clotelle(有色女英雄)-第15部分
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Such was the life； and such the death； of a woman whose virtues and
goodness of heart would have done honor to one in a higher station of life；
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and who； had she been born in any other land but that of slavery； would
have been respected and beloved。 What would have been her feelings if
she could have known that the child for whose rescue she had sacrificed
herself would one day be free； honored； and loved in another land？
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CHAPTER XVII
CLOTELLE
THE curtain rises seven years after the death of Isabella。 During that
interval； Henry； finding that nothing could induce his mother…in…law to
relinquish her hold on poor little Clotelle； and not liking to contend with
one on whom a future fortune depended； gradually lost all interest in the
child； and left her to her fate。
Although Mrs。 Miller treated Clotelle with a degree of harshness
scarcely equalled； when applied to one so tender in years； still the child
grew every day more beautiful； and her hair； though kept closely cut；
seemed to have improved in its soft； silk…like appearance。 Now twelve
years of age； and more than usually well…developed； her harsh old mistress
began to view her with a jealous eye。
Henry and Gertrude had just returned from Washington； where the
husband had been on his duties as a member of Congress； and where he
had remained during the preceding three years without returning home。
It was on a beautiful evening； just at twilight； while seated at his parlor
window； that Henry saw a young woman pass by and go into the kitchen。
Not aware of ever having seen the person before； he made an errand into
the cook's department to see who the girl was。 He； however； met her in the
hall； as she was about going out。
〃Whom did you wish to see？〃 he inquired。
〃Miss Gertrude；〃 was the reply。
〃What did you want to see her for？〃 he again asked。
〃My mistress told me to give her and Master Henry her compliments；
and ask them to come over and spend the evening。〃
〃Who is your mistress？〃 he eagerly inquired。
〃Mrs。 Miller； sir；〃 responded the girl。
〃And what's your name？〃 asked Henry； with a trembling voice。
〃Clotelle； sir；〃 was the reply。
The astonished father stood completely amazed； looking at the now
womanly form of her who； in his happier days； he had taken on his knee
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with so much fondness and alacrity。 It was then that he saw his own and
Isabella's features combined in the beautiful face that he was then
beholding。 It was then that he was carried back to the days when with a
woman's devotion； poor Isabella hung about his neck and told him how
lonely were the hours in his absence。 He could stand it no longer。 Tears
rushed to his eyes； and turning upon his heel； he went back to his own
room。 It was then that Isabella was revenged； and she no doubt looked
smilingly down from her home in the spirit…land on the scene below。
On Gertrude's return from her shopping tour； she found Henry in a
melancholy mood； and soon learned its cause。 As Gertrude had borne him
no children； it was but natural； that he should now feel his love centering
in Clotelle； and he now intimated to his wife his determination to remove
his daughter from the hands of his mother…in…law。
When this news reached Mrs。 Miller； through her daughter； she
became furious with rage； and calling Clotelle into her room； stripped her
shoulders bare and flogged her in the presence of Gertrude。
It was nearly a week after the poor girl had been so severely whipped
and for no cause whatever； that her father learned on the circumstance
through one of the servants。 With a degree of boldness unusual for him；
he immediately went to his mother…in…law and demanded his child。 But it
was too late；she was gone。 To what place she had been sent no one
could tell； and Mrs。 Miller refused to give any information whatever
relative to the girl。
It was then that Linwood felt deepest the evil of the institution under
which he was living； for he knew that his daughter would be exposed to all
the vices prevalent in that part of the country where marriage is not
recognized in connection with that class。
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CHAPTER XVIII
A SLAVE…HUNTING PARSON
IT was a delightful evening after a cloudless day； with the setting sun
reflecting his golden rays on the surrounding hills which were covered
with a beautiful greensward； and the luxuriant verdure that forms the
constant garb of the tropics； that the steamer Columbia ran into the dock at
Natchez； and began unloading the cargo； taking in passengers and making
ready to proceed on her voyage to New Orleans。 The plank connecting the
boat with the shore had scarcely been secured in its place； when a good…
looking man about fifty years of age； with a white neck…tie； and a pair of
gold…rimmed glasses on； was seen hurrying on board the vessel。 Just at
that moment could be seen a stout man with his face fitted with the small…
pox； making his way up to the above…mentioned gentleman。
〃How do you do； my dear sir？ this is Mr。 Wilson； I believe；〃 said the
short man； at the same time taking from his mouth a large chew of tobacco；
and throwing it down on the ship's deck。
〃You have the advantage of me； sir；〃 replied the tall man。
〃Why； don't you know me？ My name is Jennings； I sold you a
splendid negro woman some years ago。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 answered the Natchez man。 〃I remember you now； for the
woman died in a few months； and I never got the worth of my money out
of her。〃
〃I could not help that；〃 returned the slave…trader； 〃she was as sound as
a roach when I sold her to you。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 replied the parson； 〃I know she was； but now I want a
young girl； fit for house use；one that will do to wait on a lady。〃
〃I am your man；〃 said Jennings； 〃just follow me；〃 continued he； 〃and I
will show you the fairest little critter you ever saw。〃 And the two passed to
the stern of the boat to where the trader had between fifty and sixty slaves；
the greater portion being women。
〃There；〃 said Jennings； as a beautiful young woman shrunk back with
modesty。 〃There； sir； is the very gal that was made for you。 If she had
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been made to your order； she could not have suited you better。〃
〃Indeed； sir； is not that young woman white？〃 inquired the parson。
〃Oh； no； sir； she is no whiter than you see！〃
〃But is she a slave？〃 asked the preacher。
〃Yes；〃 said the trader； 〃I bought her in Richmond； and she comes from
an excellent family。 She was raised by Squire Miller； and her mistress
was one of the most pious ladies in that city； I may say； she was the salt of
the earth； as the ministers say。〃
〃But she resembles in some respect Agnes； the woman I bought from
you；〃 said Mr。 Wilson。 As he said the name of Agnes； the young woman
started as if she had been struck。 Her pulse seemed to quicken； but her
face alternately flushed and turned pale； and tears trembled upon her
eyelids。 It was a name she had heard her mother mention； and it brought to
her memory those days；those happy days； when she was so loved and
caressed。 This young woman was Clotelle； the granddaughter of Agnes。
The preacher； on learning the fact； purchased her； and took her home；
feeling that his daughter Georgiana would prize her very highly。 Clotelle
found in Georgiana more a sister than a mistress； who； unknown to her
father； taught the slave…girl how to read； and did much toward improving
and refining Clotelle's manners； for her own sake。 Like her mother fond of
flowers； the 〃Virginia Maid；〃 as she was sometimes called； spent many of
her leisure hours in the garden。 Beside the flowers which sprang up from
the fertility of soil unplanted and unattended； there was the heliotrope；
sweet…pea； and cup…rose； transplanted from the island of Cuba。 In her
new home Clotelle found herself saluted on all sides by the fragrance of
the magnolia。 When she went with her young mistress to the Poplar Farm；
as she sometimes did； nature's wild luxuriance greeted her； wherever she
cast her eyes。
The rustling citron； lime； and orange； shady mango with its fruits of
gold； and the palmetto's umbrageous beauty； all welcomed the child of
sorrow。 When at the farm； Huckelby； the overseer； kept his eye on
Clotelle if within sight of h
