AS THE hour approached for the masqueraders to appear at the Judge’s John Graham was drawn1 to the spot by an irresistible2 impulse. He stood in the shadows of the trees on the sidewalk and watched the little squadron of white and scarlet3 horsemen wheel into the gate past Isaac’s cottage, and gallop4 swiftly up to the front door of the old mansion5.
They had scarcely passed when Isaac suddenly stepped from the shrubbery through the open gateway6 and ran into him.
The Apostle gasped7 in terror:
“De Lawd, marse John, I thought you wuz one er dem ghostes—‘scuse me, sah, I’se er gettin’ away from here!”
John made no reply, merely watching him until he disappeared.
Again he turned toward the house. Every window was gleaming with light. The subdued8 strains of a string band came stealing through the trailing roses on the porch, and he fancied he could catch the odour of the flowers in their sweet notes. Scarcely knowing what he did, he strolled into the lawn and sank on a rustic9 bench with a groan10. He could hear the gay banter11 of the masqueraders and the peals12 of girlish laughter with which their tomfoolery was being received.
A mocking bird began singing in the tree above him, roused by the music of the band. Far off in the corner of the lawn in the clump13 of holly14 and cedars15 at the entrance of the vault16 a whippoorwill was making the ravine ring with the weird17 notes of his ghost-like call. The moon flooded the scene with silvery splendour. Crushed with a sense of loneliness and failure, he felt to-night that he would give all the wealth and honours of the earth for one touch of the hand of the girl whose laughter lingered and echoed in his heart. And again the feeling of impending18 disaster overwhelmed him.
“Of course it’s nonsense!” he kept repeating to himself. “The disaster is within. I’m merely a wounded animal caught in a trap, bleeding and dying of thirst, and no one knows or cares, and I can’t cry for help.”
He tried to rise and go. But something held him in a silent spell to the spot. He sat dreaming out each movement of the gay drama in progress within.
Stella had welcomed her white-robed guests without the aid of a servant. No Negro could be hired for love or money to approach one of these ghostly figures. Maggie had hidden in the closet in her mistress’ room and Aunt Julie Ann had barred herself inside the kitchen and refused to answer a call.
In spite of these little annoyances19 the beautiful young mistress of the Graham house, resplendent in her ball dress costume, was in her gayest mood.
When the shrill20 whistles rang their summons at the door, she hastened to greet her mysterious guests.
“And your name, Sir Knight21?” she asked the leader with bantering22 laughter.
“We are Ghouls! And come from beyond the river Styx, my lady!” solemnly answered the tall white figure.
“Welcome shades of Darkness, welcome back to the world of joy and light, song and dance, life and love!” Stella cried, extending her hand.
When they had tied their horses to the posts beside the wide driveway they slowly entered single file into the great hall. Stella, assisted by Susie Wilson, who had become her fast friend, greeted each of them with words of gay welcome.
They were dressed in the regulation raider’s costume of the Klan. The white flowing ulsterlike robe came within three inches of the floor. A scarlet belt circled the waist, from either side of which hung heavy revolvers in leather holsters. A dagger23 was attached to the centre of the belt, and the scarlet-lined white cape24 thrown back on the shoulders revealed their militant25 trappings with startling distinctness. On each breast was wrought26 the emblem27 of the Invisible Empire, the scarlet circle, and in its centre a white cross. Spiked28 helmets of white cloth with flowing masks reached to the cape on each shoulder, completely covering the head and face. With red gauntlets to complete their costume, the disguise was absolute. The only visible part of the body was the eye, gleaming with a strange steady supernatural brilliance29 through the holes cut in the mask. It was a curious fact that all eyes looked alike in the shadows of these trappings at night. They were simply flashing points of living light with all traces of colour lost in the shadows.
In spite of the fact that the girls felt they had nothing to fear from the white figures, it was with a tremor30 of excitement they each greeted the mysterious partners of their dance.
Stella left them talking romantic nonsense of knights31 and tournaments, ghouls and ghosts in the hall and ran up to her father’s room.
“Oh! Papa,” she cried with childish glee. “It’s such fun! They’re all here. You will come down and join the party as you promised?”
“Yes, yes, dear, I’ll come, presently,” said the Judge with evident dread32.
Stella slipped her beautiful bare arm around his neck and her cheek rested against his, while the soft little fingers found his hand.
“I’m awfully33 sorry I was so ugly to-day,” she said gently. “But I couldn’t help it. I didn’t know I had such a temper. I must have gotten it from you Dad.”
“It’s all right, my darling, if you’ll never say such bitter things to me again—will you?” he asked tenderly, tears filling his eyes.
