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diff --git a/2703-h/2703-h.htm b/2703-h/2703-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4542c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/2703-h/2703-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4513 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Argonauts of North Liberty, by Bret Harte + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Argonauts of North Liberty, by Bret Harte + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Argonauts of North Liberty + +Author: Bret Harte + +Release Date: May 25, 2006 [EBook #2703] +Last Updated: March 5, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARGONAUTS OF NORTH LIBERTY *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE ARGONAUTS OF NORTH LIBERTY + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Bret Harte + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART1"> <big><b>PART I</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART2"> <big><b>PART II</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART1" id="link2H_PART1"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + PART I + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <p> + The bell of the North Liberty Second Presbyterian Church had just ceased + ringing. North Liberty, Connecticut, never on any day a cheerful town, was + always bleaker and more cheerless on the seventh, when the Sabbath sun, + after vainly trying to coax a smile of reciprocal kindliness from the + drawn curtains and half-closed shutters of the austere dwellings and the + equally sealed and hard-set churchgoing faces of the people, at last + settled down into a blank stare of stony astonishment. On this chilly + March evening of the year 1850, that stare had kindled into an offended + sunset and an angry night that furiously spat sleet and hail in the faces + of the worshippers, and made them fight their way to the church, step by + step, with bent heads and fiercely compressed lips, until they seemed to + be carrying its forbidding portals at the point of their umbrellas. + </p> + <p> + Within that sacred but graceless edifice, the rigors of the hour and + occasion reached their climax. The shivering gas-jets lit up the austere + pallor of the bare walls, and the hollow, shell-like sweep of colorless + vacuity behind the cold communion table. The chill of despair and hopeless + renunciation was in the air, untempered by any glow from the sealed + air-tight stove that seemed only to bring out a lukewarm exhalation of wet + clothes and cheaply dyed umbrellas. Nor did the presence of the + worshippers themselves impart any life to the dreary apartment. Scattered + throughout the white pews, in dull, shapeless, neutral blotches, rigidly + separated from each other, they seemed only to accent the colorless church + and the emptiness of all things. A few children, who had huddled together + for warmth in one of the back benches and who had became glutinous and + adherent through moisture, were laboriously drawn out and painfully picked + apart by a watchful deacon. + </p> + <p> + The dry, monotonous disturbance of the bell had given way to the strain of + a bass viol, that had been apparently pitched to the key of the east wind + without, and the crude complaint of a new harmonium that seemed to bewail + its limited prospect of ever becoming seasoned or mellowed in its earthly + tabernacle, and then the singing began. Here and there a human voice + soared and struggled above the narrow text and the monotonous cadence with + a cry of individual longing, but was borne down by the dull, trampling + precision of the others' formal chant. This and a certain muffled raking + of the stove by the sexton brought the temperature down still lower. A + sermon, in keeping with the previous performance, in which the chill east + wind of doctrine was not tempered to any shorn lamb within that dreary + fold, followed. A spark of human and vulgar interest was momentarily + kindled by the collection and the simultaneous movement of reluctant hands + towards their owners' pockets; but the coins fell on the baize-covered + plates with a dull thud, like clods on a coffin, and the dreariness + returned. Then there was another hymn and a prolonged moan from the + harmonium, to which mysterious suggestion the congregation rose and began + slowly to file into the aisle. For a moment they mingled; there was the + silent grasping of damp woollen mittens and cold black gloves, and the + whispered interchange of each other's names with the prefix of “Brother” + or “Sister,” and an utter absence of fraternal geniality, and then the + meeting slowly dispersed. + </p> + <p> + The few who had waited until the minister had resumed his hat, overcoat, + and overshoes, and accompanied him to the door, had already passed out; + the sexton was turning out the flickering gas jets one by one, when the + cold and austere silence was broken by a sound—the unmistakable echo + of a kiss of human passion. + </p> + <p> + As the horror-stricken official turned angrily, the figure of a man glided + from the shadow of the stairs below the organ loft, and vanished through + the open door. Before the sexton could follow, the figure of a woman + slipped out of the same portal and with a hurried glance after the first + retreating figure, turned in the opposite direction and was lost in the + darkness. By the time the indignant and scandalized custodian had reached + the portal, they had both melted in the troubled sea of tossing umbrellas + already to the right and left of him, and pursuit and recognition were + hopeless. