses　went　by　they　seemed　poor　and　shrunken。　　They　drew　their　limbs　and　bodies　together；　as　if　to　present　the　least　surface　to　the　inclement　showers；　and　their　labored；　toilsome　motion　contrasted　painfully　with　their　strong；　free　movement　on　brighter　days。　　Everything　and　everybody　in　sight　added　something　to　increase　the　dismalness　of　the　view；　and　as　Rachel　continued　to　gaze　upon　it　the　〃horrors〃　took　possession　of　her。　　She　began　to　brood　wretchedly　over　her　position　as　a　spy　inside　the　enemy's　lines；　and　upon　all　the　consequences　of　that　position。

It　was　late　that　night　when　Fortner　came　in。　　As　he　entered　the　two　expectant　women　saw；　by　the　ruddy　light　of　the　fire；　that　his　face　was　set　and　his　eyes　flashing。　　He　hung　his　dripping　hat　on　a　peg　in　the　chimney；　and　kicked　the　blazing　logs　with　his　wet　boots　until　a　flood　of　meteor　sparks　flew　up　the　throat　of　the　fireplace。　Turning；　he　said；　without　waiting　to　be　questioned：

〃Well；　the　hunt's　begun　at　last。　　Our　folks　came　out'n　Nashville　this　morning　in　three　big　armies；　marchin'　on　different　roads；　an　they　begun　slashin'　at　the　Rebels　wherever　they　could　find　'em。　Thar's　been　fouten　at　Triune　an'　Lavergne；　an'　all　along　the　line。　They　histed　the　Rebels　out'n　ther　holes　everywhar；　an'　druv'　em　back　on　the　jump。　　Wagon　load　arter　wagon　load　o'　wounded's　comin'　back。　　I　come　in　ahead　of　a　long　train　agwine　ter　the　hospital。　Hark！　ye　kin　heah　'em　now。〃

The　women　listened。

They　heard　the　ceaseless　patter　and　swish　of　the　gloomy　rainthe　gusty　sighs　of　the　wind　through　the　shade…trees'　naked　brancheslouder　still　the　rolling　of　heavy　wheels　over　the　rough　streets；　and　all　these　were　torn　and　rent　by　the　shrieks　of　men　in　agony。

〃Poor　fellows；〃　said　Rachel；　〃how　they　are　suffering！〃

〃Think　ruther；〃　said　Aunt　Debby　calmly；　〃of　how　they've　made　others　suffer。　　Hit's　God's　judgement　on　'em。〃

Rachel　turned　to　Fortner。　　〃What　will　come　next？　　Will　this　end　it？　　Will　the　Rebels　fall　back　and　leave　this　place？〃

〃Hardly。　　This's　on'y　like　the