登陆注册
19633600000017

第17章 CHAPTER VI(1)

We skip ten years and this history finds certain changes to record.

Judge Hawkins and Col. Sellers have made and lost two or three moderate fortunes in the meantime and are now pinched by poverty. Sellers has two pairs of twins and four extras. In Hawkins's family are six children of his own and two adopted ones. From time to time, as fortune smiled, the elder children got the benefit of it, spending the lucky seasons at excellent schools in St. Louis and the unlucky ones at home in the chafing discomfort of straightened circumstances.

Neither the Hawkins children nor the world that knew them ever supposed that one of the girls was of alien blood and parentage: Such difference as existed between Laura and Emily is not uncommon in a family. The girls had grown up as sisters, and they were both too young at the time of the fearful accident on the Mississippi to know that it was that which had thrown their lives together.

And yet any one who had known the secret of Laura's birth and had seen her during these passing years, say at the happy age of twelve or thirteen, would have fancied that he knew the reason why she was more winsome than her school companion.

Philosophers dispute whether it is the promise of what she will be in the careless school-girl, that makes her attractive, the undeveloped maidenhood, or the mere natural, careless sweetness of childhood.

If Laura at twelve was beginning to be a beauty, the thought of it had never entered her head. No, indeed. Her mind wad filled with more important thoughts. To her simple school-girl dress she was beginning to add those mysterious little adornments of ribbon-knots and ear-rings, which were the subject of earnest consultations with her grown friends.

When she tripped down the street on a summer's day with her dainty hands propped into the ribbon-broidered pockets of her apron, and elbows consequently more or less akimbo with her wide Leghorn hat flapping down and hiding her face one moment and blowing straight up against her fore head the next and making its revealment of fresh young beauty; with all her pretty girlish airs and graces in full play, and that sweet ignorance of care and that atmosphere of innocence and purity all about her that belong to her gracious time of life, indeed she was a vision to warm the coldest heart and bless and cheer the saddest.

Willful, generous, forgiving, imperious, affectionate, improvident, bewitching, in short--was Laura at this period. Could she have remained there, this history would not need to be written. But Laura had grown to be almost a woman in these few years, to the end of which we have now come--years which had seen Judge Hawkins pass through so many trials.

When the judge's first bankruptcy came upon him, a homely human angel intruded upon him with an offer of $1,500 for the Tennessee Land. Mrs.

Hawkins said take it. It was a grievous temptation, but the judge withstood it. He said the land was for the children--he could not rob them of their future millions for so paltry a sum. When the second blight fell upon him, another angel appeared and offered $3,000 for the land. He was in such deep distress that he allowed his wife to persuade him to let the papers be drawn; but when his children came into his presence in their poor apparel, he felt like a traitor and refused to sign.

But now he was down again, and deeper in the mire than ever. He paced the floor all day, he scarcely slept at night. He blushed even to acknowledge it to himself, but treason was in his mind--he was meditating, at last, the sale of the land. Mrs. Hawkins stepped into the room. He had not spoken a word, but he felt as guilty as if she had caught him in some shameful act. She said:

"Si, I do not know what we are going to do. The children are not fit to be seen, their clothes are in such a state. But there's something more serious still. --There is scarcely a bite in the house to eat"

"Why, Nancy, go to Johnson----."

"Johnson indeed! You took that man's part when he hadn't a friend in the world, and you built him up and made him rich. And here's the result of it: He lives in our fine house, and we live in his miserable log cabin.

He has hinted to our children that he would rather they wouldn't come about his yard to play with his children,--which I can bear, and bear easy enough, for they're not a sort we want to associate with much--but what I can't bear with any quietness at all, is his telling Franky our bill was running pretty high this morning when I sent him for some meal--and that was all he said, too--didn't give him the meal--turned off and went to talking with the Hargrave girls about some stuff they wanted to cheapen."

"Nancy, this is astounding!"

"And so it is, I warrant you. I've kept still, Si, as long as ever I could. Things have been getting worse and worse, and worse and worse, every single day; I don't go out of the house, I feel so down; but you had trouble enough, and I wouldn't say a word--and I wouldn't say a word now, only things have got so bad that I don't know what to do, nor where to turn." And she gave way and put her face in her hands and cried.

"Poor child, don't grieve so. I never thought that of Johnson. I am clear at my wit's end. I don't know what in the world to do. Now if somebody would come along and offer $3,000--Uh, if somebody only would come along and offer $3,000 for that Tennessee Land."

