clotelle(有色女英雄)-第20章
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After the disease with which Dr。 Morton had so suddenly died had to
some extent subsided； Mr。 James Morton； a brother of the deceased； went
to New Orleans to settle up the estate。 On his arrival there； he was pleased
with and felt proud of his nieces； and invited them to return with him to
Vermont； little dreaming that his brother had married a slave； and that his
widow and daughters would be claimed as such。 The girls themselves had
never heard that their mother had been a slave； and therefore knew nothing
of the danger hanging over their heads。
An inventory of the property of the deceased was made out by Mr。
Morton； and placed in the hands of the creditors。 These preliminaries
being arranged； the ladies； with their relative； concluded to leave the city
and reside for a few days on the banks of Lake Ponchartrain； where they
could enjoy a fresh air that the city did not afford。 As they were about
taking the cars； however； an officer arrested the whole partythe ladies as
slaves； and the gentleman upon the charge of attempting to conceal the
property of his deceased brother。 Mr。 Morton was overwhelmed with
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horror at the idea of his nieces being claimed as slaves； and asked for time；
that he might save them from such a fate。 He even offered to mortgage
his little farm in Vermont for the amount which young slave…women of
their ages would fetch。 But the creditors pleaded that they were an 〃extra
article；〃 and would sell for more than common slaves； and must therefore
be sold at auction。
The uncle was therefore compelled to give them up to the officers of
the law； and they were separated from him。 Jane； the oldest of the girls；
as we have before mentioned； was very handsome； bearing a close
resemblance to her cousin Clotelle。 Alreka； though not as handsome as
her sister； was nevertheless a beautiful girl； and both had all the
accomplishments that wealth and station could procure。
Though only in her fifteen year； Alreka had become strongly attached
to Volney Lapie； a young Frenchman； a student in her father's office。 This
attachment was reciprocated； although the poverty of the young man and
the extreme youth of the girl had caused their feelings to be kept from the
young lady's parents。
The day of sale came； and Mr。 Morton attended； with the hope that
either the magnanimity of the creditors or his own little farm in Vermont
might save his nieces from the fate that awaited them。 His hope； however；
was in vain。 The feelings of all present seemed to be lost in the general
wish to become the possessor of the young ladies； who stood trembling；
blushing； and weeping as the numerous throng gazed at them； or as the
intended purchaser examined the graceful proportions of their fair and
beautiful frames。 Neither the presence of the uncle nor young Lapie could
at all lessen the gross language of the officers； or stay the rude hands of
those who wishes to examine the property thus offered for sale。 After a
fierce contest between the bidders； the girls were sold； one for two
thousand three hundred； and the other for two thousand three hundred and
fifty dollars。 Had these girls been bought for servants only； they would
in all probability have brought not more than nine hundred or a thousand
dollars each。 Here were two beautiful young girls； accustomed to the
fondest indulgence； surrounded by all the refinements of life； and with the
timidity and gentleness which such a life would naturally produce；
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bartered away like cattle in the markets of Smithfield or New York。
The mother； who was also to have been sold； happily followed her
husband to the grave； and was spared the pangs of a broken heart。
The purchaser of the young ladies left the market in triumph； and the
uncle； with a heavy heart； started for his New England home； with no
earthly prospect of ever beholding his nieces again。
The seizure of the young ladies as slaves was the result of the
administrator's having found among Dr。 Morton's papers the bill…of…sale of
Marion which he had taken when he purchased her。 He had doubtless
intended to liberate her when he married her； but had neglected from time
to time to have the proper papers made out。 Sad was the result of this
negligence。
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CHAPTER XXV
THE FLIGHT
ON once gaining the wharf； Devenant and Clotelle found no
difficulty in securing an immediate passage to France。 The fine packet…
ship Utica lay down the bay； and only awaited the return of the lighter that
night to complete her cargo and list of passengers； ere she departed。 The
young Frenchman therefore took his prize on board； and started for the
ship。
Daylight was just making its appearance the next morning when the
Utica weighed anchor and turned her prow toward the sea。 In the course of
three hours； the vessel； with outspread sails； was rapidly flying from land。
Everything appeared to be auspicious。 The skies were beautifully clear；
and the sea calm； with a sun that dazzled the whole scene。 But clouds
soon began to chase each other through the heavens； and the sea became
rough。 It was then that Clotelle felt that there was hoped of escaping。 She
had hitherto kept in the cabin； but now she expressed a wish to come on
deck。 The hanging clouds were narrowing the horizon to a span； and
gloomily mingling with the rising surges。 The old and grave…looking
seamen shook their weather…wise heads as if foretelling a storm。
As Clotelle came on deck； she strained her eyes in vain to catch a
farewell view of her native land。 With a smile on her countenance； but
with her eyes filled with tears； she said；
〃Farewell； farewell to the land of my birth； and welcome； welcome； ye
dark blue waves。 I care not where I go； so it is
'Where a tyrant never trod； Where a slave was never
known； But where nature worships God； If in the
wilderness alone。'〃
Devenant stood by her side； seeming proud of his future wife； with his
face in a glow at his success； while over his noble brow clustering locks of
glossy black hair were hanging in careless ringlets。 His finely…cut； classic
features wore the aspect of one possessed with a large and noble heart。
Once more the beautiful Clotelle whispered in the ear of her lover；
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〃Away； away； o'er land and sea； America is now no
home for me。〃
The winds increased with nightfall； and impenetrable gloom
surrounded the ship。 The prospect was too uncheering； even to persons
in love。 The attention which Devenant paid to Clotelle； although she had
been registered on the ship's passenger list as his sister； caused more than
one to look upon his as an agreeable travelling companion。 His tall；
slender figure and fine countenance bespoke for him at first sight one's
confidence。 That he was sincerely and deeply enamored of Clotelle all
could see。
The weather became still more squally。 The wind rushed through the
white； foaming waves； and the ship groaned with its own wild and
ungovernable labors； while nothing could be seen but the wild waste of
waters。 The scene was indeed one of fearful sublimity。
Day came and went without any abatement of the storm。 Despair was
now on every countenance。 Occasionally a vivid flash of lightning
would break forth and illuminate the black and boiling surges that
surrounded the vessel； which was now scudding before the blast under
bare poles。
After five days of most intensely stormy weather； the sea settled down
into a dead calm； and the passengers flocked on deck。 During the last three
days of the storm； Clotelle had been so unwell as to be unable to raise her
head。 Her pale face and quivering lips and languid appearance made her
look as if every pulsation had ceased。 Her magnificent large and soft
eyes； fringed with lashes as dark as night； gave her an angelic appearance。
The unreserved attention of Devenant； even when sea…sick himself； did
much to increase the little love that the at first distrustful girl had placed in
him。 The heart must always have some object on which to centre its
affections； and Clotelle having lost all hope of ever again seeing Jerome； it
was but natural that she should now transfer her love to one who was so
greatly befriending her。 At first she respected Devenant for the love he
manifested for her； and for his apparent willingness to make any sacrifice
for her welfare。 True； this was an adventure upon which she had risked her
all； and should her heart be foiled in this search for hidden treasures； her
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affections would be shipwrecked forever。 She felt under great
obligations to the man who had thus effected her escape； and that noble act
alone would entitle him to her love。
Each day became more pleasant as the noble ship sped onward amid
the rippled spray。 The whistling of the breeze through the rigging was
music to the ear； and brought gladness to the heart of every one on board。
At last； the long suspense was broken
