the red acorn- 第41部分

Aunt　Debby　came　impulsively　to　the　bedside；　threw　an　arm　around　Rachel's　neck；　and　kissed　her　on　the　forehead。　　〃I　love　ye；　honey；〃　she　said　with　admiring　tenderness。　　〃Ye'　're　sich　ez　all　women　orter　be。　　Ye　'll　make　heroes　of　yer　husband　and　sons。　　Ye　've　yit　ter　l'arn　though；　thet　the　most　of　a　woman's　life；　an'　the　hardest　part　of　hit；　is　ter　wait。〃

In　her　fervid　state　of　mind　Rachel　responded　electrically　to　this　loving　advance；　made　at　the　moment　of　all　others　when　she　felt　most　in　need　of　sympathy　and　love。　　She　put　her　strong　arms　around　Aunt　Debby；　and　held　her　for　a　moment　close　to　her　heart。　　From　that　moment　the　two　women　became　of　one　accord。　　Womanlike；　they　sought　relief　from　their　high　tension　in　light；　irrelevant　talk　and　care　for　the　trifling　details　of　their　surroundings。　　Aunt　Debby　brought　water　and　towels　for　Rachel's　toilet；　and　fluttered　around　her；　solicitous；　helpful　and　motherly；　and　Rachel；　weary　of　long　companionship　with　men；　delighted　in　the　restfulness　of　association　once　more　with　a　gentle；　sweet…minded　woman。

The　heavy　riding…habit　was　entirely　too　cumbersome　for　indoor　wear；　and　Rachel　put　on　instead　one　of　Aunt　Debby's　〃linsey〃　gowns；　that　hung　from　a　peg；　and　laughed　at　the　prim；　demure　mountain　girl　she　saw　in　the　glass。　　After　a　good　breakfast　had　still　farther　raised　her　spirits　she　ventured　upon　a　little　pleasantry　about　the　dramatic　possibilities　of　a　young　lady　who　couls　assume　different　characters　with　such　facility。

The　day　passed　quietly；　with　Rachel　studying　such　of　the　Christmas　festivities　as　were　visible　from　the　window；　and　from　time　to　time　exchanging　personal　history　with　Aunt　Debby。　　She　learned　that　the　latter　had　left　her　home　in　Rockcastle　Mountains　with　the　Union　Army　in　the　previous　Spring；　and　gone　on　to　Chattanooga；　to　assist　her　nephew；　Fortner；　in　obtaining　the　required　information　when　Mitchell's　army　advanced　against　that　place　in　the　Summer。　　When　the　army　retreated　to　the　Ohio；　in　September；　she　had　come　as　far　back　as　Murfreesboro；　and　there　stopped　to　await　the　army's　return；　which　she　was　confident　would　not　be　long　delayed。

〃How　brave　and　devoted　you　have　been；〃　said　Rachel　warmly；　as　Aunt　Debby　concluded　her　modestly…told　story。　　〃No　man　could　have　done　better。〃

〃No；　honey；〃　replied　the　elder　woman；　with　her　wan　face　coloring　faintly；　〃I've　done　nothin'　but　my　plain　duty；　ez　I　seed　hit。　　I've　done　nothin'　ter　what　THEY　would've　done　had　n't　they　been　taken　from　me　afore　they　had　a　chance。　　Like　one　who　speaks　ter　us　in　the　Book；　I've　been　in　journeyin's　often；　in　peril　of　robbers；　in　perils　of　mine　own　countrymen；　in　perils　in　the　city；　in　perils　in　the　wilderness；　in　weariness　an'　painfulness；　in　watchings　often；　in　hunger　an'　thirst；　in　fastings　often；　in　cold　an'　nakedness；　but　he　warns　us　not　ter　glory　in　these　things；　but　in　those　which　consarn　our　infirmities。〃

〃How　great　should　be　your　reward！〃

〃Don't　speak　of　reward。　　I　only　want　my　freedom　when　I've　'arned　hitthe　freedom　ter　leave　an　'arth　on　which　I've　been　left　behind；　an'　go　whar　my　husband　an'　son　are　waitin'　fur　me。〃

She　rose　and　paced　the　floor；　with　her　face　and　eyes　shining。

〃Have　you　no　fear　of　death　whatever？〃　asked　Rachel　in　amazement。

〃Fear　of　death！　　Child；　why　should　I　fear　death？　　Why　should　I　fear　death；　more　than　the　unborn　child　fears　birth？　　Both　are　the　same。　　Hit　can't　be　fur　ter　thet　other　world　whar　THEY　wait　fur　me。　　Hit　is　not　even　ez　a　journey　ter　the　next　townhit's　only　one　little　step　though　the　curtain　o'　green　grass　an'　violets　on　a　sunny　hillsideonly　one　little　step。〃