"You'd sell it, S!" said Mrs. Hawkins excitedly.

"Try me!"

Mrs. Hawkins was out of the room in a moment. Within a minute she was back again with a business-looking stranger, whom she seated, and then she took her leave again. Hawkins said to himself, " How can a man ever lose faith? When the blackest hour comes, Providence always comes with it--ah, this is the very timeliest help that ever poor harried devil had;if this blessed man offers but a thousand I'll embrace him like a brother!"

The stranger said:

同类推荐
  • Jean of the Lazy A

    Jean of the Lazy A

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Courtship of Susan Bell

    The Courtship of Susan Bell

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 伤寒杂病论

    伤寒杂病论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大乘止观法门

    大乘止观法门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 光福诸山记

    光福诸山记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 明伦汇编人事典养生部

    明伦汇编人事典养生部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 无上妖庭

    无上妖庭

    旌旗招展,三界仙佛皆拱手;虎踞龙盘,十方妖魔悉皈依!今朝幸而重生,既为妖,就争一争那万妖之王位!立万妖之王庭!生而为虎,自当为王!
  • 老人关怀与家庭护理

    老人关怀与家庭护理

    本书全面介绍了老年人生理心理变化特征、日常生活护理、内科常见疾病及外科疾病护理、老年运动与休闲、老年人营养保健、老年婚姻生活、银发消费和老年生涯规划等老年人日常生活需要关怀的各个方面。
  • 向刻薄的人学习宽容

    向刻薄的人学习宽容

    本书对如何为人处世宽容待人及如何向刻薄的人学习宽容进行探讨,阐述了如何咽下怨气争一口气,如何与人分享等。
  • 贪财小女人的奋斗史

    贪财小女人的奋斗史

    简介:莫不是贪恋人生在世的那一缕亲情,她又怎么可能葬身火海。既然重生,她定不会再被家族扼住自己的命脉,只想高傲地活着,为谁,也不能伤了自己。这一世的她愿将一切踩在脚下,她不会寻求庇佑,是我的,那就收好,不是我的,那就努力抢过来,林妹妹的不是她的风格。她已经准备好了,做自己的女王。【图片】
  • 你只属于我:竹马快来

    你只属于我:竹马快来

    本来去旅游是为了放松心情的,没有想到去看趟火山居然能遇到火山喷发。OMG!!!这真是应那句“喝口水都塞牙”了。可是为毛我没死(⊙o⊙)——而是变成了奶娃娃???不管了,既然老天给我一次重来的机会,要好好享受才是。且看女强人变萌妹子与青梅竹马的爱情故事。(一对一,身心、感情专一哦)
  • 逃跑新娘之将军求放过

    逃跑新娘之将军求放过

    吃一堑,长一智,欧阳卿这辈子最英明也是最后悔的决定就是跟了一个能祸害女子的将军,为了保命,只能继续女扮男装做小厮。受不了色狼将军的恶意骚扰,欧阳卿当下立断,跑!姐控弟弟的出现,伴着环环相扣的阴谋与莫名其妙的刺杀,欧阳卿只能乖乖地回狼窝趴着。为什么周围的人都默认他们在一起,她看上去不像是男的吗?欧阳卿泪眼:“将军,你是一个有正妻的已婚妇男!”某人死死夹住欧阳卿想跑的腿,嘴里含着娇小的耳垂,“可是跟我拜堂的不就是你吗?我的娘子。”
  • 万道灵尊

    万道灵尊

    有人说,只要你心是善良的,对错都是别人的事。但我要说,即便心善,帮助的人很多,知恩图报的却没几个。还有人说,医者仁心,但凡为医者都有一颗救济天下苍生之心。但我要说,我男人不动如山,发起狠来墙都给你捅穿。挥袖间风雷骤动,挥手间桃李满天。我是医者,进来看看吗?
  • 剑帝倾天

    剑帝倾天

    一个经脉全断的少年,偶然吃下九品丹药,使身体再次恢复经脉修炼,以剑!以拳,以气修炼称帝。让我们看着一位少年成为剑帝的故事吧!(本人乃是十三岁目前,小说嘛,还要看有没有时间些。)
  • 坏民主

    坏民主

    本书作者薛涌,和林达一起被列为第三代把美国介绍给中国的学者。本书分为六个篇章,分别从政治、经济、新闻媒体、公民生活等几个方面,更加全面、立体化的阐释美国民主生活。