第 13 节
作者:孤悟      更新:2021-02-19 20:30      字数:9298
  ‘‘I   told   you   if   you   refused   me   I   was   lost   to   you   forever!   Do   you
  understand?''
  Diotti    returned     slowly     to  the   center    of   the   stage   and    remained
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  motionless until the audience subsided。 Facing Mildred; whose color was
  heightened by the in… tensity of her emotion; he began softly to play。 His
  fingers sought the string of Death。 The audience listened with breathless
  interest。 The composition was weirdly and strangely fascinating。
  The   player   told   with   wondrous   power   of   despair;of   hope;   of   faith;
  sunshine crept into the hearts of all as he pictured the promise of an eternal
  day; higher and higher; softer and softer grew the theme until it echoed as
  if it were afar in the realms of light and floating o'er the waves of a golden
  sea。
  Suddenly   the   audience   was   startled   by   the   snapping   of   a   string;   the
  violin   and   bow   dropped   from   the   nerveless   hands   of   the   player。   He   fell
  helpless to the stage。
  Mildred rushed to him; crying; ‘‘Angelo; Angelo; what is it? What has
  happened?'' Bending over him she gently raised his head and showered un…
  restrained kisses upon his lips; oblivious of all save her lover。
  ‘‘Speak! Speak!'' she implored。
  A  faint   smile   illumined   his   face;   he   gazed   with   ineffable   tenderness
  into her weeping eyes; then slowly closed his own as if in slumber。
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  The Conspirators
  Arriving   opposite   the   Franklin   house;   Tom   Foley   took   position   in   a
  near…by   alley;   where   he   could   keep   close   watch   on   the   front   gate。 After
  hours of nervous waiting; little Lillian Franklin came out; and Tom's heart
  gave a jump。 She was alone; and began to roll a hoop; which her friend
  Sandy had given her that morning。 Down the street she tripped; all smiles
  and happiness。
  Tom watched her until she had turned a corner; then he rushed up the
  alley to intercept her。 When he emerged into the street; he saw her resting
  on a rustic bench; and hastened to join her。 As he came up; he was greeted
  with:
  ‘‘Why; Tom; I thought you went fishing with Gil; and papa; and Sandy;
  and the rest。''
  ‘‘No; Lily。 I felt so bad 'bout my dad being arrested yest'day I couldn't
  git   up   no   courage   to   go;''   answered   the   boy   with   simulated   contrition。
  What d'yer say? let's s'prise Gil; and go down to the landin' an' meet him
  when he comes in from fishin';'' suggested Foley; knowing the intense love
  she had for her brother。
  ‘‘That'll be lovely; won't it? And Gil will be so glad if I come。''
  Lillian whipped the hoop rapidly; and Tom kept pace with her。
  ‘‘Gil will be surprised; sure enough; when he sees me coming; won't
  he?''
  ‘‘Yes; he'll be s'prised; you bet!'' said the boy; taking a firmer hold of
  her hand。
  The    night   was    fast  approaching      and   Foley    was   leading    the   child
  through unfrequented alleys and streets。
  ‘‘But   maybe   Gil   won't   come   back   this   way;   and   it's   getting   awful
  dark。''
  ‘‘Oh; he'll come back this way; all right。''
  They   were   now   on   the   shore   of   the   river;   dark   and   desolate   in   its
  winter dress。 The restless splash of the water sent icy sprays over the child;
  and;  clinging   still   closer   to   her   treacherous   companion; she stopped him
  for a second and begged him to return。
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  ‘‘Don't be afear'd; nuthin's goin' ter happen to yer;'' he said; jerking her
  savagely; and almost breaking into a run at the same time。
  ‘‘Oh; Tom; please let's go back;'' supplicated the child。
  They were now at the old wharf。 He gave a low whistle; and; without
  waiting for an answer; pulled the helpless child through the entrance。 Then;
  groping   his   way   over   the   slimy   stones   and   through   the   oozing   mud;   he
  dragged the affrighted little one after him; to the mouth of the cave; and
  called:
  ‘‘Dad; I'm here。''
