the red acorn-第43节
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horror the scout had stopped； half…turned his horse； and was watching her as if debating whether or not to come back after her。 She yielded to the impulse of fear； struck her mare a stinging blow； and the animal flew away。
Her fright subsided as she heard no hoof…beats following her； and when she raised her eyes； she saw that she was approaching the village of Lavergne； half…way to Murfreesboro； and that a party of Rebel cavalry were moving toward her。 She felt less tremor at this first sight of the armed enemy than she had expected； after her panic over the scout； and rode toward the horsemen with perfect outward； and no little inward composure。
The Lieutenant in command raised his hat with the greatest gallantry。
〃Good morning； Miss。 From the city； I suppose？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes；〃 she answered in tones as even as if speaking in a parlor； 〃fortunately； I am at last from the city。 I have been trying to get away ever since it seemed hopeless that our people would not redeem it soon。〃
The conversation thus opened was carried on by Rachel giving copious and disparaging information concerning the 〃Yankees；〃 and the Lieutenant listening in admiration to the musical accents； interrupting but rarely to interject a question or a favorable comment。 He was as little critical as ardent young men are apt to be of the statements of captivating young women； and Rachel's spirits rose as she saw that the worst she had to fear from this enemy was an excess of devotioni。 The story of her aunt at Murfreesboro received unhesitating acceptance； and nothing but imperative scouting orders prevented his escorting her to the town。 He would； however； send a non…commissioned officer with her； who would see that she was not molested by any one。 He requested permission to call upon her at her aunt's； which Rachel was compelled to grant； for lack of any ready excuse for such a contingency。 With this； and many smiles and bows； they parted。
All the afternoon she rode through camps of men in gray and butternut； as she had ridden through those of men in blue in the morning。 In these； as in the others； she heard gay songs； dance music and laughter； and saw thousands of merry boys rollicking in the sunshine at games of ball and other sports； with the joyous earnestness of a school…house playground。 She tried； but in vain； to realize that in a few days these thoughtless youths would be the demons of the battle…field。
Just before dusk she came to the top of a low limestone ridge； and saw； three miles away； the lights of Murfreesboro。 At that moment Fortner appeared； jogging leisurely toward her； mounted on a splendid horse。
〃O there's my Cousin Jim！〃 she exclaimed gleefully； 〃coming to meet me。 Sergeant； I am deeply obliged to you and to your Lieutenant； for your company； and I will try to show my appreciation of it in the future in some way more substantial than words。 You need not go any farther with me。 I know that you and your horse are very tired。 Good by。〃
The Sergeant was only too gald of this release； which gave him an opportunity to get back to camp； to enjoy some good cheer that he knew was there； and bidding a hasty good…night； he left at a trot。
Fortner and Rachel rode on slowly up the pike； traversing the ground that was soon to run red with the blood of thousands。
They talked of the fearful probabilities of the next few days； and halted for some minutes on the bridge across Stone River； to study the wonderfully picturesque scene spread out before them。 The dusk was just closing down。 The scowling darkness seemed to catch around woods and trees and houses； and grow into monsters of vast and somber bulk； swelling and spreding like the 〃gin〃 which escaped from the copper can； in the 〃Arabian Nights；〃 until they touched each other； coalesced and covered the whole land。 Far away； at the edge of the valley； the tops of the hills rose； distinctly lighted by the last rays of the dying day； as if some strip of country resisting to the last the invasion of the dark monsters。
A half…mile in front of the bridge was the town of Murfreesboro。 Bright lights streamed from thousands of windows and from bonfires in the streets。 Church bells rang out the glad acclaim of Christmas from a score of steeples。 The happy voices of childhood singing Christmas carols； the laughter of youths and maidens strolling arm in arm through the streets； the cheery songs of merry…making negroes； silver…throated bands； with throbbing drums and gently…complaining flutes； playing martial airs； long lines of gleaming camp…fires； stretching over the undulating valley and rising hills like necklaces of burning jewels on the breast of night；this was what held them silent and motionless。
