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！
clothes； hat； boots； and even his watch； were nowhere to be found。 Here
was a pretty dilemma for a doctor to be in。 It was some time before the
physician could fit himself out so as to make the visit。 At last； however； he
started with one of the farm…horses； for Sam had taken the doctor's best
saddle…horse。 The doctor felt sure that the negro had robbed him； and was
on his way to Canada； but in this he was mistaken。 Sam had gone to the
city to attend a ball； and had decked himself out in his master's best suit。
The physician returned before morning； and again retired to bed but with
little hope of sleep； for his thoughts were with his servant and horse。 At
six o'clock； in walked Sam with his master's clothes； and the boots neatly
blacked。 The watch was placed on the shelf； and the hat in its place。 Sam
had not met any of the servants； and was therefore entirely ignorant of
what had occurred during his absence。
〃What have you been about； sir； and where was you last night when I
was called？〃 asked the doctor。
〃I don't know； sir。 I 'spose I was asleep；〃 replied Sam。
But the doctor was not to be so easily satisfied； after having been put
to so much trouble in hunting up another suit without the aid of Sam。
After breakfast； Sam was taken into the barn； tied up； and severely flogged
with the cat； which brought from him the truth concerning his absence the
previous night。 This forever put an end to his fine appearance at the negro
parties。 Had not the doctor been one of the most indulgent of masters； he
would not have escaped with merely a severe whipping。
As a matter of course； Sam had to relate to his companions that
evening in Mr。 Wilson's kitchen all his adventures as a physician while
with his old master。
28
… Page 29…
CLOTELLE
CHAPTER IX
THE MAN OF HONOR
AUGUSTINE CARDINAY； the purchaser of Marion； was from the
Green Mountains of Vermont； and his feelings were opposed to the
holding of slaves； but his young wife persuaded him into the idea that it
was no worse to own a slave than to hire one and pay the money to
another。 Hence it was that he had been induced to purchase Marion。
Adolphus Morton； a young physician from the same State； and who
had just commenced the practice of his profession in New Orleans； was
boarding with Cardinay when Marion was brought home。 The young
physician had been in New Orleans but a very few weeks； and had seen
but little of slavery。 In his own mountain…home； he had been taught that
the slaves of the Southern States were negroes； and if not from the coast of
Africa； the descendants of those who had been imported。 He was
unprepared to behold with composure a beautiful white girl of sixteen in
the degraded position of a chattel slave。
The blood chilled in his young heart as he heard Cardinay tell how； by
bantering with the trader； he had bought her two hundred dollars less than
he first asked。 His very looks showed that she had the deepest
sympathies of his heart。
Marion had been brought up by her mother to look after the domestic
concerns of her cottage in Virginia； and well knew how to perform the
duties imposed upon her。 Mrs。 Cardinay was much pleased with her new
servant； and often mentioned her good qualities in the presence of Mr。
Morton。
After eight months acquaintance with Marion； Morton's sympathies
ripened into love； which was most cordially reciprocated by the friendless
and injured child of sorrow。 There was but one course which the young
man could honorably pursue； and that was to purchase Marion and make
her his lawful wife； and this he did immediately； for he found Mr。 and Mrs。
Cardinay willing to second his liberal intentions。
The young man； after purchasing Marion from Cardinay； and marrying
29
… Page 30…
CLOTELLE
her； took lodgings in another part of the city。 A private teacher was called
in； and the young wife was taught some of those accomplishments so
necessary for one taking a high position in good society。
Dr。 Morton soon obtained a large and influential practice in his
profession； and with it increased in wealth； but with all his wealth he never
owned a slave。 Probably the fact that he had raised his wife from that
condition kept the hydra…headed system continually before him。 To the
credit of Marion be it said； she used every means to obtain the freedom of
her mother； who had been sold to Parson Wilson； at Natchez。 Her efforts；
however； had come too late； for Agnes had died of a fever before the
arrival of Dr。 Morton's agent。
Marion found in Adolphus Morton a kind and affectionate husband；
and his wish to purchase her mother； although unsuccessful； had doubly
endeared him to her。 Ere a year had elapsed from the time of their
marriage； Mrs。 Morton presented her husband with a lovely daughter； who
seemed to knit their hearts still closer together。 This child they named Jane；
and before the expiration of the second year； they were blessed with
another daughter； whom they named Adrika。 These children grew up to
the ages of ten and eleven； and were then sent to the North to finish their
education； and receive that refinement which young ladies cannot obtain
in the Slave States。
30
… Page 31…
CLOTELLE
CHAPTER X
THE QUADROON'S HOME
A FEW miles out of Richmond is a pleasant place； with here and
there a beautiful cottage surrounded by trees so as scarcely to be seen。
Among these was one far retired from the public roads； and almost hidden
among the trees。 This was the spot that Henry Linwood had selected for
Isabella； the eldest daughter of Agnes。 The young man hired the house；
furnished it； and placed his mistress there； and for many months no one in
his father's family knew where he spent his leisure hours。
When Henry was not with her； Isabella employed herself in looking
after her little garden and the flowers that grew in front of her cottage。 The
passion…flower； peony； dahlia； laburnum； and other plants； so abundant in
warm climates； under the tasteful hand of Isabella； lavished their beauty
upon this retired spot； and miniature paradise。
Although Isabella had been assured by Henry that she should be free
and that he would always consider her as his wife； she nevertheless felt
that she ought to be married and acknowledged by him。 But this was an
impossibility under the State laws； even had the young man been disposed
to do what was right in the matter。 Related as he was； however； to one of
the first families in Virginia； he would not have dared to marry a woman
of so low an origin； even had the laws been favorable。
Here； in this secluded grove； unvisited by any other except her lover；
Isabella lived for years。 She had become the mother of a lovely daughter；
which its father named Clotelle。 The complexion of the child was still
fairer than that of its mother。 Indeed； she was not darker than other white
children； and as she grew older she more and more resembled her father。
As time passed away； Henry became negligent of Isabella and his child；
so much so； that days and even weeks passed without their seeing him； or
knowing where he was。 Becoming more acquainted with the world； and
moving continually in the society of young women of his own station； the
young man felt that Isabella was a burden to him； and having as some
would say； 〃outgrown his love；〃 he longed to free himself of the
31
… Page 32…
CLOTELLE
responsibility； yet every time he saw the child； he felt that he owed it his
fatherly care。
Henry had now entered