the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第44章
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encouraging a marriage with Wain； she would see him in his true light； and
interpose to rescue her daughter from his importunities。 A day or two
after this conversation； Frank met in the town a negro from Sampson
County； made his acquaintance； and inquired if he knew a man by the
name of Jeff Wain。
〃Oh； Jeff Wain！〃 returned the countryman slightingly； 〃yas； I knows
'im； an' don' know no good of 'im。 One er dese yer biggity； braggin'
niggerstalks lack he own de whole county； an' ain't wuth no mo' d'n I is
jes' a big bladder wid a handful er shot rattlin' roun' in it。 Had a wife；
when I wuz dere； an' beat her an' 'bused her so she had ter run away。〃
This was alarming information。 Wain had passed in the town as a
single man； and Frank had had no hint that he had ever been married。
There was something wrong somewhere。 Frank determined that he
would find out the truth and； if possible； do something to protect Rena
against the obviously evil designs of the man who had taken her away。
The barrel factory had so affected the cooper's trade that Peter and Frank
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had turned their attention more or less to the manufacture of small
woodenware for domestic use。 Frank's mule was eating off its own head；
as the saying goes。 It required but little effort to persuade Peter that his
son might take a load of buckets and tubs and piggins into the country and
sell them or trade them for country produce at a profit。
In a few days Frank had his stock prepared； and set out on the road to
Sampson County。 He went about thirty miles the first day； and camped
by the roadside for the night； resuming the journey at dawn。 After
driving for an hour through the tall pines that overhung the road like the
stately arch of a cathedral aisle； weaving a carpet for the earth with their
brown spines and cones； and soothing the ear with their ceaseless murmur；
Frank stopped to water his mule at a point where the white； sandy road；
widening as it went； sloped downward to a clear…running branch。 On the
right a bay…tree bending over the stream mingled the heavy odor of its
flowers with the delicate perfume of a yellow jessamine vine that had
overrun a clump of saplings on the left。 From a neighboring tree a
silver…throated mocking…bird poured out a flood of riotous melody。 A
group of minnows； startled by the splashing of the mule's feet； darted
away into the shadow of the thicket； their quick passage leaving the amber
water filled with laughing light。
The mule drank long and lazily； while over Frank stole thoughts in
harmony with the peaceful scene；thoughts of Rena； young and beautiful；
her friendly smile； her pensive dark eyes。 He would soon see her now；
and if she had any cause for fear or unhappiness； he would place himself
at her servicefor a day； a week； a month； a year； a lifetime； if need be。
His reverie was broken by a slight noise from the thicket at his left。
〃I wonder who dat is？〃 he muttered。 〃It soun's mighty quare； ter say de
leas'。〃
He listened intently for a moment； but heard nothing further。 〃It must
'a' be'n a rabbit er somethin' scamp'in' th'ough de woods。 G'long dere；
Caesar！〃
As the mule stepped forward； the sound was repeated。 This time it
was distinctly audible； the long； low moan of some one in sickness or
distress。
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〃Dat ain't no rabbit；〃 said Frank to himself。 〃Dere's somethin' wrong
dere。 Stan' here； Caesar； till I look inter dis matter。〃
Pulling out from the branch； Frank sprang from the saddle and pushed
his way cautiously through the outer edge of the thicket。
〃Good Lawd！〃 he exclaimed with a start； 〃it's a womana w'ite
woman！〃
The slender form of a young woman lay stretched upon the ground in a
small open space a few yards in extent。 Her face was turned away； and
Frank could see at first only a tangled mass of dark brown hair； matted
with twigs and leaves and cockleburs； and hanging in wild profusion
around her neck。
Frank stood for a moment irresolute； debating the serious question
whether he should investigate further with a view to rendering assistance；
or whether he should put as great a distance as possible between himself
and this victim； as she might easily be； of some violent crime； lest he
should himself be suspected of ita not unlikely contingency； if he were
