clotelle(有色女英雄)-第26章
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！
from the lips of her husband。
〃We must see this poor man； whoever he is；〃 said she； as Jerome
finished the sentence。
The landlord was glad to hear that his guests felt some interest in the
sick man； and promised that the invalid's room should be got ready for
their reception。
The clock in the hall was just striking ten； as Jerome passed through
and entered the sick man's chamber。 Stretched upon a mattress； with both
hands tightly bound to the bedstead； the friendless stranger was indeed a
pitiful sight。 His dark； dishevelled hair prematurely gray； his long；
unshaven beard； and the wildness of the eyes which glanced upon them as
they opened the door and entered； caused the faint hope which had so
suddenly risen in Clotelle's heart； to sink； and she felt that this man could
claim no kindred with her。 Certainly； he bore no resemblance to the man
whom she had called her father； and who had fondly dandled her on his
knee in those happy days of childhood。
〃Help！〃 cried the poor man； as Jerome and his wife walked into the
room。 His eyes glared； and shriek after shriek broke forth from his parched
and fevered lips。
121
… Page 122…
CLOTELLE
〃No； I did not kill my daughter！I did not！ she is not dead！ Yes； she is
dead！ but I did not kill herpoor girl！ Look！ that is she！ No； it cannot be！
she cannot come here！ it cannot be my poor Clotelle。〃
At the sound of her own name； coming from the maniac's lips； Clotelle
gasped for breath； and her husband saw that she had grown deadly pale。
It seemed evident to him that the man was either guilty of some terrible act；
or imagined himself to be。 His eyeballs rolled in their sockets； and his
features showed that he was undergoing 〃the tortures of that inward hell；〃
which seemed to set his whole brain on fire。 After recovering her self…
possession and strength； Clotelle approached the bedside； and laid her soft
hand upon the stranger's hot and fevered brow。
One long； loud shriek rang out on the air； and a piercing cry； 〃It is
she！Yes； it is she！ I see； I see！ Ah！ no； it is not my daughter！ She
would not come to me if she could！〃 broke forth from him。
〃I am your daughter；〃 said Clotelle； as she pressed her handkerchief to
her face； and sobbed aloud。
Like balls of fire； the poor man's eyes rolled and glared upon the
company； while large drops of perspiration ran down his pale and
emaciated face。 Strange as the scene appeared； all present saw that it was
indeed a meeting between a father and his long…lost daughter。 Jerome now
ordered all present to leave the room； except the nurse； and every effort
was at once made to quiet the sufferer。 When calm； a joyous smile would
illuminate the sick man's face； and a strange light beam in his eyes； as he
seemed to realize that she who stood before him was indeed his child。
For two long days and nights did Clotelle watch at the bedside of her
father before he could speak to her intelligently。 Sometimes； in his insane
fits； he would rave in the most frightful manner； and then； in a few
moments； would be as easily governed as a child。 At last； however； after a
long and apparently refreshing sleep； he awoke suddenly to a full
consciousness that it was indeed his daughter who was watching so
patiently by his side。
The presence of his long absent child had a soothing effect upon Mr。
Linwood； and he now recovered rapidly from the sad and almost hopeless
condition in which she had found him。 When able to converse； without
122
… Page 123…
CLOTELLE
danger of a relapse； he told Clotelle of his fruitless efforts to obtain a clew
to her whereabouts after old Mrs。 Miller had sold her to the slave…trader。 In
answer to his daughter's inquiries about his family affairs up to the time
that he left America； he said；
〃I blamed my wife for your being sold and sent away； for I thought she
and her mother were acting in collusion； But I afterwards found that I had
blamed her wrongfully。 Poor woman！ she knew that I loved your mother；
and feeling herself forsaken； she grew melancholy and died in a decline
three years ago。〃
Here both father and daughter wept at the thought of other days。 When
they had recovered their composure； Mr。 Linwood went on again：
〃Old Mrs。 Miller；〃 said he； 〃after the death of Gertrude； aware that she
had contributed much toward her unhappiness； took to the free use of
intoxicating drinks； and became the most brutal creature that ever lived。
She whipped her slaves without the slightest provocation； and seemed to
take delight in inventing new tortures with which to punish them。 One