“No, I’ll be good now, if you’ll forgive me?”
Her father answered with a kiss. “You see, you’re all I have in the world, my little girlie. I’m not as strong as I used to be. I don’t think I’m going to live long.”
“Rubbish! you’ve just got the blues34. Shake them off and be young again to-night. Imagine you are a boy here with mother the sweetheart you’re trying to steal from the proud rich people who hate you—come, come!”
The Judge smiled in spite of himself. Her mood was contagious35. He stroked her hand gently.
“I’ll be down right away. Run on and have a good time.”
“All right, I’ll start the first dance and you’ll be there by the time it’s over and shake hands with your enemies. It will be so jolly!”
Throwing him a kiss she returned to the hall below and led her guests into the big double parlours which had been fitted up for dancing. The French windows, opening as doors on the porches, were raised, and the band stationed outside near one of them.
When the dance had begun the Judge, dressed in his usual broadcloth frock coat which hung in slouching lines from his drooping36 shoulders, slowly descended37 the stairs and stood embarrassed and hesitating in the hall a moment, and sat down by the centre table.
A masquerader came in from the ball room for the fan his partner had left, and so soft was his footfall the Judge did not hear or see him until the tall white figure suddenly loomed38 above him to pick up the fan.
The apparition39 was so startling the Judge’s nerves collapsed40. He leaped to his feet with an inarticulate cry of terror, overturning his chair and started to bolt for the door.
The masquerader smothered41 a laugh and said:
“I beg your pardon, I only wanted the fan.” Butler stammered42:
“Ah—I—must have been dreaming—you—startled me!”
He watched the white figure disappear, mopped the perspiration43 from his brow, called Aunt Julie Ann and ordered her to bring him a drink of whiskey. She refused to stir at first, but he threatened to discharge her, and she obeyed.
When the Judge raised the glass to his lips his hand trembled so violently that he spilled some of the liquor on his clothes. He gulped44 it down and glanced nervously45 about the hall.
He placed the glass back on the tray and Aunt Julie Ann, watching the parlour-door like a hawk46, started back to the kitchen on a run.
“Wait a moment,” cried the Judge, shuffling47 to his feet.
“I ain’t gwine stay in here wid dem things in de house,” she answered, halting timidly in the shadows of the door leading into the dining-room.
Butler walked to her side and said:
“Tell Miss Stella I’m not feeling well—I’m going to bed.”
He hesitated a moment. “You’ve said nothing to any one about this ghost business?”
“Hush48, man, hush! Don’t talk about dat now!” she whispered. “I tole dat ole whiteheaded Larkin—dat’s all.”
“Well, I want to warn you, don’t mention it to another living soul. I’m beginning to suspect that we’ve been seeing old Major Graham himself!”
“De Lawd er mussy, man, how he bin49 gittin’ in de house wid all de doors and windows locked an’ bolted?”
“That’s a mystery I can’t fathom50.”
“No, ner nobody else. Hit’s his sperit I tells ye.”
While they were talking thus in the alcove51 the oak panel under the stairs was softly opened and closed; old Major Graham, dressed with scrupulous52 care, thin and pale as a corpse53, yet erect54 and dignified55, walked slowly across the hall to the foot of the stairs. His lips were muttering inarticulate sounds and his wide staring eyes had the far-off look of the dreamer who lives, breathes and moves, yet sees nothing.
Butler’s back was to the Major, and Aunt Julie Ann, hearing the footsteps, was first to see him. She staggered against the wall and gasped:
“God, save us, dar he is now!”
Butler glanced over his shoulder and backed against the huge figure of the cook, trembling.
“Look—look!” he whispered. “It is old Graham. Watch his thin bony fingers grip the rail as he climbs the steps!”
“Hit’s his livin’ ghost I tell ye!” persisted Aunt Julie Ann. “He’ll walk right out on de roof an’ step off’n de house des like he does every night—you won’t see’ ’im again.”
“Get some more whiskey!” said the Judge. “I’ll go with you”—he added, following her into the dining room, mopping the perspiration from his brow.
“I’ll go up there in a minute and find out the truth!”
“Better keep outen dat attic56 I tells ye. Dey say dat de ghosts er de livin’ is wuss dan de dead.” They had scarcely passed from the hall when the oak panel again opened and a white masked figure peered through, and quickly entered.
The dress was an exact duplicate of the masqueraders down to its minutest details, and only the closest observer would have noted57 the awkward way in which the figure moved as though not in the habit of walking in his disguise.
He quickly glanced about the hall, listened a moment to the sounds of revelry in the ballroom58, closed the door of the small hall leading into it, reopened the panel and signalled.