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> + <p> + The male figure, however, after mingling with his fellow-worshippers to + the corner of the block, stopped a moment under the lamp-post as if + uncertain as to the turning, but really to cast a long, scrutinizing look + towards the scattered umbrellas now almost lost in the opposite direction. + He was still gazing and apparently hesitating whether to retrace his + steps, when a horse and buggy rapidly driven down the side street passed + him. In a brief glance he evidently recognized the driver, and stepping + over the curbstone called in a brief authoritative voice: + </p> + <p> + “Ned!” + </p> + <p> + The occupant of the vehicle pulled up suddenly, leaned from the buggy, and + said in an astonished tone: + </p> + <p> + “Dick Demorest! Well! I declare! hold on, and I'll drive up to the curb.” + </p> + <p> + “No; stay where you are.” + </p> + <p> + The speaker approached the buggy, jumped in beside the occupant, + refastened the apron, and coolly taking the reins from his companion's + hand, started the horse forward. The action was that of an habitually + imperious man; and the only recognition he made of the other's ownership + was the question: + </p> + <p> + “Where were you going?” + </p> + <p> + “Home—to see Joan,” replied the other. “Just drove over from + Warensboro Station. But what on earth are YOU doing here?” + </p> + <p> + Without answering the question, Demorest turned to his companion with the + same good-natured, half humorous authority. “Let your wife wait; take a + drive with me. I want to talk to you. She'll be just as glad to see you an + hour later, and it's her fault if I can't come home with you now.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” returned his companion, in a tone of half-annoyed apology. + “She still sticks to her old compact when we first married, that she + shouldn't be obliged to receive my old worldly friends. And, see here, + Dick, I thought I'd talked her out of it as regards YOU at least, but + Parson Thomas has been raking up all the old stories about you—you + know that affair of the Fall River widow, and that breaking off of Garry + Spofferth's match—and about your horse-racing—until—you + know, she's more set than ever against knowing you.” + </p> + <p> + “That's not a bad sort of horse you've got there,” interrupted Demorest, + who usually conducted conversation without reference to alien topics + suggested by others. “Where did you get him? He's good yet for a spin down + the turnpike and over the bridge. We'll do it, and I'll bring you home + safely to Mrs. Blandford inside the hour.” + </p> + <p> + Blandford knew little of horseflesh, but like all men he was not superior + to this implied compliment to his knowledge. He resigned himself to his + companion as he had been in the habit of doing, and Demorest hurried the + horse at a rapid gait down the street until they left the lamps behind, + and were fully on the dark turnpike. The sleet rattled against the hood + and leathern apron of the buggy, gusts of fierce wind filled the vehicle + and seemed to hold it back, but Demorest did not appear to mind it. + Blandford thrust his hands deeply into his pockets for warmth, and + contracted his shoulders as if in dogged patience. Yet, in spite of the + fact that he was tired, cold, and anxious to see his wife, he was + conscious of a secret satisfaction in submitting to the caprices of this + old friend of his boyhood. After all, Dick Demorest knew what he was + about, and had never led him astray by his autocratic will. It was safe to + let Dick have his way. It was true it was generally Dick's own way—but + he made others think it was theirs too—or would have been theirs had + they had the will and the knowledge to project it. He looked up + comfortably at the handsome, resolute profile of the man who had taken + selfish possession of him. Many women had done the same. + </p> + <p> + “Suppose if you were to tell your wife I was going to reform,” said + Demorest, “it might be different, eh? She'd want to take me into the + church—'another sinner saved,' and all that, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Blandford, earnestly. “Joan isn't as rigid as all that, Dick. + What she's got against you is the common report of your free way of + living, and that—come now, you know yourself, Dick, that isn't + exactly the thing a woman brought up in her style can stand. Why, she + thinks I'm unregenerate, and—well, a man can't carry on business + always like a class meeting. But are you thinking of reforming?” he + continued, trying to get a glimpse of his companion's eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps. It depends. Now—there's a woman I know—” + </p> + <p> + “What, another? and you call this going to reform?” interrupted Blandford, + yet not without a certain curiosity in his manner. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; that's just why I think of reforming. For this one isn't exactly + like any other—at least as far as I know.” + </p> + <p> + “That means you don't know anything about her.” + </p> + <p> + “Wait, and I'll tell you.” He drew the reins tightly to accelerate the + horse's speed, and, half turning to his companion, without, however, + moving his eyes from the darkness before him, spoke quickly between the + blasts: “I've seen her only half a dozen times. Met her first in 6.40 + train out from Boston last fall. She sat next to me. Covered up with wraps + and veils; never looked twice at her. She spoke first—kind of half + bold, half frightened way. Then got more comfortable and unwound herself, + you know, and I saw she was young and not bad-looking. Thought she was + some school-girl out for a lark—but rather new at it. Inexperienced, + you know, but quite able to take care of herself, by George! and although + she looked and acted as if she'd never spoken to a stranger all her