condensed novels(压缩小说)-第31章
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houses； remember this in their criticisms of the vile and slavish Yankee。
* I make no pretension to fine writing； but perhaps Mrs。 Hardinge
can lay over that。 O； of course！ M。 McG。
** The Declaration of Independence grants to each subject 〃the pursuit
of life； liberty； and happiness。〃 A fugitive slave may be said to personify
〃life； liberty； and happiness。〃 Hence his pursuit is really legal。 This is logic。
G。 A。 S。
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CHAPTER IV。
The roasting of an Abolitionist； by a greatly infuriated community；
was my first taste of the horrors of civil war。 Heavens！ Why will the North
persist in this fratricidal warfare？ The expulsion of several Union refugees；
which soon followed； now fairly plunged my beloved State in the seething
vortex。
I was sitting at the piano one afternoon； singing that stirring refrain； so
justly celebrated； but which a craven spirit； unworthy of England； has
excluded from some of her principal restaurants； and was dwelling with
some enthusiasm on the following line：
〃Huzza！ she spurns the Northern scum！〃
when a fragment of that scum； clothed in that detestable blue uniform
which is the symbol of oppression； entered the apartment。 〃I have the
honor of addressing the celebrated rebel spy； Miss McGillup；〃 said the
Vandal officer。
In a moment I was perfectly calm。 With the exception of slightly
expectorating twice in the face of the minion； I did not betray my agitation。
Haughtily； yet firmly； I replied：
〃I am。〃
〃You looked as if you might be；〃 the brute replied； as he turned on his
heel to leave the apartment。
In an instant I threw myself before him。 〃You shall not leave here
thus；〃 I shrieked； grappling him with an energy which no one； seeing my
frail figure； would have believed。 〃I know the reputation of your hireling
crew。 I read your dreadful purpose in your eye。 Tell me not that your
designs are not sinister。 You came here to insult me；to kiss me； perhaps。
You sha'n't；you naughty man。 Go away！〃
The blush of conscious degradation rose to the cheek of the Lincoln
hireling as he turned his face away from mine。
In an instant I drew my pistol from my belt； which； in anticipation of
some such outrage； I always carried； and shot him。
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CHAPTER V。
〃Thy forte was less to act than speak； Maryland！ Thy politics were
changed each week； Maryland！ With Northern Vandals thou wast meek；
With sympathizers thou wouldst shriek； I know theeO； 'twas like thy
cheek！ Maryland！ my Maryland！〃
After committing the act described in the preceding chapter； which
every English reader will pardon； I went up stairs； put on a clean pair of
stockings； and； placing a rose in my lustrous black hair； proceeded at once
to the camp of Generals Price and Mosby to put them in possession of
information which would lead to the destruction of a portion of the Federal
Army。 During a great part of my flight I was exposed to a running fire
from the Federal pickets of such coarse expressions as； 〃Go it； Sally Reb；〃
〃Dust it； my Confederate beauty；〃 but I succeeded in reaching the glorious
Southern camp uninjured。
In a week afterwards I was arrested； by a lettre de cachet of Mr。
Stanton； and placed in the Bastile。 British readers of my story will express
surprise at these terms； but I assure them that not only these articles but
tumbrils； guillotines； and conciergeries were in active use among the
Federals。 If substantiation be required； I refer to the Charleston Mercury；
the only reliable organ； next to the New York Daily News； published in the
country。 At the Bastile I made the acquaintance of the accomplished and
elegant author of Guy Livingstone；* to whom I presented a curiously
carved thigh…bone of a Union officer； and from whom I received the
following beautiful acknowledgment：
〃Demoiselle：Should I ever win hame to my ain countrie； I make
mine avow to enshrine in my reliquaire this elegant bijouterie and offering
of La Belle Rebelle。 Nay； methinks this fraction of man's anatomy were
some compensation for the rib lost by the 'grand old gardener；' Adam。〃
* The recent conduct of Mr。 Livingstone renders him unworthy of my
notice。 His disgusting praise of Belle Boyd； and complete ignoring of my
claims； show the artfulness of some females and puppyism of some men。
M。 McG。
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CHAPTER VI。
Released at last from durance vile and placed on board of an Erie
canal…boat； on my way to Canada； I for a moment breathed the sweets of
liberty。 Perhaps the interval gave me opportunity to indulge in certain
reveries which I had hitherto sternly dismissed。 Henry Breckinridge Folair；
a consistent copperhead； captain of the canal… boat； again and again
pressed that suit I had so often rejected。
It was a lovely moonlight night。 We sat on the deck of the gliding craft。
The moonbeam and the lash of the driver fell softly on the flanks of the off
horse； and only the surging of the tow…rope broke the silence。 Folair's arm
clasped my waist。 I suffered it to remain。 Placing in my lap a small but not
ungrateful roll of checkerberry lozenges； he took the occasion to repeat
softly in my ear the words of a motto he had just unwrappedwith its
graceful covering of the tissue paperfrom a sugar almond。 The heart of
the wicked little rebel； Mary McGillup； was won！
The story of Mary McGillup is done。 I might have added the journal of
my husband； Henry Breckinridge Folair； but as it refers chiefly to his
freights； and a schedule of his passengers； I have been obliged； reluctantly；
to suppress it。
It is due to my friends to say that I have been requested not to write
this book。 Expressions have reached my ears； the reverse of
complimentary。 I have been told that its publication will probably insure
my banishment for life。 Be it so。 If the cause for which I labored have
been subserved； I am content。
LONDON； May； 1865。
End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Condensed Novels； by Bret
Harte
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