the red acorn-第47章
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At the door she found an orderly； holding a spirited young mare； handsome enough for a Queen's palfrey； and richly caparisoned。
She sprang into the saddle and adjusted her seat with the easy grace of an accomplished horsewoman。
A squad of 〃Convalescents〃 standing outside； and a group of citizes watched her with an admiration too palpable for her to be unconscious of it。
She smiled pleasantly upon the soldiers； and gave them a farewell bow as she turned the mare's head away； to which they responded with cheers。
A few hundred yards further； where an angle in the street would take her from their view； she turned around again and waved her handkerchief to them。 The boys gave her another ringing cheer； with waving hats and handkerchiefs； her steed broke into a canter and she disappeared from view。
〃Where is she going？〃 asked one of the soldiers。
〃I don't know；〃 responded another gallantly； 〃but wherever it is； it will be better than here； just because she's there。〃
The sight of an orderly； coming with the morning mail； ended the discussion by scattering the squad in a hurry。
Rachel cantered on； her spirits rising continually。
It was a bright； crisp morninga Tennessee Winter morningwhen the air is as wine to the blood； and sets every pulse to leaping。 Delicate balsamic scents floated down from groves of shapely cedars。 Gratefully…astringent odors were wafted from the red oaks； ranked upon the hillsides and still covered with their leaves； now turned bright…brown； making them appear like serried phalanges of giant knights； clad in rusted scale armor。 The spicy smell of burning cedar rose on the lazily…curling smoke from a thousand camp…fires。 The red…berried holly looked as fresh and bright as rose…bushes in June； and the magnolias still wore their liveries of Spring。 The sun shone down with a tender fervor； as if wooing the sleeping buds and flowers to wake from a slumber of which he had grown weary； and start with him again through primrose paths on the pilgrimage of blossoming and fruitage。
Rachel's nostrils expanded； and she drank deeply of the exhilarating draughts of mountain air； with its delicious woodsy fragrance。 Her steed did the same； and the hearts of both swelled with the inspiration。
Away she sped over the firm； smooth Murfreesboro Pike； winding around hillsides and through valleys filled with infantry； cavalry and artillery； through interminable masses of wagons； hers of braying mules； and crowds of unarmed soldiers trudging back to Nashville； on leave of absence； to spend the day seeing the sights of the historic Tennessee capital。 In the camps the soldiers were busy with evergreen and bunting； and the contents of boxes received from the North； preparing for the celebration of Christmas in something like the manner of the old days of home and peace。
Like the sweet perfume of rose…attar from a bundle of letters unwittingly stirred in a drawer； rose the fragrant memory of the last of those Christmases in Sardis before the war； when winged on he scent of evergreens； and the merry laughter of the church decorators； came to her the knowledge that she had found a lodgment in the heart of Harry Glen。
Was memory juggling with her senses； or was that really his voice she heard in command； in a field to her left？ She turned a swift； startled look in that direction； and saw a Sergeant marching a large squad at quick time to join a heavy 〃detail。〃 His back was toward her； but his figure and bodily carriage were certainly those of Harry Glen。 But before she could make certain the squad was merged with the 〃detail；〃 to the obliteration of all individuality； and the whole mass disappeared around the hill。
She rode on to the top of the rim of hills which encircle that most picturesque of Southern cities； and stopped for a moment for a farewell to the stronghold of her friends； whose friendly cover she was abandoning to venture； weak and weaponless； into the camp of her enemies。
Above her the great black guns of a heavy fort pointed their sinister muzzles down the Murfreesboro road； with fearful suggestiveness of the dangers to be encountered there。
She remembered Lot's wife； but could not resist the temptation to take a one backward look。 She saw as grand a landscape picture as the world affords。
Serenely throned upon the hill that dominated the whole of the lovely valley of the Cumberland； stood the beautiful Capitol of Tennessee。
Ionic porticos and graceful Corinthian columns of dazzling white limestone rose hundreds of feet above the fountains and magnolia…shaded terraces that crowned the hillstill more hundreds of feet above the densely packed roofs and spires of the city crowded upon the hill's rocky sides。 It was like some fine and pure old Greek temple； standing on a romantic headland； far above the murk and toil of sordid striving。 But over the symmetrical pile floated a banner that meant to the world all that was signified even by the banners which Greece folded and laid away in eternal rest thousands of years ago。
At the foot of the hill the Cumberland； clear as when it descended from its mountains five hundred miles away； flowed between its high； straight walls of limestone； spanned by cobweb…like bridges； and bore on its untroubled breast a great fleet of high…chimneyed； white…sided transports； and black； sullen gunboats。 Miles away to her left she saw the trains rushing into Nashville； unrolling as they came along black and white ribbons against the sky。
〃They're coming from the North；〃 she said； with an involuntary sigh； 〃they're coming from home。〃
She touched her mare's flank with the whip and sped on。
She soon reached the outer line of guards； by whom she was halted； with a demand for her pass。
She produced the one furnished her； which was signed by Gen。 Rosencrans。 While the Sergeant was inspecting it it occured to her that now was the time to begin the role of a young woman with rebellious proclivities。
〃Is this the last guard…line I will have to pass？〃 she asked。
〃Yes'm；〃 answered the Sergeant。
〃You're quite sure？〃
〃Yes'm。〃
〃Then I won't have any further use for thisthing？〃 indicating the pass； which she received back with fine loathing； as if it were something infectious。
〃No'm。〃
〃Quite sure？〃
〃Yes'm； quite sure。〃
She rode over to the fire around which part of the guard were sitting； held the pass over it by the extremest tips of her dainty thumb and forefinger； and then dropped it upon the coals； as if it were a rag from a small…pox hospital。 Glancing at her finger…tips an instant； as if they had been permanently contaminated by the scrawl of the Yankee General； she touched her nag； and was off like an arrow without so much as good day to the guards。
〃She…ceshclean to her blessed little toe…nails；〃 said the Sergeant； gazing after her meditatively； as he fished around in his pouch for a handful of Kinnikinnick； to replenish his pipe； 〃and she's purtier'n a picture； too。〃
〃Them's the kind that's always the wust Rebels；〃 said the oracle of the squad； from his seat by the fire。 〃I'll bet she's just loaded down with information or ouinine。 Mebbe both。〃
She was now fairly in the enemy's country； and her heart beat faster in momentary expectation of encountering some form of the perils abounding there。 But she became calm； almost joyous； as she passed through mile after mile of tranquil landscape。 The war might as well have been on the other side of the Atlantic for any hint she now saw of it in the peaceful； sun…lit fields and woods； and streams of crystal spring…water。 She saw women busily engaged in their morning work about all the cabins and houses。 With bare and sinewy arms they beat up and down in tiresomely monotonous stroke the long…handled dashers of cedar churns standing in the wide； open 〃entries〃 of the 〃double…houses；〃 they arrayed their well…scalded milk crocks and jars where the sun's rays would still further sweeten them； they plied swift shuttles in the weaving sheds； they toiled over great； hemispherical kettles of dye…stuffs or soap； swinging from poles over open fires in the yard； they spread out long webs of jeans and linen on the grass to dry or bleach； and all the while they sang
