the fortunes of oliver horn-第62章

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！


lub　at　ten　o'clock　to…night。　All　of　you　able　to　carry　a　gun　will　do　me　the　kindness　to　be　present。　I'd　rather　die　right　here　in　my　tracks　than　let　a　lot　of　low…lived　mud…sills　who　never　entered　a　gentleman's　house　in　their　lives　come　down　here　at　the　beck　and　call　of　this　rail…splitter　they've　put　in　the　White　House　and　walk　over　us　rough…shod！　And　you；　Horn；　a　Virginian；　defend　it！　By　God；　sir；　it's　enough　to　make　a　man's　blood　boil！〃

The　inventor's　eyes　flashed。　They　blazed　now　as　brightly　as　those　of　Clayton。　Not　even　a　life…long　friend　had　the　right　to　use　such　language　in　his　presence；　　or　in　that　of　his　guests。　Richard's　figure　grew　tense　with　indignation。　Confronting　the　now　reckless　　man；　he　raised　his　hand　and　was　about　to　order　him　out　of　the　house　when　Oliver　stepped　quickly　in　front　of　his　father。

〃You　are　unjust；　Colonel　Clayton。〃　The　words　came　slowly　between　the　boy's　partly　closed　teeth。　〃You　know　nothing　of　these　people。　I　have　lived　among　them　long　enough　not　only　to　know　but　to　love　them。　There　are　as　many　gentlemen　North　as　South。　If　you　would　go　among　them　as　I　have　done；　you　would　be　man　enough　to　admit　it。〃

The　Colonel　turned　upon　him　with　a　snarl：

〃And　so　you　have　become　a　dirty　renegade；　have　you；　and　gone　back　on　your　blood　and　your　State？　That's　what　comes　of　sending　boys　like　you　away　from　home！〃

The　guests　stood　amazed。　The　spectacle　of　the　most　courteous　man　of　his　time　acting　like　a　blackguard　　was　more　astounding　than　the　news　be　had　brought。　Even　Malachi；　at　the　open　door；　trembled　with　fear。

As　the　words　fell　from　his　lips　Mrs。　Horn's　firm；　clear　voice；　crying　〃Shame！　Shame！〃　rang　through　the　room。　She　had　risen　from　her　seat　and　was　walking　rapidly　to　where　the　Colonel　was　standing。

〃Shame；　I　say；　John　Clayton！　How　dare　you　speak　so？　What　has　our　young　son　ever　done　to　you；　that　you　should　insult　him　in　his　father's　house！　What　madness　has　come　over　you？〃

The　horrified　guests　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　Every　eye　was　fixed　on　the　Colonel；　shaking　with　rage。

For　a　brief　instant　he　faced　his　hostess；　started　to　speak；　checked　himself　as　if　some　better　judgment　prevailed；　and　with　upraised　hands　flung　himself　from　the　room；　shouting；　as　he　went：

〃Ten　o'clock；　gentlemen！　Chesapeake　Club！　Every　man　with　a　gun！〃

Richard；　astounded　at　Clayton's　action　and　now　thoroughly　convinced　of　the　danger　of　the　situation　and　determined　to　do　what　he　could　to　thwart　the　efforts　of　such　men　as　the　Colonel　and　his　following；　laid　his　violin　in　its　case；　turned　to　his　frightened　guests　and　with　a　few　calming　words　and　a　promise　to　send　each　one　of　them　word　if　any　immediate　danger　existed；　called　Oliver　and　Nathan　to　him；　and　taking　his　cloak　and　hat　from　Malachi's　outstretched　　trembling　hands　started　for　the　club。　Once　outside　it　was　easy　to　see　that　a　feeling　of　intense　and　ominous　excitement　was　in　the　air。　Even　on　the　sidewalk　and　on　the　street　corners；　men　stood　silent；　huddled　together；　their　eyes　on　the　ground；　the　situation　being　too　grave　for　spoken　words。

On　arriving　they　found　its　halls　already　filled　with　angry　and　excited　men　discussing　the　threatened　　invasion；　many　of　whom　met　the　young　man　with　scowling　looks；　the　Colonel　having　evidently　informed　them　of　Oliver's　protest。

A　few　of　the　members　had　brought　their　sporting　guns。　These　had　been　handed　to　the　gouty　old　porter；　　who；　half…frightened　out　of　his　wits；　had　stacked　them　in　a　row　against　the　wall　of　the　outer　hall。　Billy　Talbot　arrived　a　few　moments　later　carrying　a　heavy　fowling…piece　loaded　for　swan。　He　had　been　dining　out　when　summoned　and　had　hurriedly　left　the　table；　excusing　himself　on　the　ground　that　he　had　been　〃called　to　arms。〃　He　had　taken　time；　however；　to　stop　at　his　own　house；　slip　out　of　his　English　dress…　suit　and　into　a　brown　ducking　outfit。

〃We'll　shoot　'em　on　the　run；　damn　'emlike　rabbits；　　sir；〃　he　said　to　Cobb　as　he　entered；　the　Vermonter　　being　the　only　man　likely　to　communicate　with　the　invaders　and　so　make　known　the　warlike　intentions　　of　at　least　one　citizen；　and　the　utter　hopelessness　　of　any　prolonged　resistance。　Waggles；　who　had　followed　close　on　his　master's　heels；　was　too　excited　　to　sit　down；　but　stood　on　three　legs；　his　eye　turned　toward　Talbot；　as　if　wanting　to　pick　up　any　game　which　Billy's　trusty　fowling…piece　might　bring　down。

