[29] “Mymother, ’, andlive.”
[30] Theanswerthatcamewasbrief:
[31] “MyownDesiree: ComehometoValmonde; .”
[32] WhentheletterreachedDesireeshewentwithittoherhusband’sstudy, : silent, white, motionlessaftersheplaceditthere.
[33] Insilenceheranhiscoldeyesoverthewrittenwords.
[34] Hesaidnothing.“ShallIgo, Armand?” sheaskedintonessharpwithagonizedsuspense.
[35] “Yes, go.”
[36] “Doyouwantmetogo?”
[37] “Yes, Iwantyoutogo.”
[38] HethoughtAlmightyGodhaddealtcruellyandunjustlywithhim; andfelt, somehow, thathewaspayingHimbackinkindwhenhestabbedthusintohiswife’, becauseoftheunconsciousinjuryshehadbroughtuponhishomeandhisname.
[39] Sheturnedawaylikeonestunnedbyablow, andwalkedslowlytowardsthedoor, hopinghewouldcallherback.
[40] “Good-by, Armand,” shemoaned.
[41] .
[42] ’sarmswithnowordofexplanation, anddescendingthesteps, walkedaway, underthelive-oakbranches.
[43] ItwasanOctoberafternoon; .
[44] ’, , wherethestubblebruisedhertenderfeet, sodelicatelyshod, andtoreherthingowntoshreds.
[45] Shedisappearedamongthereedsandwillowsthatgrewthickalongthebanksofthedeep, sluggishbayou; andshedidnotcomebackagain.
[46] SomeweekslatertherewasacurioussceneenactedatL’; anditwashewhodealtouttoahalfdozennegroesthematerialwhichkeptthisfireablaze.
[47] Agracefulcradleofwillow, withallitsdaintyfurbishings, waslaiduponthepyre, , andvelvetandsatinonesaddedtothese; laces, too, andembroideries; bonnetsandgloves; forthecorbeillehadbeenofrarequality.
[48] Thelastthingtogowasatinybundleofletters; ’s; ’slove: —
[49] “Butaboveall,” shewrote, “nightandday, IthankthegoodGodforhavingsoarrangedourlivesthatourdearArmandwillneverknowthathismother, whoadoreshim, belongstotheracethatiscursedwiththebrandofslavery.”
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