clotelle(有色女英雄)-第25章
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several officers fell； among whom was Captain Devenant。 The father of
the young captain being there at the time； took his daughter…in…law and
brought her back to France； where they took up their abode at the old
homestead。 Old Mr。 Devenant was possessed of a large fortune； all of
which he intended for his daughter…in…law and her only child。
Although Clotelle had married young Devenant； she had not forgotten
her first love； and her father…in…law now willingly gave his consent to her
marriage with Jerome。 Jerome felt that to possess the woman of his love；
even at that late hour； was compensation enough for the years that he had
been separated from her； and Clotelle wanted no better evidence of his
love for her than the fact of his having remained so long unmarried。 It was
indeed a rare instance of devotion and constancy in a man； and the young
widow gratefully appreciated it。
It was late in the evening when Jerome led his intended bride to the
window； and the magnificent moonlight illuminated the countenance of
the lovely Clotelle； while inward sunshine； emanating from a mind at ease；
and her own virtuous thoughts； gave brightness to her eyes and made her
appear a very angel。 This was the first evening that Jerome had been in her
company since the night when； to effect his escape from prison； she
disguised herself in male attire。 How different the scene now。 Free
instead of slaves； wealthy instead of poor； and on the eve of an event that
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seemed likely to result in a life of happiness to both。
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CHAPTER XXXIII
THE HAPPY DAY
IT was a bright day in the latter part of October that Jerome and
Clotelle set out for the church； where the marriage ceremony was to be
performed。 The clear； bracing air added buoyancy to every movement； and
the sun poured its brilliant rays through the deeply…stained windows； as the
happy couple entered the sanctuary； followed by old Mr。 Devenant； whose
form； bowed down with age； attracted almost as much attention from the
assembly as did the couple more particularly interested。
As the ceremonies were finished and the priest pronounced the
benediction on the newly…married pair； Clotelle whispered in the ear of
Jerome；
〃'No power in death shall tear our names apart； As
none in life could rend thee from my heart。'〃
A smile beamed on every face as the wedding…party left the church and
entered their carriage。 What a happy day； after ten years' separation；
when； both hearts having been blighted for a time； they are brought
together by the hand of a beneficent and kind Providence； and united in
holy wedlock。
Everything being arranged for a wedding tour extending up the Rhine；
the party set out the same day for Antwerp。 There are many rivers of
greater length and width than the Rhine。 Our Mississippi would swallow
up half a dozen Rhines。 The Hudson is grander； the Tiber； the Po； and the
Mincio more classic； the Thames and Seine bear upon their waters greater
amounts of wealth and commerce； the Nile and the Euphrates have a
greater antiquity； but for a combination of interesting historical incidents
and natural scenery； the Rhine surpasses them all。 Nature has so
ordained it that those who travel in the valley of the Rhine shall see the
river； for there never will be a railroad upon its banks。 So mountainous is
the land that it would have to be one series of tunnels。 Every three or
four miles from the time you enter this glorious river； hills； dales； castles；
and crags present themselves as the steamer glides onward。
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Their first resting…place for any length of time was at Coblentz； at the
mouth of the 〃Blue Moselle；〃 the most interesting place on the river。
From Coblentz they went to Brussels； where they had the greatest
attention paid them。 Besides being provided with letters of introduction；
Jerome's complexion secured for him more deference than is usually
awarded to travellers。
Having letters of introduction to M。 Deceptiax； the great lace
manufacturer； that gentleman received them with distinguished honors；
and gave them a splendid at which the of the city were
assembled。 The sumptuously…furnished mansion was lavishly decorated
for the occasion； and every preparation made that could add to the novelty
or interest of the event。
Jerome； with his beautiful bride； next visited Cologne； the largest and
