clotelle(有色女英雄)-第11章
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still more agitated and frightened tone。 Mark and his companions made
the welkin ring with their shouts at the old man's answer。 Uncle Tony
hearing them； and finding that he had been imposed upon； opened his door；
came out with stick in hand； and said； 〃Is dat you； Mr。 Mark？ you imp； if I
can get to you I'll larn you how to come here wid your nonsense。〃
Mark and his companions left the garden； feeling satisfied that Uncle
Tony was not as ready to go with 〃de angel of de Lord〃 as he would have
others believe。
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CHAPTER XIV
THE PRISON
WHILE poor little Clotelle was being kicked about by Mrs。 Miller；
on account of her relationship to her son…in…law； Isabella was passing
lonely hours in the county jail； the place to which Jennings had removed
her for safe…keeping； after purchasing her from Mrs。 Miller。 Incarcerated
in one of the iron…barred rooms of that dismal place； those dark； glowing
eyes； lofty brow； and graceful form wilted down like a plucked rose under
a noonday sun； while deep in her heart's ambrosial cells was the most
anguishing distress。
Vulgar curiosity is always in search of its victims； and Jennings' boast
that he had such a ladylike and beautiful woman in his possession brought
numbers to the prison who begged of the jailer the privilege of seeing the
slave…trader's prize。 Many who saw her were melted to tears at the pitiful
sight； and were struck with admiration at her intelligence； and； when she
spoke of her child； they must have been convinced that a mother's sorrow
can be conceived by none but a mother's heart。 The warbling of birds in
the green bowers of bliss； which she occasionally heard； brought no
tidings of gladness to her。 Their joy fell cold upon her heart； and seemed
like bitter mockery。 They reminded her of her own cottage； where； with
her beloved child； she had spent so many happy days。
The speculator had kept close watch over his valuable piece of
property； for fear that it might damage itself。 This； however； there was
no danger of； for Isabella still hoped and believed that Henry would come
to her rescue。 She could not bring herself to believe that he would allow
her to be sent away without at least seeing her； and the trader did all he
could to keep this idea alive in her。
While Isabella； with a weary heart； was passing sleepless nights
thinking only of her daughter and Henry； the latter was seeking relief in
that insidious enemy of the human race； the intoxicating cup。 His wife did
all in her power to make his life a pleasant and a happy one； for Gertrude
was devotedly attached to him； but a weary heart gets no gladness out of
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sunshine。 The secret remorse that rankled in his bosom caused him to
see all the world blood…shot。 He had not visited his mother…in…law since
the evening he had given her liberty to use her own discretion as to how
Isabella and her child should be disposed of。 He feared even to go near the
house； for he did not wish to see his child。 Gertrude felt this every time he
declined accompanying her to her mother's。 Possessed of a tender and
confiding heart； entirely unlike her mother； she sympathized deeply with
her husband。 She well knew that all young men in the South； to a greater
or less extent； became enamored of the slave…women； and she fancied that
his case was only one of the many； and if he had now forsaken all others
for her she did not wish to be punished； but she dared not let her mother
know that such were her feelings。 Again and again had she noticed the
great resemblance between Clotelle and Henry； and she wished the child in
better hands than those of her cruel mother。
At last Gertrude determined to mention the matter to her husband。
Consequently； the next morning； when they were seated on the back
piazza； and the sun was pouring its splendid rays upon everything around；
changing the red tints on the lofty hills in the distance into streaks of
purest gold； and nature seeming by her smiles to favor the object； she
said；
〃What； dear Henry； do you intend to do with Clotelle？〃 A paleness
that overspread his countenance； the tears that trickled down his cheeks；
the deep emotion that was visible in his face； and the trembling of his
voice； showed at once that she had touched a tender chord。 Without a
single word； he buried his face in his handkerchief； and burst into tears。
This made Gertrude still more unhappy； for she feared that he had
misunderstood her； and she immediately expressed her regret that she had
mentioned the subject。 Becoming satisfied from this that his wife
