the red acorn-第13部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃Well；　I'm　not　at　all　surprised；〃　said　Mr。　Oldunker；　a　bitter　States'　Rights　Democrat；　and　the　oracle　of　his　party。　　〃I　told　you　how　it'd　be　from　the　first。　　Harry　Glen　was　one　of　them　Wide…Awakes　that　marched　around　on　pleasant　evenings　last　Fall　with　oil…cloth　capes　and　kerosene　lamps。　　I　told　you　that　those　fellows'd　be　no　where　when　the　war　they　were　trying　to　bring　on　came。　　I'm　not　at　all　astonished　that　he　showed　himself　lily…livered　when　he　found　the　people　that　he　was　willing　to　rob　of　their　property　standing　ready　to　fight　for　their　homes　and　their　slaves。〃

〃Ready　to　shoot　into　a　crowd　of　unsuspecting　men；　you　mean；〃　sneered　Basil　Wurmset；　〃and　then　break　their　own　cursed　necks　when　they　saw　a　little　cold　steel　coming　their　way。〃

Tim　came　in　promptly　with　his　risible　symphony。

〃Well；　they　didn't　run　away　from　any　cold　steel　that　Harry　Glen　displayed；〃　sneered　Oldunker。

Tim's　laugh　was　allegro　and　crescendo　at　the　first；　and　staccato　at　the　close。

〃You　seem　to　forget　that　Capt。　Bob　Bennett　was　a　Wide…Awake；　too；〃　retorted　Wurmset；　〃though　you　might　have　remembered　it　from　his　having　threatened　to　lick　you　for　encouraging　the　boys　to　stone　the　lamps　in　the　procession。〃

Tim　cackled；　gurgled　and　roared。

Nels　Hathaway　had　kept　silent　as　long　as　he　could。　　He　must　put　his　oar　into　the　conversational　tide。

〃I'd　give　six　bits；〃　he　said；　〃to　know　how　the　meeting　between　him　and　Rachel　Bond　passes　off。　　He's　gone　up　to　the　house。　　The　boys　seen　him；　all　dressed　up　his　best。　　But　his　finery　and　his　perfumed　hankerchiefs　won't　count　anything　with　her；　I　can　tell　YOU。　　She　comes　of　fighting　stock；　if　ever　a　woman　did。　　The　Bonds　and　Harringtonsher　mother's　peopleare　game　breeds；　both　of　'em；　and　stand　right　on　their　record；　every　time。　　She'll　have　precious　little　traffic　with　a　white…feathered　fellow。　　I　think　she's　been　preparing　for　him　the　coldest　shoulder　any　young　feller　in　Sardis's　got　for　many　a　long　day。〃

There　was　nothing　very　funny　in　this　speech；　but　a　good　deal　of　risible　matter　had　accumulated　in　Tim's　diaphragm　during　its　delivery　which　he　had　to　get　rid　of；　and　he　did。

Harry　had　heard　enough。　　While　Tim's　laugh　yet　resounded　he　walked　away　unnoticed；　and　taking　a　roundabout　course　gained　his　room。　There　he　remained　a　week；　hardly　coming　down　to　his　meals。　　It　was　a　terrible　week　for　him；　for　every　waking　hour　of　it　he　walked　through　the　valley　of　humiliation；　and　drank　the　bitter　waters　of　shame。　　The　joints　of　his　hitherto　impenetrable　armor　of　self…conceit　had　been　so　pierced　by　the　fine　rapier　thrusts　of　Rachel's　scorn　that　it　fell　from　him　under　the　coarse　pounding　of　the　village　loungers　and　left　him　naked　and　defenseless　to　their　blows。　　Every　nerve　and　sense　ached　with　acute　pain。　　He　now　felt　all　of　his　father's　humiliation；　all　his　mother's　querulous　sorrow；　all　his　betrothed's　anguish　and　abasement。

Thoughts　of　suicide；　and　of　flying　to　some　part　of　the　country　where　he　was　entirely　unknown；　crowded　upon　him　incessantly。　　But　with　that　perversity　that　nature　seemingly　delights　in；　there　had　arisen　in　his　heart　since　he　had　lost　her；　such　a　love　for　Rachel　Bond　as　made　life　without　her；　or　without　her　esteem　even；　seem　valueless。　　To　go　into　a　strange　part　of　the　country　and　begin　life　anew　would　be　to　give　her　up　forever；　and　this　he　could　not　do。　　It　would　be　much　preferable　to　die　demonstrating　that　he　was　in　some　degree　worthy　of　her。　　And　a　latent　manly　pride　awakened　and　came　to　his　assistance。　　He　could　not　be　the　son　of　his　proud；　iron…willed　father　without　some　transmission　of　that　sire's　courageous　qualities。　　He　formed　his　resolution：　　He　would　stay　in　Sardis；　and　recover　his　honor　where　he　had　lost　it。

