He found his mother’s bedroom door ajar and saw Elsie within, sobbing1 in her arms. He paused, watched, and listened.
Never had he seen his mother so beautiful—her face calm, intelligent, and vital, crowned with a halo of gray. She stood, flushed and dignified2, softly smoothing the golden hair of the sobbing girl whom she had learned to love as her daughter. Her whole being reflected the years of homage3 she had inspired in husband, children, and neighbours. What a woman! She had made war inevitable4, fought it to the bitter end; and in the despair of a negro reign5 of terror, still the prophetess and high priestess of a people, serene6, undismayed, and defiant7, she had fitted the uniform of a Grand Dragon on her last son, and sewed in secret day and night to equip his men. And through it all she was without affectation, her sweet motherly ways, gentle manner and bearing always resistless to those who came within her influence. 363
“If he dies,” cried the tearful voice, “I shall never forgive myself for not surrendering without reserve and fighting his battles with him!”
“He is not dead yet,” was the mother’s firm answer. “Doctor Cameron is on Queen’s back. Your lover’s men will be riding to-night—these young dare-devil Knights8 of the South, with their life in their hands, a song on their lips, and the scorn of death in their souls!”
“Then I’ll ride with them,” cried the girl, suddenly lifting her head.
Ben stepped into the room, and with a cry of joy Elsie sprang into his arms. The mother stood silent until their lips met in the long tender kiss of the last surrender of perfect love.
“How did you escape so soon?” she asked quietly, while Elsie’s head still lay on his breast.
“Phil shot the brute9, and I rushed him out of town. He heard the news, returned on the special, took my place, and sent me for his father. The guard has been changed and it’s impossible to see him, or communicate with the new Commandant——”
Elsie started and turned pale.
“And father has hidden to avoid me—merciful God—if Phil is executed——”
“He isn’t dead yet, either,” said Ben, slipping his arm around her. “But we must save him without a clash or a drop of bloodshed, if possible. The fate of our people may hang on this. A battle with United States troops now might mean ruin for the South——” 364
“But you will save him?” Elsie pleaded, looking into his face.
“Yes—or I’ll go down with him,” was the steady answer.
“Where is Margaret?” he asked.
“Gone to McAllister’s with a message from your father,” Mrs. Cameron replied,
“Tell her when she returns to keep a steady nerve. I’ll save Phil. Send her to find her father. Tell him to hold five hundred men ready for action in the woods by the river and the rest in reserve two miles out of town——”
“May I go with her?” Elsie asked eagerly.
“No. I may need you,” he said. “I am going to find the old statesman now, if I have to drag the bottomless pit. Wait here until I return.”
Ben reached the telegraph office unobserved, called the operator at Columbia, and got the Grand Giant of the county into the office. Within an hour he learned that the death warrant had been received and approved. It would be returned by a messenger to Piedmont on the morning train. He learned also that any appeal for a stay must be made through the Honourable10 Austin Stoneman, the secret representative of the Government clothed with this special power. The execution had been ordered the day of the election, to prevent the concentration of any large force bent11 on rescue.
“The old fox!” Ben muttered.
From the Grand Giant at Spartanburg he learned, after a delay of three hours, that Stoneman had left with a boy in a buggy, which he had hired for three days, and refused 365 to tell his destination. He promised to follow and locate him as quickly as possible.
It was the afternoon on the day following, during the progress of the election, before Ben received the message from Spartanburg that Stoneman had been found at the Old Red Tavern12 where the roads crossed from Piedmont to Hambright. It was only twelve miles away, just over the line on the North Carolina side.
He walked with Margaret to the block where Queen stood saddled, watching with pride the quiet air of self-control with which she bore herself.
“Now, my sister, you know the way to the tavern. Ride for your sweetheart’s life. Bring the old man here by five o’clock, and we’ll save Phil without a fight. Keep your nerve. The Commandant knows a regiment13 of mine is lying in the woods, and he’s trying to slip out of town with his prisoner. I’ll stand by my men ready for a battle at a moment’s notice, but for God’s sake get here in time to prevent it.”
She stooped from the saddle, pressed her brother’s hand, kissed him, and galloped14 swiftly over the old Way of Romance she knew so well.
On reaching the tavern, the landlord rudely denied that any such man was there, and left her standing15 dazed and struggling to keep back the tears.