Rachel at last spoke：
〃It is like a scene of enchantment。 It is more wonderful than anything I ever read of。〃
〃Yes'm； hit's mouty strikin' now； an' when ye think how hit'll all be changed in a little while ter more misery then thar is this side o' hell； hit becomes all the more strikin'。 Hit seems ter me somethin' like what I've heered 'em read 'bout in the Bible； whar they went on feastin' an' singin'； an' dancin' an' frolickin'； an' the like； an' at midnight the inimy broke through the walls of ther city； an' put 'em all ter the sword； even while they wuz settin' round thar tables； with ther drinkin' cups in ther hands。〃
〃To think what a storm is about to break upon this scene of happiness and mirth…making！〃 said Rachel； with a shudder。
〃Yes； an' they seem ter want ter do the very things thet'll show ther contempt o' righteousness； an' provoke the wrath o' the Lord。 Thar； where ye see thet house； all lit up from the basement ter the look…out on the ruf； is whar one o' the most 'ristocratic families in all Tennessee lives。 There datter is bein' married to…night； an' Major…Gineral Polk； the biggest gun in all these 'ere parts； next ter ole Bragg； an' who is also 'Piscopalian Bishop o' Tennessee； does the splicin'。 They've got ther parlors； whar they'll dance； carpeted with 'Merican flags； so thet the young bucks an' gals kin show ther despisery of the banner thet wuz good enough for ther fathers； by trampin' over hit all night。 But we'll show hit ter 'em in a day or two whar they won't feel like cuttin' pigeon…wings over hit。 Ye jes stand still an' see the salvation o' the Lord。〃
〃I hope we will；〃 said Rachel； her horror of the storm that was about to break giving away to indignation at the treatment of her country's flag。 〃Shan't we go on？ My long ride has made me very tired and very hungry； and I know my horse is the same。〃
Shortly after crossing the river they passed a large tent； with a number of others clustered around it。 All were festooned with Rebel flags； and brilliantly lighted。 A band came up in front of the principal one and played the 〃Bonnie Blue Flag。〃
〃Thet's ole Gineral Bragg's headquarters；〃 explained Fortner。 〃He's the king bee of all the Rebels in these heah parts； an' they think he kin 'bout make the sun stand still ef he wants ter。〃
They cantered on into the town； and going more slowly through the great public square and the more crowded streets； came at last to a modest house； standing on a corner； and nearly hidden by vines and shrubbery。
A peculiar knock caused the door to open quickly； and before Rachel was hardly aware of it； she was standing inside a comfortable room； so well lighted that her eyes took some little time to get used to such a change。
When they did so she saw that she was in the presence of a slender； elderly woman； whose face charmed her。
〃This is yer Aunt Debby Brill；〃 said Fortner； dryly； 〃who ye came so fur ter see； an' who's bin 'spectin' ye quite anxiously。〃
〃Ye're very welcome； my dear；〃 said Aunt Debby； after a moment's inspection which seemed to be entirely satisfactory。 〃Jest lay off yer things thar on the bed； an' come out ter supper。 I know ye're sharp…set。 A ride from Nashville sech a day ez this is mouty good for the appetite； an' we've hed supper waitin' ye。〃
Hastily throwing off her hat and gloves； she sat down with the rest； to a homely but excellent supper； which they all ate in silence。 During the meal a muscular； well knit man of thirty entered。
〃All clar； outside； Bill？〃 asked Fortenr。
〃All clar；〃 replied the man。 〃Everybody's off on a high o' some kind。〃
Bill sat down and ate with the rest； until he satisfied his hunger； and then rising he felt along the hewed logs which formed the walls； until he found a splinter to serve as a tooth…pick。 Using this for a minute industriously； he threw it into the fire and asked：
〃Well？〃
〃Well；〃 answered Fortner。 〃I reckon hit's ez sartin ez anything kin well be thet Wheeler's and Morgan's cavalry hez been sent off inter Kentucky； and ez thet's what Ole rosy's been waitin' fur； now's the time fur him ter put in his best licks。 Ye'd better start afore midnight fur Nashville。 Ye'll hev this news； an' alos thet thar's been no change in the location o' the Rebels； 'cept thet Polk's an' Kirby Smith's corps are both heah at Murfreesboro； with a strong brigade at Stewart's creek； an' another at Lavergne。 Ye'd better fallin with Boscall's rijiment； which'll go out ter Lavergne to…night； ter relieve one o