A　quiet；　repressed　smile　passed；　over　Oliver's　face　as　he　watched　Waggles　and　his　master；　but　he　spoke　no　word　to　the　Nimrod。　He　could　not　help　thinking　how　Hank　Pollard　would　handle　the　fashion…plate　if　he　ever　closed　his　great　bony　hands　upon　him。

Judge　Bowman　now　joined　the　group；　bowing　to　Richard　rather　coldly　and　planting　himself　squarely　in　front　of　Oliver。

〃There's　only　one　side　to　this　question；　young　man；　for　you；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　be　fooled　by　those　fellow　up　in　New　York。　I　know　themknown　them　for　years。　Look　up　there〃and　he　pointed　to　the　portrait　of　Oliver's　ancestor　above　the　mantel。　〃What　do　you　think　he　would　do　if　he　were　alive　to…day！　Stick　to　your　own；　my　boystick　to　your　own！〃

General　Mactavish　now　hurried　in；　drawing　off　his　white　gloves　as　he　entered　the　room；　followed　by　Tom　Gunning；　Carter　Thorn；　and　Mowbray；　an　up…　country　man。　The　four　had　been　dining　together　and　had　also　left　the　table　on　receipt　of　the　Colonel's　message。　They　evidently　appreciated　the　gravity　of　the　situation；　for　they　stood　just　outside　the　excited　group　that　filled　the　centre　of　the　large　room；　listening　　eagerly　to　Richard's　clear　tones　pleading　for　moderation〃in　a　crisis　which；〃　he　urged；　〃required　　the　greatest　public　restraint　and　self…control；〃　and　which　would　surely　〃plunge　the　State　into　the　most　horrible　of　wars〃　if　those　about　him　listened　to　the　counsels　of　such　men　as　Clayton　and　Judge　Bowman。

During　the　whole　discussion　Amos　Cobb　stood　silent；　leaning　against　the　mantel…piece；　his　cold　gray　eyes　fixed　on　the　excited　throng；　his　thin　lips　curling　now　and　then。　When　the　Defence　Committee；　in　spite　of　Richard's　protest；　had　at　last　been　formed；　and　its　members　formally　instructed　to　meet　the　enemy　outside　the　city　and　protest；　first　by　voice　and　then；　if　necessary；　by　arms；　against　the　unwarrantable　　invasion　of　the　soil　of　their　State；　the　Vermonter　buttoned　up　his　coat　slowly；　one　button　after　another；　fastened　each　one　with　a　determined　gesture；　drew　on　his　gloves；　set　his　lips　tight；　singled　out　Oliver　and　Richard；　shook　their　hands　with　the　greatest　warmth；　and　walked　straight　out　of　the　club…house。　Some　time　during　the　night　he　drove　in　a　hack　to　Mr。　Stiger's　house；　roused　the　old　cashier　from　his　sleep；　took　him　and　the　big　walled…town…key　down　to　the　bank；　unlocked　the　vault　and　dragged　from　it　two　wooden　boxes　filled　with　gold　coin；　his　own　property；　and　which　the　month　before　he　had　deposited　there　for　safe…keeping。　These；　with　Stiger's　assistance；　he　carried　to　the　hack。　Within　the　hour；　the　two　boxes　with　their　contents　were　locked　up　in　bureau…drawer　in　his　own　house　awaiting　their　immediate　shipment　to　New　York。


The　next　morning　Malachi's　wizened　face　was　thrust　inside　Oliver's　bedroom　door。　He　was　shaking　　with　terror；　his　eyes　almost　starting　from　his　head。

〃Marse　Ollie；　Marse　Ollie；　git　up　quick　as　you　kin！　De　Yankees　is　come；　de　town　is　black　wid　'em！〃

Oliver　sprang　from　his　bed　and　stood　half…dazed　looking　into　Malachi's　eyes。

〃How　do　you　know？　Who　told　you？〃

〃I　done　seen　'em。　Been　up　since　daylight。　Dey　got　guns　wid　'em。　Fo'　Gawd　dis　is　tur…ble！〃　The　old　man's　voice　trembledhe　could　hardly　articulate。

Oliver　hurried　into　his　clothes；　stepped　noiselessly　downstairs　so　as　not　to　wake　his　father　and　mother；　and；　closing　the　front　door　softly　behind　him；　stood　for　a　moment　on　the　top　step。　Should　he　forget　the　insults　of　the　night　before　and　go　straight　to　Colonel　Clayton；　and　try　to　dissuade　him　from　his　purpose；　or　should　he　find　the　regiment　and　warn　them　of　their　danger？

A　vague　sense　of　personal　responsibility　for　whatever　　the　day　might　bring　forth　took　possession　of　him　as　though　the　turning…point　in　his　life　had　come；　without　his　altogether　realizing　it。　These　men　from　the　North　were　coming　to　his　own　town；　where　he　had　been　born　and　brought　up；　and　where　they　should　be　hospitably　re