A boy of eight, with big wide friendly eyes, slipped into the room, looked up into her face tenderly, and said:
“He’s the biggest liar16 in North Carolina. The old man’s right upstairs in the room over your head. Come on; I’ll show you.” 366
Margaret snatched the child in her arms and kissed him.
She knocked in vain for ten minutes. At last she heard his voice within:
“Go away from that door!”
“I’m from Piedmont, sir,” cried Margaret, “with an important message from the Commandant for you.”
“Yes; I saw you come. I will not see you. I know everything, and I will hear no appeal.”
“But you cannot know of the exchange of men,” pleaded the girl.
“I tell you I know all about it. I will not interfere——”
“But you could not be so cruel——”
“The majesty17 of the law must be vindicated18. The judge who consents to the execution of a murderer is not cruel. He is showing mercy to Society. Go, now; I will not hear you.”
In vain Margaret knocked, begged, pleaded, and sobbed19.
At last, in a fit of desperation, as she saw the sun sinking lower and the precious minutes flying, she hurled20 her magnificent figure against the door and smashed the cheap lock which held it.
The old man sat at the other side of the room, looking out of the window, with his massive jaws21 locked in rage. The girl staggered to his side, knelt by his chair, placed her trembling hand on his arm, and begged:
“For the love of Jesus, have mercy! Come with me quickly!”
With a growl22 of anger, he said:
“No!”
MIRIAM COOPER AS MARGARET CAMERON.
367
“It was a mad impulse, in my defence as well as his own.”
“Impulse, yes! But back of it lay banked the fires of cruelty and race hatred23! The Nation cannot live with such barbarism rotting its heart out.”
“But this is war, sir—a war of races, and this an accident of war—besides, his life had been attempted by them twice before.”
“So I’ve heard, and yet the negro always happens to be the victim——”
Margaret leaped to her feet and glared at the old man for a moment in uncontrollable anger.
“Are you a fiend?” she fairly shrieked24.
Old Stoneman merely pursed his lips.
The girl came a step closer, and extended her hand again in mute appeal.
“No, I was foolish. You are not cruel. I have heard of a hundred acts of charity you have done among our poor. Come, this is horrible! It is impossible! You cannot consent to the death of your son——”
Stoneman looked up sharply:
“Thank God, he hasn’t married my daughter yet——”
“Your daughter!” gasped25 Margaret. “I’ve told you it was Phil who killed the negro! He took Ben’s place just before the guards were exchanged——”
“Phil!—Phil?” shrieked the old man, staggering to his club foot and stumbling toward Margaret with dilated26 eyes and whitening face; “My boy—Phil?—why—why, are you crazy?—Phil? Did you say—Phil?”
“Yes. Ben persuaded him to go to Charlotte until 368 the excitement passed to avoid trouble. Come, come, sir, we must be quick! We may be too late!”
She seized and pulled him toward the door.
“Yes. Yes, we must hurry,” he said in a laboured whisper, looking around dazed. “You will show me the way, my child—you love him—yes, we will go quickly—quickly! my boy—my boy!”
Margaret called the landlord, and while they hitched27 Queen to the buggy, the old man stood helplessly wringing28 and fumbling29 his big ugly hands, muttering incoherently, and tugging30 at his collar as though about to suffocate31.
As they dashed away, old Stoneman laid a trembling hand on Margaret’s arm.
“Your horse is a good one, my child?”
“Yes; the one Marion saved—the finest in the county.”
“And you know the way?”
“Every foot of it. Phil and I have driven it often.”
“Yes, yes—you love him,” he sighed, pressing her hand.
Through the long reckless drive, as the mare32 flew over the rough hills, every nerve and muscle of her fine body at its utmost tension, the father sat silent. He braced33 his club foot against the iron bar of the dashboard and gripped the sides of the buggy to steady his feeble body. Margaret leaned forward intently watching the road to avoid an accident. The old man’s strange colourless eyes stared straight in front, wide open, and seeing nothing, as if the soul had already fled through them into eternity34.
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1
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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6
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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8
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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23
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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24
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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26
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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28
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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31
suffocate
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| vt.使窒息，使缺氧，阻碍；vi.窒息，窒息而亡，阻碍发展 | |
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32
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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33
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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