  ‘‘Come right in;'' answered a voice。
  ‘‘I've   got   her;   an'   I   got   her   easy   as   dirt;''   said   the   son;   pushing   the
  terrified child into the cave; and then roughly into the arms of his father。
  ‘‘Don't   yell;   yer   brat!''   said   the older;   clasping   his hand   over   mouth;
  and drawing her brutally toward him。 ‘‘Shut up; or I'll kill yer。''
  Foley   now   called   Hildey;   who   was;   asleep   in   the   corner;   and   said;
  ‘‘Cul; we've got to git out er this place jest as quick as possible。 It's too
  near the city; an' if we're tracked here we'll stand no more chance than a
  snowball on Beelzebub's gridiron。''
  ‘‘What's yer lay; Dennis?'' questioned Hildey。
  ‘‘Move up the river;'' was the reply。 ‘‘I knows jest the place where we
  wouldn't be found in a thousand years。''
  ‘‘When d'yer want to start?'' asked Tom。
  In   ten   minutes     the   abductors;     with    the  stolen    child;   were    slowly
  winding their way along the deserted beach。
  It   was   now    very   dark。   No    stars   were   shining;     and   it   had  become
  bitterly  cold。   Suddenly   voices   were   heard;   and   the   abductors   stopped   to
  listen。  They   were   in   a   ravine   near   the   magazine   landing;   not   more   than
  fifty feet from the spot where the Lillian was launched。 Foley; Tom; and
  Hildey crouched low; and drew the little girl closer。
  The   steady   dip   of   oars   was   heard   up   stream;   and   the   voices   grew
  plainer。 Out of the mingled sounds was heard;
  ‘‘I agrees with Sandy; he's the dirtiest coward as ever went unhung。''
  Lillian   started;   for   she   recognized   the   voice   of   the   Jedge;   who   with
  Colonel Franklin; Sandy; Dink; Leander and Gilbert; were returning from
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  a sail up the river
  Foley became frightened; and bending over; hissed into the child's ear:
  ‘‘Remember what I tol' yer: if yer utter a sound; I'll kill yer。''
  The    sailing    party   meantime      had   reached    the   landing    and   stepped
  ashore。 Sandy and the other three boys lowered the sail; rolled and carried
  it into the boat…house。 The whole party then; marching three abreast; with
  steady step; went up the graveled walk of the old magazine road; singing
  in   unison:       ‘‘HepHep           Shoot   that   ni**er   if   he   don't   keep   step。
  HepHep           Shoot that ni**er if he don't keep step。''
  While its cadence was continued by Colonel Franklin and the Jedge;
  the four   boys; in   marching rhythm;  sang out  cheerily into the crisp cold
  night:
  ‘‘When other lips and other hearts;             Their tales of love shall tell; In
  accents whose excess imparts              The power they feel so well。 There may;
  perhaps;   in   such   a   scene;    Some   recollection   be;   Of   days   that   have   as
  happy been;         And you'll remember me。''
  The three scoundrels listened; as the voices rose and fell on the air。
  The   child;   with   the   fear   of   death   before   her;   and   in   the   clutches   of   her
  horrible captor; gave one convulsive sob and sank swooning at his feet。
  Foley picked her up and; walking quickly; placed her in the very boat
  her father and friends had left but a moment before。 He wrapped her in a
  ragged coat; loosened the hasp of the door on the boat…house; and took out
  the oars。
  Quickly the captors pushed the craft into deep water; and with muffled
  stroke moved through the inky waves; a somber specter sneaking along the
  banks of the sleeping marches。
  When   they   neared   the   upper   bridge;   Foley   ran   the   boat   ashore   and
  abandoned   it。   Picking   up   the   exhausted   and   benumbed   child;   he   led   his
  two   companions   along   the   causeway   and   over   the   road   leading   to   the
  bridge。
  The wind came out of the north; howling through the leafless boughs
  of the mighty monarchs of the forest。 The last flickering light of the town
  was   left   far   behind;   and   darkness;   like   a   great   shroud;   enveloped   river;
  valley and woods。
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