"Alice May, and Bruising Bill" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ingraham Joseph Holt)

in urging her compliance with his wishes, and she consented to prepare and
accompany him to town in the carriage.
She was seated at her window which looked out upon a spacious lawn, ornamented
with noble elms and sycamores, with a glimpse of the river beyond. The moon was
filling her shield with light as the twilight deepened, and shone broadly down
between the light trellised columns of the piazza. A mocking bird near by was
making the air musical with a hundred stolen songs, and at intervals from the
quartier of the slaves came the low chant of some African air.
Behind Alice was kneeling a young female slave braiding her long raven hair; for
she had for some months ceased to let it have its freedom. Reclining on a couch
beside her, lay a beautiful quadroone about thirty eight years of age. She was
an invalid, and her large black eyes seemed to beam with unearthly beauty. Her
hand was thin and transparent, and a deep rose seemed opening beneath the olive
delicacy of her cheek. She was a consumptive, and lay there like a child
unconscious of her danger, and as interested in the trifles about her, as if
death had not lifted his finger and beckoned her away.
Her name was Desirщe, and she was a slave. Many years before, struck with her
beauty, while she was yet a child, Colonel May had purchased her for his wife's
attendant. The lady educated her, and made her rather a friend and companion
than a slave. When the handsome Desirщe had reached her twentieth year her
mistress died, since which period she had been a housekeeper and overseer of the
other female domestics. To her, Alice was greatly attached, and the affection of
the quadroone for her young mistress was like that of a mother to her child.
`Ah, Miss Alice, your hair is already as long as mine,' she said, admiring for
some time the raven tresses of the maiden; `and I have been said to have the
most beautiful hair in Louisiana!'
`Was my mother's hair like mine, Desirщe?'
`Mistress' hair was fair brown,' answered the slave, with a hesitation in her
manner, and looking as if she would have avoided replying to the question.
`I wish I could have seen to recollect my mother. She died, alas, when I was
born! Motherless I have been from my birth, and oh, how have I sighed to lean on
a dear mother's bosom!'
The quadroone sighed; then her eyes suddenly sparkled with animation; she half
rose from the couch, and with parted lips eagerly bent towards her young
mistress as if she would speak! but the words died in her heart as she sank back
upon her couch and hid her face in her hands.
During the remainder of the toilet she remained silent; and at length Alice
being richly yet tastefully dressed drove off with her father.
CHAPTER IV.
The loud, crashing music of the orchestra, pealed through the gergeous halls of
the St. Louis, and sounds of mirth and festivity reached their ears as they
alighted at the thronged door. As they reached the hall the floor was already
occupied by the dancers, and the noise and glare of chandeliers, and the motion
of the restless crowd was bewildering.
`Come this way, Alice,' said her father, `I wish to introduce you to the Count
Bondier, who has expressed a desire to become acquainted with you. He is of a
distinguished French family, and I wish you to be civil to him. Perhaps I may as
well tell you that I wish him to make your alliance, and that for so good a
match your Boston lover had best be no more thought of.'
This was whispered in her ear as the crossed the hall to an alcove where Colonel