found in the neighborhood and the woman should prove unable to describe
her assailant。 While he hesitated； the figure moved restlessly； and a voice
murmured：
〃Mamma； oh； mamma！〃
The voice thrilled Frank like an electric shock。 Trembling in every
limb； he sprang forward toward the prostrate figure。 The woman turned
her head； and he saw that it was Rena。 Her gown was torn and dusty； and
fringed with burs and briars。 When she had wandered forth； half
delirious； pursued by imaginary foes； she had not stopped to put on her
shoes； and her little feet were blistered and swollen and bleeding。
Frank knelt by her side and lifted her head on his arm。 He put his hand
upon her brow； it was burning with fever。
〃Miss Rena！ Rena！ don't you know me？〃
She turned her wild eyes on him suddenly。 〃Yes； I know you； Jeff
Wain。 Go away from me！ Go away！〃
Her voice rose to a scream； she struggled in his grasp and struck at
him fiercely with her clenched fists。 Her sleeve fell back and disclosed
the white scar made by his own hand so many years before。
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〃You're a wicked man；〃 she panted。 〃Don't touch me！ I hate you
and despise you！〃
Frank could only surmise how she had come here； in such a condition。
When she spoke of Wain in this manner； he drew his own conclusions。
Some deadly villainy of Wain's had brought her to this pass。 Anger
stirred his nature to the depths； and found vent in curses on the author of
Rena's misfortunes。
〃Damn him！〃 he groaned。 〃I'll have his heart's blood fer dis； ter de
las' drop！〃
Rena now laughed and put up her arms appealingly。 〃George；〃 she
cried； in melting tones； 〃dear George； do you love me？ How much do
you love me？ Ah； you don't love me！〃 she moaned； 〃I'm black； you don't
love me； you despise me！〃
Her voice died away into a hopeless wail。 Frank knelt by her side；
his faithful heart breaking with pity； great tears rolling untouched down his
dusky cheeks。
〃Oh； my honey； my darlin'；〃 he sobbed； 〃Frank loves you better 'n all
de worl'。〃
Meantime the sun shone on as brightly as before； the mocking…bird
sang yet more joyously。 A gentle breeze sprang up and wafted the odor
of bay and jessamine past them on its wings。 The grand triumphal sweep
of nature's onward march recked nothing of life's little tragedies。
When the first burst of his grief was over； Frank brought water from
the branch； bathed Rena's face and hands and feet； and forced a few drops
between her reluctant lips。 He then pitched the cartload of tubs； buckets；
and piggins out into the road； and gathering dried leaves and pine… straw；
spread them in the bottom of the cart。 He stooped； lifted her frail form in
his arms； and laid it on the leafy bed。 Cutting a couple of hickory withes；
he arched them over the cart； and gathering an armful of jessamine quickly
wove it into an awning to protect her from the sun。 She was quieter now；
and seemed to fall asleep。
〃Go ter sleep； honey；〃 he murmured caressingly； 〃go ter sleep； an'
Frank'll take you home ter yo' mammy！〃
Toward noon he was met by a young white man； who peered
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inquisitively into the canopied cart。
〃Hello！〃 exclaimed the stranger； 〃who've you got there？〃
〃A sick woman； suh。〃
〃Why； she's white； as I'm a sinner！〃 he cried； after a closer inspection。
〃Look a…here； nigger； what are you doin' with this white woman？〃
〃She's not w'ite； boss；she's a bright mulatter。〃
〃Yas； mighty bright；〃 continued the stranger suspiciously。 〃Where
are you goin' with her？〃
〃I'm takin' her ter Patesville； ter her mammy。〃
The stranger passed on。 Toward evening Frank heard hounds baying
in the distance。 A fox； weary with running； brush drooping； crossed the
road ahead of the cart。 Presently； the hounds straggled across the road；
followed by two or three hunters on horseback； who stopped at sight of the
strangely canopied cart。 They stared at the sick girl and demanded who
she was。
〃I don't b'lieve she's black at all；〃 declared one； after Frank's brief
explanation。 〃This nigger has a bad eye；he's up ter some sort of
devilment。 What ails the girl？〃
〃 'Pears ter be some kind of a fever；〃 replied Frank； adding
diplomatically； 〃I don't know whether it's ketchin' er noshe's be'n out er
her head most er de time。〃
They drew off a little at this。 〃I reckon it's all right；〃 said the chief
spokesman。 The hounds were baying clamorously in the distance。 The
hunters followed the sound and disappeared m the woods。
Frank drove all day and all ni
