clotelle(有色女英雄)-第35章
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mountain and from crag to crag； reverberating among the surrounding hills；
foretold a heavy storm。
〃I would we were back at Geneva；〃 said Clotelle； as she heard groans
issuing from an adjoining room。 The sounds； at first faint； grew louder
and louder； plainly indicating that some person was suffering extreme
pain。
〃I did not like this hotel； much； when we came in；〃 said Jerome；
relighting the lamp； which had been accidentally extinguished。
〃Nor I；〃 returned Clotelle。
The shrieks increased； and an occasional 〃she's dead！〃 〃I killed her！〃
〃No； she is not dead！〃 and such…like expressions； would be heard from the
person； who seemed to be deranged。
The thunder grew louder； and the flashes of lightening more vivid；
while the noise from the sick…room seemed to increase。
As Jerome opened the door； to learn； if possible； the cause of the cries
and groans； he could distinguish the words； 〃She's dead！ yes； she's dead！
but I did not kill her。 She was my child！ my own daughter。 I loved her；
and yet I did not protect her。〃
〃Whoever he is；〃 said Jerome； 〃he's crack…brained； some robber；
probably； from the mountains。〃
The storm continued to rage； and the loud peals of thunder and sharp
flashes of lightening； together with the shrieks and moans of the maniac in
the adjoining room； made the night a fearful one。 The long hours wore
slowly away； but neither Jerome nor his wife could sleep； and they arose at
an early hour in the morning； ordered breakfast； and resolved to return to
Geneva。
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〃I am sorry； sir； that you were so much disturbed by the sick man last
night；〃 said the landlord； as he handed Jerome his bill。 〃I should be glad if
he would get able to go away； or die； for he's a deal of trouble to me。
Several persons have left my house on his account。〃
〃Where is he from？〃 inquired Jerome。 〃He's from the United States；
and has been here a week to…day； and has been crazy ever since。〃
〃Has he no friends with him？〃 asked the guest。
〃No； he is alone；〃 was the reply。
Jerome related to his wife what he had learned from the landlord；
respecting the sick man； and the intelligence impressed her so strongly；
that she requested him to make further inquiries concerning the stranger。
He therefore consulted the book in which guests usually register their
names； and； to his great surprise； found that the American's name was
Henry Linwood； and that he was from Richmond； Va。
It was with feelings of trepidation that Clotelle heard these particulars
from the lips of her husband。
〃We must see this poor man； whoever he is；〃 said she； as Jerome
finished the sentence。
The landlord was glad to hear that his guests felt some interest in the
sick man； and promised that the invalid's room should be got ready for
their reception。
The clock in the hall was just striking ten； as Jerome passed through
and entered the sick man's chamber。 Stretched upon a mattress； with both
hands tightly bound to the bedstead； the friendless stranger was indeed a
pitiful sight。 His dark； dishevelled hair prematurely gray； his long；
unshaven beard； and the wildness of the eyes which glanced upon them as
they opened the door and entered； caused the faint hope which had so
suddenly risen in Clotelle's heart； to sink； and she felt that this man could
claim no kindred with her。 Certainly； he bore no resemblance to the man
whom she had called her father； and who had fondly dandled her on his
knee in those happy days of childhood。
〃Help！〃 cried the poor man； as Jerome and his wife walked into the
room。 His eyes glared； and shriek after shriek broke forth from his parched
and fevered lips。
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〃No； I did not kill my daughter！I did not！ she is not dead！ Yes； she is
dead！ but I did not kill herpoor girl！ Look！ that is she！ No； it cannot be！
she cannot come here！ it cannot be my poor Clotelle。〃
At the sound of her own name； coming from the maniac's lips； Clotelle
gasped for breath； and her husband saw that she had grown deadly pale。
It seemed evident to him that the man was either guilty of some terrible act；
or imagined himself to be。 His eyeballs rolled in their sockets； and his
features showed that he was undergoing 〃the tortures of that inward hell；〃
which seemed to set his whole brain on fire。 After recovering her self…
possession and strength； Clotelle approached the bedside； and laid her soft
hand upon the stranger's hot and fevered brow。
One long； loud shriek rang out on the air； and a piercing cry； 〃It is
she！Yes； it is she！ I see； I see！ Ah！ no； it is not my daughter！ She
would not come to me if she could！〃 broke forth from him。
〃I am your daughter；〃 said Clotelle； as she pressed her handkerchief to
her face； and sobbed aloud。
Like balls of fire； the poor man's eyes rolled and glared upon the
company； while large drops of perspiration ran down his pale and
emaciated face。 Strange as the scene appeared； all present saw that it was
indeed a meeting between a father and his long…lost daughter。 Jerome now
ordered all present to leave the room； except the nurse； and every effort
was at once made to quiet the sufferer。 When calm； a joyous smile would
illuminate the sick man's face； and a strange light beam in his eyes； as he
seemed to realize that she who stood before him was indeed his child。
For two long days and nights did Clotelle watch at the bedside of her
father before he could speak to her intelligently。 Sometimes； in his insane
fits； he would rave in the most frightful manner； and then； in a few
moments； would be as easily governed as a child。 At last； however； after a
long and apparently refreshing sleep； he awoke suddenly to a full
consciousness that it was indeed his daughter who was watching so
patiently by his side。
The presence of his long absent child had a soothing effect upon Mr。
Linwood； and he now recovered rapidly from the sad and almost hopeless
condition in which she had found him。 When able to converse； without
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danger of a relapse； he told Clotelle of his fruitless efforts to obtain a clew
to her whereabouts after old Mrs。 Miller had sold her to the slave…trader。 In
answer to his daughter's inquiries about his family affairs up to the time
that he left America； he said；
〃I blamed my wife for your being sold and sent away； for I thought she
and her mother were acting in collusion； But I afterwards found that I had
blamed her wrongfully。 Poor woman！ she knew that I loved your mother；
and feeling herself forsaken； she grew melancholy and died in a decline
three years ago。〃
Here both father and daughter wept at the thought of other days。 When
they had recovered their composure； Mr。 Linwood went on again：
〃Old Mrs。 Miller；〃 said he； 〃after the death of Gertrude； aware that she
had contributed much toward