sympathized with him in his unhappy situation； Henry told her of the
agony that filled his soul； and Gertrude agreed to intercede for him with
her mother for the removal of the child to a boarding…school in one of the
Free States。
In the afternoon； when Henry returned from his office； his wife met
him with tearful eyes； and informed him that her mother was filled with
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rage at the mention of the removal of Clotelle from her premises。
In the mean time； the slave…trader； Jennings； had started for the South
with his gang of human cattle； of whom Isabella was one。 Most quadroon
women who are taken to the South are either sold to gentlemen for their
own use or disposed of as house…servants or waiting…maids。 Fortunately
for Isabella； she was sold for the latter purpose。 Jennings found a
purchaser for her in the person of Mr。 James French。
Mrs。 French was a severe mistress。 All who lived with her； though
well…dressed； were scantily fed and over…worked。 Isabella found her new
situation far different from her Virginia cottage…life。 She had frequently
heard Vicksburg spoken of as a cruel place for slaves； and now she was in
a position to test the truthfulness of the assertion。
A few weeks after her arrival； Mrs。 French began to show to Isabella
that she was anything but a pleasant and agreeable mistress。 What social
virtues are possible in a society of which injustice is a primary
characteristic； in a society which is divided into two classes； masters and
slaves？ Every married woman at the South looks upon her husband as
unfaithful； and regards every negro woman as a rival。
Isabella had been with her new mistress but a short time when she was
ordered to cut off her long and beautiful hair。 The negro is naturally fond
of dress and outward display。 He who has short woolly hair combs and oils
it to death； he who has long hair would sooner have his teeth drawn than
to part with it。 But； however painful it was to Isabella； she was soon seen
with her hair cut short； and the sleeves of her dress altered to fit tight to
her arms。 Even with her hair short and with her ill…looking dress；
Isabella was still handsome。 Her life had been a secluded one； and though
now twenty…eight years of age； her beauty had only assumed a quieter tone。
The other servants only laughed at Isabella's misfortune in losing her
beautiful hair。
〃Miss 'Bell needn't strut so big； she got short nappy har's well's I；〃 said
Nell； with a broad grin that showed her teeth。
〃She tink she white when she cum here； wid dat long har ob hers；〃
replied Mill。
〃Yes；〃 continued Nell； 〃missus make her take down her wool； so she
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no put it up to…day。〃
The fairness of Isabella's complexion was regarded with envy by the
servants as well as by the mistress herself。 This is one of the hard features
of slavery。 To…day a woman is mistress of her own cottage； tomorrow
she is sold to one who aims to make her life as intolerable as possible。 And
let it be remembered that the house…servant has the best situation a slave
can occupy。
But the degradation and harsh treatment Isabella experienced in her
new home was nothing compared to the grief she underwent at being
separated from her dear child。 Taken from her with scarcely a moment's
warning； she knew not what had become of her。
This deep and heartfelt grief of Isabella was soon perceived by her
owners； and fearing that her refusal to take proper food would cause her
death； they resolved to sell her。 Mr。 French found no difficulty in
securing a purchaser for the quadroon woman； for such are usually the
most marketable kind of property。 Isabella was sold at private sale to a
young man for a housekeeper； but even he had missed his aim。
Mr。 Gordon； the new master； was a man of pleasure。 He was the
owner of a large sugar plantation； which he had left under the charge of an
overseer； and was now giving himself up to the pleasures of a city life。 At
first Mr。 Gordon sought to win Isabella's favor by flattery and presents；
knowing that whatever he gave her he could take from her again。 The poor
innocent creature dreaded every moment lest the scene should change。 At
every interview with Gordon she stoutly maintained that she had left a
husband in Virginia； and could never think of taking another。 In this she
considered that she was truthful； for she had ever regarded Henry as her
husband。 The gold watch and chain and other glittering presents which
Gordon gave to her were all kept unused。
In the same house with Isabella was a man…servant who had from time
to time hired himself from his master。 His name was William。 He could
feel for Isabella； for he； like her； had be