At　the　end　of　the　week　he　heard　the　drums　beat；　the　cannon　fire；　and　the　people　cheer。　　The　company　had　come　home；　and　was　marching　proudly　down　the　street　to　a　welcome　as　enthusiastic　as　if　its　members　were　bronzed　veterans　returning　victoriously　from　a　campaign　that　had　lasted　for　years。

His　mother　told　him　the　next　day　that　the　company　had　decided　to　re…enlist　for　three　years　or　duration　of　the　war；　and　that　a　meeting　would　be　held　that　evening　to　carry　the　intention　into　execution。　When　the　evening　came　Harry　walked　into　the　town　hall；　dressed　as　carefully　as　he　had　prepared　himself　for　his　visit　with　Rachel。　He　found　the　whole　company　assembled　there；　the　members　smoking；　chatting　with　their　friends；　and　recounting　to　admiring　hearers　the　wonderful　experiences　they　had　gone　through。　　The　enlistment　papers　were　being　prepared；　and　some　of　the　boys　who　had　not　been　examined　during　the　day　were　undergoing　the　surgeon's　inspection　in　an　adjoining　room。

Harry　was　coldly　received　by　everybody；　and　winced　a　little　under　this　contrast　with　the　attentions　that　all　the　others　were　given。

At　last　all　the　papers　and　rolls　seemed　to　be　signed；　and　there　was　a　lull　in　the　proceedings。　　Harry　rose　from　his　seat；　as　if　to　address　the　meeting。　　Instantly　all　was　silence　and　attention。

〃Comrades；〃　he　said；　in　a　firm；　even　voice；　〃I　have　come　to　say　to　you　that　I　feel　that　I　made　a　mistake　during　our　term　of　service；　and　I　want　to　apologize　to　you　for　my　conduct　then。　　More　than　this；　I　want　to　redeem　myself。　　I　want　to　go　with　you　again；　and　have　another　chance　to…〃

He　was　interrupted　by　an　enthusiastic　shout　from　them　all。

〃Hurrah！　　Bully　for　Lieutenant　Glen！　　Of　couse　we'll　give　you　another　show。　　Come　right　along　in　your　old　place；　and　welcome。〃

There　was　but　one　dissenting　voice。　　It　was　that　of　Jake　Alspaugh：

〃No；　I'll　be　durned　if　we　want　ye　along　any　more。　　We've　no　place　for　sich　fellers　with　us。　　We　only　want　them　as　has　sand　in　their　craws。〃

But　the　protest　was　overslaughed　by　the　multitude　of　assents。　　At　the　first　interval　of　silence　Harry　said：

〃No；　comrades；　I'll　not　accept　a　commission　again　until　I'm　sure　I　can　do　it　credit。　　I'll　enlist　in　the　company　on　the　same　footing　as　the　rest　of　the　boys；　and　share　everything　with　you。　　Give　the　lieutenancy　to　our　gallant　comrade　Alspaugh；　who　has　richly　earned　it。〃

The　suggestion　was　accepted　with　more　enthusiastic　cheering；　and　Harry；　going　up　to　the　desk；　filled　out　an　enlistment　blank；　signed　it　and　the　company　roll；　and　retired　with　the　surgeon　for　the　physical　examination。　　This　finished；　he　slipped　out　unnoticed　and　went　to　his　home。　　On　his　way　thither　he　saw　Rachel　as　she　passed　a　brilliantly　lighted　show…window。　　She　was　in　traveling　costume；　and　seemed　to　be　going　to　the　depot。　　She　turned　her　head　slightly　and　bowed　a　formal　recognition。

As　their　eyes　met　he　saw　enough　to　make　him　believe　that　what　he　had　done　met　her　approval。





Chapter　VII。　　Pomp　and　Circumstances　of　Glorious　War。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　But　man；　proud　man；　Dressed　in　a　little　brief　authority；　Most　ignorant　of　what　he's　most　assured；　　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　Plays　such　fantastic　tricks　before　high　Heaven　As　make　the　angels　weep；　who；　with　our　spleens；　Would　all　themselves　laugh　mortal。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Measure　for　Measure


〃Abe；　you　remember　how　that　man　who　made　the　speech　when　our　colors　were　presented　to　us　talked　of　'the　swelling　hearts　of　our　volunteers；'　don't　you