She　turned　abruptly；　and　going　back　to　her　chair　by　the　fireside；　seated　herself　in　it；　and　clasping　her　knees　with　her　hands；　rocked　back　and　forth；　and　sang　in　a　low；　sweet　croon：


〃Oh；　the　rapturous；　transporting　scene；　　　That　rises　ter　my　sight；　Sweet　fields　arrayed　in　livin'　green；　　　An'　rivers　of　delight。

〃All　o'er　those　wide；　extended　plains　　　Shines　one　eternal　day；　Thar　God；　the　Son；　forever　reigns；　　　An　scatters　night　away。

〃No　chillin'　winds　or　poisonous　breath　　　Kin　reach　thet　healthful　shore；　Sickness　an'　sorrow；　pain　an'　death；　　　Are　felt　an'　feared　no　more。〃


After　dark　Fortner　came　in。　　Both　women　studied　his　face　eagerly　as　he　walked　up　to　the　fire。

〃Nothin'　yet；　honey；〃　he　said　to　Aunt　Debby；　and　〃Nothin'　yet；　Miss；〃　to　Rachel；　and　after　a　little　stay　went　out。

When　Rachel　awoke　the　next　morning　the　sky　was　lowering　darkly。　　On　going　to　the　window　she　found　a　most　depressing　change　from　the　scene　of　bright　merriment　she　had　studied　the　night　before。　　A　chill　Winter　rain　was　falling　with　dreary　persistence；　pattering　on　the　dead　leaves　that　covered　the　ground；　and　soaking　into　the　sodden　earth。　　A　few　forlorn　little　birds　hopped　wearily　about；　searching　in　vain　in　the　dry　husks　and　empty　insect　shells　for　the　food　that　had　once　been　so　plentiful　there。　　Up　and　down　the　streets；　as　far　as　she　could　see；　men　in　squads　or　singly；　under　officers　or　without　organization；　plodded　along　dejectedly；　taking　the　cold　drench　from　above；　and　the　clinging　mud　around　their　feet；　with　the　dumb；　stolid　discontent　characteristic　of　seasoned　veterans。　When　mules　and　horses　went　by　they　seemed　poor　and　shrunken。　　They　drew　their　limbs　and　bodies　together；　as　if　to　present　the　least　surface　to　the　inclement　showers；　and　their　labored；　toilsome　motion　contrasted　painfully　with　their　strong；　free　movement　on　brighter　days。　　Everything　and　everybody　in　sight　added　something　to　increase　the　dismalness　of　the　view；　and　as　Rachel　continued　to　gaze　upon　it　the　〃horrors〃　took　possession　of　her。　　She　began　to　brood　wretchedly　over　her　position　as　a　spy　inside　the　enemy's　lines；　and　upon　all　the　consequences　of　that　position。

It　was　late　that　night　when　Fortner　came　in。　　As　he　entered　the　two　expectant　women　saw；　by　the　ruddy　light　of　the　fire；　that　his　face　was　set　and　his　eyes　flashing。　　He　hung　his　dripping　hat　on　a　peg　in　the　chimney；　and　kicked　the　blazing　logs　with　his　wet　boots　until　a　flood　of　meteor　sparks　flew　up　the　throat　of　the　fireplace。　Turning；　he　said；　without　waiting　to　be　questioned：

〃Well；　the　hunt's　begun　at　last。　　Our　folks　came　out'n　Nashville　this　morning　in　three　big　armies；　marchin'　on　different　roads；　an　they　begun　slashin'　at　the　Rebels　wherever　they　could　find　'em。　Thar's　been　fouten　at　Triune　an'　Lavergne；　an'　all　along　the　line。　They　histed　the　Rebels　out'n　ther　holes　everywhar；　an'　druv'　em　back　on　the　jump。　　Wagon　load　arter　wagon　load　o'　wounded's　comin'　back。　　I　come　in　ahead　of　a　long　train　agwine　ter　the　hospital。　Hark！　ye　kin　heah　'em　now。〃

The　women　listened。

They　heard　the　ceaseless　patter　and　swish　of　the　gloomy　rainthe　gusty　sighs　of　the　wind　through　the　shade…trees'　naked　brancheslouder　still　the　rolling　of　heavy　wheels　over　the　rough　streets；　and　all　these　were　torn　and　rent　by　the　shrieks　of　men　in　agony。

〃Poor　fellows；〃　said　Rachel；　〃how　they　are　suffering！〃

〃Think　ruther；〃　said　Aunt　Debby　calmly；　〃of　how　they've　made　others　suffer。　　Hit's　God's　judgement　on　'em。〃

