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！
call again the charm and the sweetness and the old… time flavor of that drawing…room： the soft lights of the candles； the perfume of the lilacs coming in through the half…open windows； the merry laugh of the joyous girl running through the Square to be ushered by Malachi a moment later into the presence of her hostess； there to make her courtesied obeisance before she joined a group of young people around one of the red damask…covered sofas。 And then Richard； dear Richard； with his white hair and his gracious speech； and Miss Clendenning with her manners of foreign courts； and the sweet…voiced hostess of the mansion moving about among her guests； her guests who were her neighbors and her friends； whose children were like her own； and whose joys and sorrows were hersguests； neighbors； friends many of whom after this fatal night were to be as enemies never to assemble again with the old…time harmony and love。
Malachi had brewed the punch； the little squat glasses were set out beside the Canton china bowl； for it was the night of the weekly musical and an unusually brilliant company had assembled in honor of Oliver's arrival and of Richard's recovery。
The inventor was to play his own interpretations of Handel's Largo； a favorite selection of Ole Bull； and one which the inventor and the great virtuoso had played together some years before。
Miss Clendenning had taken her place at the piano； Nathan standing beside her to turn the leaves of the accompaniment。
Richard had picked up his violin； tucked it under his chin； poised the bow； and that peculiar hush which always precedes the sounding of the first notes on evenings of this kind had already fallen upon the room； when there came a loud rap at the front door that startled everyone and the next instant Colonel Clayton burst in； his cheeks flaming； his hat still on his head。
〃Ten thousand Yankees will be here in the morning； Horn！〃 be gasped； out of breath with his run across the Square； holding one hand to his side as he spoke； and waving an open telegram in the other。 〃Stop！ This is no time for fiddling。 They're not going round by water； they're coming here by train。 Read that；〃 and he held out the bit of paper。
The Colonel's sudden entrance and the startling character of the news； had brought every man to his feet。
Richard laid down his violin； read the telegram quietly； and handed it back。
〃Well； suppose they do come； Clayton？〃
His voice was so sustained； and his manner so temperate； that a certain calming reassurance was felt。
〃Suppose they DO come！ They'll burn the town； I tell you；〃 shouted the infuriated man； suddenly remembering his hat and handing it to Malachi。 That's what they're coming for。 We want no troops in our streets； and the Government ought to know it。 It's an outrage to send armed men here at this time！〃
〃You're all wrong； Clayton；〃 answered Richard； without raising his voice。 〃You have always been wrong about this matter。 There are two sides to this question。 Virginia troops occupied Harper's Ferry yesterday。 If the authorities consider that more troops are needed to protect Washington； that's their affair； not yours nor mine。〃
〃We'll MAKE it our affair。 What right has this damnable Government to march their troops through a free and sovereign State without its permission！ Whom do they think this town belongs to； I want to know； that this Northern scum should foul it。 Not a man shall set foot here if I can help it。 I would rather〃
Richard turned to stay the torrent of invectives in which such words as 〃renegades；〃 〃traitors；〃 〃mud…sills；〃 were heard； but the Colonel； completely unmanned by the rage he was in； and seemingly unconscious of the presence of the ladies； waved him aside with his hand； and faced the row of frightened； expectant faces。
〃Gentlemen； when you are through with this tom… foolery； I shall be glad if you will come to the club； any of you who have got guns had better look them up； they'll be wanted before this is over。 We'll meet these dirty skinflints with cold lead and plenty of it。〃
Oliver's face flushed at the Colonel's words； and he was about to speak； when his mother laid her hand on his arm。 Visions of the kindly face of Professor Cummings； and the strong well…knit figure of Fred Stone； John Grant； Hank； Jonathan Gordon； and the others whom he loved came before his eyes。
Richard raised his hand in protest：
〃You are mad； Clayton； you don't know what you are doing。 Stop these troops and our streets will run blood。 I beg and beseech you to keep cool。 Because South Carolina has lost her head； that is no reason why we should。 This is not our fight！ If my State called me to defend her against foreign invasion； old as I am I would be ready； and so should you。 But the Government is part of ourselves； and should not be looked upon as an enemy。 You are wrong； I tell you； Clayton。〃
〃Wrong or right； they'll have to walk over my dead body if they attempt to cross the streets of this town。 That's my right as a citizen； and that I shall maintain。 Gentlemen； I have called a meeting at the club 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 bette