In rapid succession eight more silent figures filed through the panel door. The leader whispered to his followers59:
“He’s in the dining room. Guard every entrance now but that.”
In a moment a masked man stood guard at each door and the leader lowered the lamp on the table until only the dim outlines of the forms could be seen, and stepped back himself into the shadows of the alcove by the dining room door.
Aunt Julie Ann returned to the kitchen, and the Judge, afraid to go upstairs, came back into the hall to enter the ballroom as he promised Stella.. As he passed through the door of the dining room the shrouded60 figure standing61 in the alcove quickly followed, cutting off this retreat.
The Judge stopped, blinked his eyes around the dim hall and muttered:
“Why, why, the lamp’s gone out!” He quickly crossed the space to the table and extended his hand to turn up the lamp.
The figure behind him seized his arm and a guttural voice spoke62 through the mask:
“There’s light enough for our work, Judge.”
Butler staggered back in terror and glanced about him at the dim spectres closing around the table. With an effort he pulled himself together and stammered:
“Why, of course, boys. I see! I see! You’re going to initiate63 me! give me the third degree first—I see—a good joke!”
“You’ll find it a serious joke before you’re through,” replied the leader, gripping his dagger.
The Judge could see the movement of his hand as he slowly drew the knife from its sheath, the blade glistening64 for an instant in the dim lamplight, but he still thought the boys were playing a prank65 on him.
“Well, gentlemen, have your fun!” he cried with forced gaiety, “Have your way, I’m at your service. What is the penalty I must pay to-night for my many sins against the Klan?”
“The penalty is your life,” said the mask with sullen66 menace in his tones, stepping closer, “unless you agree to leave this state to-morrow and never enter it again—will you go?”
“So bad as that?” The Judge forced a laugh. “What else?”
“You are not fooling with boys now!” sullenly67 said the towering white form. “Give me your answer, you d———d old sneaking68 coward! Will you go or do you prefer to die?”
Butler, trembling now with mingled69 terror and rage, cried angrily:
“Gentlemen, your joke is going too far!”
“It’ll go farther,” was the quick reply, as the white figures closed in threateningly and the foremost man moved as if to raise his hand.
“Enough of this! Get out of my house!” Butler suddenly shouted, snatching the mask from the leader’s head by a quick unexpected display of courage. A cry of horror and surprise leaped from his lips. The knife flashed, and was buried in his heart. He reeled, staggered, clutched a chair and sank with a groan to a sitting posture70. His long awkward arms drooped71 and his head sank slowly on his breast.
The leader, who had quickly replaced his helmet, bent72 over him a moment, sheathed73 his knife and said:
“A good stroke—all right—quick now—open the doors and follow me.”
The guard at the door leading into the ballroom opened it gently and the sweet strains of the music rang through the hall with startling distinctness, as the white-masked figures slowly disappeared through the panel under the stairs.
Aunt Julie Ann who had heard the Judge’s cry and the sudden noise entered trembling.
“Name er God what’s dis!” she cried. “De light gone out! De ghost done dat!”
She turned up the lamp and saw the Judge sitting dead in the chair, the scarlet stain on his clean ruffled74 shirt holding her for a moment in speechless horror.
Screaming at last, she rushed to the ballroom door and shouted:
“De Lawd hab mussy! De ghost done kill de Judge—Stab ’im fro de heart!”
The music stopped with a crash and the crowd rushed into the hall.
Stella stared at the lifeless form, her beautiful face whiter than the dead, turned to the masqueraders huddled75 in a group, drew herself proudly erect, pointed76 to the door and said:
“Go!”
Silently and quickly they left, and as the last beat of their horses’ hoofs77 died away in the distance she lifted her face from her father’s hand which she had covered with kisses, and groaned78:
“Forgive me—forgive me! I have but one aim in life now—God give me strength!”
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收听单词发音
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1
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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5
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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7
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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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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13
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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cedars
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| 雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 ) | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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18
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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bantering
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| adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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militant
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| adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士 | |
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26
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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spiked
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| adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的 | |
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brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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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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32
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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blues
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| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
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contagious
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| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
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36
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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38
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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39
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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41
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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42
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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44
gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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45
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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46
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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48
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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49
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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50
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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51
alcove
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| n.凹室 | |
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52
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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53
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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54
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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55
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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56
attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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57
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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ballroom
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| n.舞厅 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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61
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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62
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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63
initiate
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| vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入 | |
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64
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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65
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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66
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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67
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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68
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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69
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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70
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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71
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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73
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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74
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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75
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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76
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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77
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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78
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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