night last winter； after having flogged one of her slaves nearly to death；
she returned to her room； and by some means the bedding took fire； and
the house was in flames before any one was awakened。 There was no one
in the building at the time but the old woman and the slaves； and although
the latter might have saved their mistress； they made no attempt to do so。
Thus； after a frightful career of many years； this hard…hearted woman died
a most miserable death； unlamented by a single person。〃
Clotelle wiped the tears from her eyes； as her father finished this story；
for； although Mrs。 Miller had been her greatest enemy； she regretted to
learn that her end had been such a sad one。
〃My peace of mind destroyed；〃 resumed the father； 〃and broken down
in health； my physician advised me to travel； with the hope of recruiting
myself； and I sailed from New York two months ago。〃
Being brought up in America； and having all the prejudice against
color which characterizes his white fellow…countrymen； Mr。 Linwood very
much regretted that his daughter； although herself tinctured with African
blood； should have married a black man； and he did not fail to express to
her his dislike of her husband's complexion。
123
… Page 124…
CLOTELLE
〃I married him；〃 said Clotelle； 〃because I loved him。 Why should the
white man be esteemed as better than the black？ I find no difference in
men on account of their complexion。 One of the cardinal principles of
Christianity and freedom is the equality and brotherhood of man。〃
Every day Mr。 Linwood became more and more familiar with Jerome；
and eventually they were on the most intimate terms。
Fifteen days from the time that Clotelle was introduced into her
father's room； they left Ferney for Geneva。 Many were the excursions
Clotelle made under the shadows of Mont Blanc； and with her husband
and father for companions； she was now in the enjoyment of pleasures
hitherto unknown。
124
… Page 125…
CLOTELLE
CHAPTER XXXV
THE FATHER'S RESOLVE
AWARE that her father was still a slave…owner； Clotelle determined
to use all her persuasive power to induce him to set them free； and in this
effort she found a substantial supporter in her husband。
〃I have always treated my slaves well；〃 said Mr。 Linwood to Jerome；
as the latter expressed his abhorrence of the system； 〃and my neighbors；
too； are generally good men； for slavery in Virginia is not like slavery in
the other States；〃 continued the proud son of the Old Dominion。 〃Their
right to be free； Mr。 Linwood；〃 said Jerome； 〃is taken from them； and they
have no security for their comfort； but the humanity and generosity of men；
who have been trained to regard them not as brethren； but as mere
property。 Humanity and generosity are； at best； but poor guaranties for
the protection of those who cannot assert their rights； and over whom law
throws no protection。〃
It was with pleasure that Clotelle obtained from her father a promise
that he would liberate all his slaves on his return to Richmond。 In a
beautiful little villa； situated in a pleasant spot； fringed with hoary rocks
and thick dark woods； within sight of the deep blue waters of Lake Leman；
Mr。 Linwood； his daughter； and her husband； took up their residence for a
short time。 For more than three weeks； this little party spent their time in
visiting the birth…place of Rousseau； and the former abodes of Byron；
Gibbon； Voltaire； De Stael； Shelley； and other literary characters。
We can scarcely contemplate a visit to a more historic and interesting
place than Geneva and its vicinity。 Here； Calvin； that great luminary in
the Church； lived and ruled for years； here； Voltaire； the mighty genius；
who laid the foundation of the French Revolution； and who boasted；
〃When I shake my wig； I powder the whole republic；〃 governed in the
higher walks of life。
Fame is generally the recompense； not of the living； but of the dead；
not always do they reap and gather in the harvest who sow the seed； the
flame of its altar is too often kindled from the ashes of the great。 A
125
… Page 126…
CLOTELLE
distinguished critic has beautifully said； 〃The sound which the stream of
high thought； carried down to future ages； makes； as it flows deep；
distant； murmuring ever more； like the waters of the mighty ocean。〃 No
reputation can be called great that will no endure this test。 The
distinguished men who had lived in Geneva transfused their spirit； by their
writings； into the spirit of other lovers of literature and everything that
treated of great authors。 Jerome and Clotelle lingered long in and about
the haunts of Geneva and Lake Leman。
An autumn sun sent down he
