the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第49部分
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！
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
190
… Page 191…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
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 night； stopping only for brief periods of
rest and refreshment。 At dawn； from the top of the long white hill； he
sighted the river bridge below。 At sunrise he rapped at Mis' Molly's door。
Upon rising at dawn； Tryon's first step； after a hasty breakfast； was to
turn back toward Clinton。 He had wasted half a day in following the
false scent on the Lillington road。 It seemed； after reflection； unlikely
that a woman seriously ill should have been able to walk any considerable
distance before her strength gave out。 In her delirium； too； she might
have wandered in a wrong direction； imagining any road to lead to
Patesville。 It would be a good plan to drive back home； continuing his
191
… Page 192…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
inquiries meantime； and ascertain whether or not she had been found by
those who were seeking her； including many whom Tryon's inquiries had
placed upon the alert。 If she should prove still missing； he would resume
the journey to Patesville and continue the search in that direction。 She
had probably not wandered far from the highroad； even in delirium she
would be likely to avoid the deep woods； with which her illness was
associated。
He had retraced more than half the distance to Clinton when he
overtook a covered wagon。 The driver； when questioned； said that he had
met a young negro with a mule； and a cart in which lay a young woman；
white to all appearance； but claimed by the negro to be a colored girl who
had been taken sick on the road； and whom he was conveying home to her
mother at Patesville。 From a further description of the cart Tryon
recognized it as the one he had met the day before。 The woman could be
no other than Rena。 He turned his mare and set out swiftly on the road to
Patesville。
If anything could have taken more complete possession of George
Tryon at twenty…three than love successful and triumphant； it was love
thwarted and denied。 Never in the few brief delirious weeks of his
courtship had he felt so strongly drawn to the beautiful sister of the
popular lawyer； as he was now driven by an aching heart toward the same
woman stripped of every adventitions advantage and placed； by custom；
beyond the pale of marriage with men of his own race。 Custom was
tyranny。 Love was the only law。 Would God have made hearts to so
yearn for one another if He had meant them to stay forever apart？ If this
girl should die； it would be he who had killed her； by his cruelty； no less
surely than if with his own hand he had struck her down。 He had been so
dazzled by his own superiority； so blinded by his own glory； that he had
ruthlessly spurned and spoiled the image of God in this fair creature；
whom he might have had for his own treasure； whom； please God； he
would yet have； at any cost； to love and cherish while they both should
live。 There were difficultiesthey had seemed insuperable； but love
would surmount them。 Sacrifices must be made； but if the world without
love would be nothing； then why not give up the world for love？ He
192
… Page 193…
THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
would hasten to Patesville。 He would find her； he would tell her that he
loved her； that she was all the world to him； that he had come to marry her；
and take her away where they might be happy together。 He pictured to
himself the joy that would light up her face； he felt her soft arms around
his neck； her tremulous kisses upon his lips。 If she were ill； his love
would woo her back to health；if disappointment and sorrow had
contributed to her illness； joy and gladness should lead to her recovery。
He urged the mare forward； if she would but keep up her present pace；
he would reach Patesville by nightfall。
Dr。 Green had just gone down the garden path to his buggy at the gate。
Mis' Molly came out to the back piazza； where Frank； weary and haggard；
sat on the steps with Homer Pettifoot and Billy Oxendine； who； hearing of
Rena's return； had come around after their day's work。
〃Rena wants to see you； Frank；〃 said Mis' Molly； with a sob。
He walked in softly； reverently； and stood by her bedside。 She turned
her gentle eyes upon him and put out her slender hand； which he took in
his own broad palm。
〃Frank；〃 she murmured； 〃my good friend my best friendyou loved
me best of them all。〃
The tears rolled untouched down his cheeks。 〃I'd 'a' died； fer you；
Miss Rena；〃 he said brokenly。
Mary B。 threw open a window to make way for the passing spirit； and
the red and golden glory of the setting sun； triumphantly ending his daily
course； flooded the narrow room with light。
Between sunset and dark a traveler； seated in a dusty buggy drawn by
a tired horse； crossed the long river bridge and drove up Front Street。
Just as the buggy reached the gate in front of the house behind the cedars；
a woman was tying a piece of crape upon the door…knob。 Pale with
apprehension； Tryon sat as if petrified； until a tall； side…whi
