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！
whose home is in a hot climate； was not proof against the disease。 Many
plantations had to suspend their work for want of slaves to take the places
of those who had been taken off by the fever。
84
… Page 85…
CLOTELLE
CHAPTER XXIII
MEETING OF THE COUSINS
THE clock in the hall had scarcely finished striking three when Mr。
Taylor entered his own dwelling； a fine residence in Camp Street； New
Orleans； followed by the slave…girl whom he had just purchased at the
negro…pen。 Clotelle looked around wildly as she passed through the hall
into the presence of her new mistress。 Mrs。 Taylor was much pleased with
her servant's appearance； and congratulated her husband on his judicious
choice。
〃But；〃 said Mrs。 Taylor； after Clotelle had gone into the kitchen； 〃how
much she looks like Miss Jane Morton。〃
〃Indeed；〃 replied the husband； 〃I thought； the moment I saw her that
she looked like the Mortons。〃
〃I am sure I never saw two faces more alike in my life； than that girl's
and Jane Morton's；〃 continued Mrs。 Taylor。
Dr。 Morton； the purchaser of Marion； the youngest daughter of Agnes；
and sister to Isabella； had resided in Camp Street； near the Taylors； for
more than eight years； and the families were on very intimate terms； and
visited each other frequently。 Every one spoke of Clotelle's close
resemblance to the Mortons； and especially to the eldest daughter。
Indeed； two sisters could hardly have been more alike。 The large； dark
eyes； black； silk…like hair； tall； graceful figure； and mould of the face； were
the same。
The morning following Clotelle's arrival in her new home； Mrs。 Taylor
was conversing in a low tone with her husband； and both with their eyes
following Clotelle as she passed through the room。
〃She is far above the station of a slave；〃 remarked the lady。 〃I saw her；
last night； when removing some books； open on and stand over it a
moment as if she was reading； and she is as white as I am。 I am almost
sorry you bought her。〃
At this juncture the front door…bell rang； and Clotelle hurried through
the room to answer it。
85
… Page 86…
CLOTELLE
〃Miss Morton；〃 said the servant as she returned to the mistress' room。
〃Ask her to walk in；〃 responded the mistress。
〃Now； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Taylor to her husband； 〃just look and see if
you do not notice a marked resemblance between the countenances of Jane
and Clotelle。〃
Miss Morton entered the room just as Mrs。 Taylor ceased speaking。
〃Have you heard that the Jamisons are down with the fever？〃 inquired
the young lady； after asking about the health of the Taylors。
〃No； I had not； I was in hopes it would not get into our street；〃 replied
Mrs。 Taylor。
All this while Mr。 and Mrs。 Taylor were keenly scrutinizing their
visitor and Clotelle and even the two young women seemed to be
conscious that they were in some way the objects of more than usual
attention。
Miss Morton had scarcely departed before Mrs。 Taylor began
questioning Clotelle concerning her early childhood； and became more
than ever satisfied that the slave…girl was in some way connected with the
Mortons。
Every hour brought fresh news of the ravages of the fever； and the
Taylors commenced preparing to leave town。 As Mr。 Taylor could not go
at once； it was determined that his wife should leave without him；
accompanied by her new maid…servant。 Just as Mrs。 Taylor and Clotelle
were stepping into the carriage； they were informed that Dr。 Morton was
down with the epidemic。
It was a beautiful day； with a fine breeze for the time of year； that Mrs。
Taylor and her servant found themselves in the cabin of the splendid new
steamer 〃Walk…in…the…Water；〃 bound from New Orleans to Mobile。 Every
berth in the boat was occupied by persons fleeing from the fearful
contagion that was carrying off its hundreds daily。
Late in the day； as Clotelle was standing at one of the windows of the
ladies' saloon； she was astonished to see near her； and with eyes fixed
intently upon her； the tall young stranger whom she had observed in the
slave…market a few days before。 She turned hastily away； but the heated
cabin and the want of fresh air soon drove her again to the window。 The
86
… Page 87…
CLOTELLE
young gentleman again appeared； and coming to the end of the saloon；
spoke to the slave…girl in broken English。 This confirmed her in her
previous opinion that he was a foreigner； and she rejoiced that she had not
fallen into his hands。
〃I want to talk with you；〃 said the stranger。
〃What do you want with me？〃 she inquired。 〃I am your friend；〃 he
answered。 〃I saw you in the slave…market last week； and regretted that I
did not speak to you then。 I returned in the evening； but you was gone。〃
Clotelle looked indignantly at the stranger； and was about leaving the
window again when the quivering of his lips and the trembling of his
voice struck her attention and caused her to remain。
〃I intended to buy you and make you free and happy； but I was too
late；〃 continued he。
〃Why do you wish to make me free？〃 inquired the girl。
〃Because I once had an only and lovely sister； who died three years
ago in France； and you are so much like her that had I not known of her
death I should certainly have taken you for her。〃
〃However much I may resemble your sister； you are aware that I am
not she； why； then； take so much interest in one whom you have never
seen before and may never see again？〃
〃The love；〃 said he； 〃which I had for my sister is transferred to you。〃
Clotelle had all along suspected that the man was a knave； and this
profession of love at once confirmed her in that belief。 She therefore
immediately turned away and left him。
Hours elapsed。 Twilight was just 〃letting down her curtain and
pinning it with a star；〃 as the slave…girl seated herself on a sofa by the