Rachel　turned　to　Fortner。　　〃What　will　come　next？　　Will　this　end　it？　　Will　the　Rebels　fall　back　and　leave　this　place？〃

〃Hardly。　　This's　on'y　like　the　fust　slap　in　the　face　in　a　fight　atween　two　big　savage　men；　who've　locked　horns　ter　see　which　is　the　best　man。　　Hit's　on'y　a　sorter　limberin'　the　jints　fur　the　death　rassel。〃

〃Yes；　and　what　next？〃

〃Well；　Rosy's　started　fur　this　'ere　place；　an'　he's　bound　ter　come　heah。　　Bragg's　bound　he　sha'n't　come　heah；　an'　is　gittin'　his　men　back　to　defend　the　town。〃

〃What　am　Iwhat　are　we　to　do　in　the　meanwhile？〃

〃Ye're　ter　do　nothin'；　on'y　stay　in　the　house　ez　close　ez　ye　kin；　an'　wait　tell　the　chance　comes　ter　use　ye。　　Hit　may　be　ter…morrer；　an'　hit　mayn't　be　fur　some　days。　　These　army　moves　are　mouty　unsartin。　　Aunt　Debby　'll　take　keer　on　ye；　an'　ye　'll　not　be　in　a　mite　o'　danger。〃

〃But　we'll　see　you　frequently？〃

〃Ez　offen　ez　I　kin　arrange　hit。　　I'm　actin'　ez　orderly　an'　messenger　'bout　headquarters；　but　I'll　come　ter　ye　whenever　I　kin　git　a　chance；　an'　keep　ye　posted。〃

This　was　Friday　night。　　All　day　Saturday；　as　long　as　the　light　lasted；　Rachel　stood　at　the　window　and　watched　with　sinking　heart　the　steady　inflow　of　the　Rebels　from　the　north。　　That　night　she　and　Aunt　Debby　waited　till　midnight　for　Fortner；　but　he　did　not　come。　All　day　Sunday　she　stood　at　her　post；　and　watched　the　unabated　pouring…in　on　the　Nashville　pike。　　Fortner　did　not　come　that　night。　　She　was　downcast；　but　no　shade　disturbed　the　serenity　of　Aunt　Debby's　sweet　hymning。　　So　it　was　again　on　Monday　and　Tuesday。　The　continually…swarming　multitudes　weighed　down　her　spirits　like　a　millstone。　She　seemed　to　be　encompassed　by　millions　of　armed　enemies。　They　appeared　more　plentiful　than　the　trees；　or　the　rocks；　or　the　leaves　even。　　They　filled　the　streets　of　the　little　town　until　it　seemed　impossible　for　another　one　to　find　standing　room。　　Their　cavalry　blackened　the　faces　of　the　long　ranges　of　hills。　　Their　artillery　and　wagons　streamed　along　the　roads　in　a　never…ending　train。　　Their　camp…fires　lighted　up　the　country　at　night　for　miles；　in　all　directions。

Just　at　dusk　Tuesday　night　Fortner　came　in；　and　was　warmly　welcomed。

〃There　are　such　countless　hosts　of　the　Rebels；〃　Rachel　said　to　him　after　the　first　greetings　were　over；　〃that　I　quite　despair　of　our　men　being　able　to　do　anything　with　them。　　It　seems　impossible　that　there　can　be　gathered　together　anywhere　else　in　the　world　as　many　men　as　they　have。〃

〃I　don't　wonder　ye　think　so；　but　ef　ye'd　been　whar　I　wuz　to…day　ye'd　think　thet　all　the　world　wuz　marchin'　round　in　blue　uniforms。　Over　heah　hit　seems　ez　ef　all　the　cedars　on　the　hills　hed　suddintly　turned　inter　Rebel　soldiers。　　Three　miles　from　heah　the　blue…coats　are　swarmin'　thicker'n　bees　in　a　field　o'　buckwheat。〃

〃Three　miles　from　here！　　Is　our　army　within　three　miles　of　here？〃

〃Hit　sartinly　is；　an'　the　Lord…awfullest　crowd　o'　men　an'　guns　an'　hosses　thet　ever　tromped　down　the　grass　o'　this　ere　airth。　　Why；　hit　jest　dazed　my　eyes　ter　look　at　'em。　　Come　ter　this　other　winder。　D'　ye　see　thet　furtherest　line　o'　campfires；　'way　on　yander　hill？　Well；　them's　Union。　　Ef　ye　could　see　far　enuf　ye'd　see　they're　'bout　five