wealthiest city on the banks of the Rhine。 The Cathedral of Cologne is the
most splendid structure of the kind in Europe； and Jerome and Clotelle
viewed with interest the beautiful arches and columns of this stupendous
building； which strikes with awe the beholder； as he gazes at its
unequalled splendor； surrounded； as it is； by villas； cottages； and palace…
like mansions； with the enchanting Rhine winding through the vine…
covered hills。
After strolling over miles and miles of classic ground； and visiting
castles； whose legends and traditions have given them an enduring fame；
our delighted travellers started for Geneva； bidding the picturesque banks
of the Rhine a regretful farewell。 Being much interested in literature； and
aware that Geneva was noted for having been the city of refuge to the
victims of religious and political persecution； Jerome arranged to stay here
for some days。 He was provided with a letter of introduction to M。 de Stee；
who had been a fellow…soldier of Mr。 Devenant in the East India wars； and
they were invited to make his house their home during their sojourn。 On
the side of a noble mountain； whose base is kissed by the waves of Lake
Geneva； and whose slopes are decked with verdure to the utmost peak of
its rocky crown； is situated the delightful country…residence of this wealthy；
retired French officer。 A winding road； with frequent climbs and brakes；
leads from the valley to this enchanting spot； the air and scenery of which
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cannot be surpassed in the world。
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CHAPTER XXXIV
CLOTELLE MEETS HER FATHER。
THE clouds that had skirted the sky during the day broke at last； and
the rain fell in torrents； as Jerome and Clotelle retired for the night； in the
little town of Ferney； on the borders of Lake Leman。 The peals of thunder；
and flashes of vivid lightening； which seemed to leap from mountain to
mountain and from crag to crag； reverberating among the surrounding hills；
foretold a heavy storm。
〃I would we were back at Geneva；〃 said Clotelle； as she heard groans
issuing from an adjoining room。 The sounds； at first faint； grew louder
and louder； plainly indicating that some person was suffering extreme
pain。
〃I did not like this hotel； much； when we came in；〃 said Jerome；
relighting the lamp； which had been accidentally extinguished。
〃Nor I；〃 returned Clotelle。
The shrieks increased； and an occasional 〃she's dead！〃 〃I killed her！〃
〃No； she is not dead！〃 and such…like expressions； would be heard from the
person； who seemed to be deranged。
The thunder grew louder； and the flashes of lightening more vivid；
while the noise from the sick…room seemed to increase。
As Jerome opened the door； to learn； if possible； the cause of the cries
and groans； he could distinguish the words； 〃She's dead！ yes； she's dead！
but I did not kill her。 She was my child！ my own daughter。 I loved her；
and yet I did not protect her。〃
〃Whoever he is；〃 said Jerome； 〃he's crack…brained； some robber；
probably； from the mountains。〃
The storm continued to rage； and the loud peals of thunder and sharp
flashes of lightening； together with the shrieks and moans of the maniac in
the adjoining room； made the night a fearful one。 The long hours wore
slowly away； but neither Jerome nor his wife could sleep； and they arose at
an early hour in the morning； ordered breakfast； and resolved to return to
Geneva。
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〃I am sorry； sir； that you were so much disturbed by the sick man last
night；〃 said the landlord； as he handed Jerome his bill。 〃I should be glad if
he would get able to go away； or die； for he's a deal of trouble to me。
Several persons have left my house on his account。〃
〃Where is he from？〃 inquired Jerome。 〃He's from the United States；
and has been here a week to…day； and has been crazy ever since。〃
〃Has he no friends with him？〃 asked the guest。
〃No； he is alone；〃 was the reply。
Jerome related to his wife what he had learned from the landlord；
respecting the sick man； and the intelligence impressed her so strongly；
that she requested him to make further inquiries concerning the stranger。
He therefore consulted the book in which guests usually register their
names； and； to his great surprise； found that the American's name was
Henry Linwood； and that he was from Richmond； Va。
It was with feelings of trepidation that Clotelle heard these particulars
from the lips of her husband。
〃We must see this poor man； whoever he is；〃