life, + didn't mind the kind of stuff I talked to her. Rather encouraged it; and + laughed—such a pretty little odd laugh, as if laughing wasn't in her + usual line, either, and she didn't know how to manage it. Well, it ended + in her slipping out at one end of the car when we arrived, while I was + looking out for a cab for her at the other.” He stopped to recover from a + stronger gust of wind. “I—I thought it a good joke on me, and let + the thing drop out of my mind, although, mind you, she'd promised to meet + me a month afterwards at the same time and place. Well, when the day came + I happened to be in Boston, and went to the station. Don't know why I + went, for I didn't for a moment think she'd keep her appointment. First, I + couldn't find her in the train, but after we'd started she came along out + of some seat in the corner, prettier than ever, holding out her hand.” He + drew a long inspiration. “You can bet your life, Ned, I didn't let go that + little hand the rest of the journey.” + </p> + <p> + His passion, or what passed for it, seemed to impart its warmth to the + vehicle, and even stirred the chilled pulses of the man beside him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, who and what was she?” + </p> + <p> + “Didn't find out; don't know now. For the first thing she made me promise + was not to follow her, nor to try to know her name. In return she said she + would meet me again on another train near Hartford. She did—and + again and again—but always on the train for about an hour, going or + coming. Then she missed an appointment. I was regularly cut up, I tell + you, and swore as she hadn't kept her word, I wouldn't keep mine, and + began to hunt for her. In the midst of it I saw her accidentally; no + matter where; I followed her to—well, that's no matter to you, + either. Enough that I saw her again—and, well, Ned, such is the + influence of that girl over me that, by George! she made me make the same + promise again!” + </p> + <p> + Blandford, a little disappointed at his friend's dogmatic suppression of + certain material facts, shrugged his shoulders. + </p> + <p> + “If that's all your story,” he said, “I must say I see no prospect of your + reforming. It's the old thing over again, only this time you are evidently + the victim. She's some designing creature who will have you if she hasn't + already got you completely in her power.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't know what you're talking about, Ned, and you'd better quit,” + returned Demorest, with cheerful authoritativeness. “I tell you that + that's the sort of girl I'm going to marry, if I can, and settle down + upon. You can make a memorandum of that, old man, if you like.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I don't really see why you want to talk to ME about it. And if you + are thinking that such a story would go down for a moment with Joan as an + evidence of your reformation, you're completely out, Dick. Was that your + idea?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes—and I can tell you, you're wrong again, Ned. You don't know + anything about women. You do just as I say—do you understand?—and + don't interfere with your own wrong-headed opinions of what other people + will think, and I'll take the risks of Mrs. Blandford giving me good + advice. Your wife has got a heap more sense on these subjects than you + have, you bet. You just tell her that I want to marry the girl and want + her to help me—that I mean business, this time—and you'll see + how quick she'll come down. That's all I want of you. Will you or won't + you?” + </p> + <p> + With an outward expression of sceptical consideration and an inward + suspicion of the peculiar force of this man's dogmatic insight, Blandford + assented, with, I fear, the mental reservation of telling the story to his + wife in his own way. He was surprised when his friend suddenly drew the + horse up sharply, and after a moment's pause began to back him, cramp the + wheels of the buggy and then skilfully, in the almost profound darkness, + turn the vehicle and horse completely round to the opposite direction. + </p> + <p> + “Then you are not going over the bridge?” said Blandford. + </p> + <p> + Demorest made an imperative gesture of silence. The tumultuous rush and + roar of swollen and rapid water came from the darkness behind them. + “There's been another break-out somewhere, and I reckon the bridge has got + all it can do to-night to keep itself out of water without taking us over. + At least, as I promised to set you down at your wife's door inside of the + hour, I don't propose to try.” As the horse now travelled more easily with + the wind behind him, Demorest, dismissing abruptly all other subjects, + laid his hand with brusque familiarity on his companion's knee, and as if + the hour for social and confidential greeting had only just then arrived, + said: “Well, Neddy, old boy, how are you getting on?” + </p> + <p> + “So, so,” said Blandford, dubiously. “You see,” he began, argumentatively, + “in my business there's a good deal of competition, and I was only saying + this morning—” + </p> + <p> + But either Demorest was already familiar with his friend's arguments, or + had as usual exhausted his topic, for without paying the slightest + attention to him, he again demanded abruptly, “Why don't you go to + California? Here everything's played out. That's the country for a young + man like you—just starting into life, and without incumbrances. If I + was free and fixed in my family affairs like you I'd go to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + There was such an occult positivism in Demorest's manner that for an + instant Blandford, who had been married two years, and was transacting a + steady and fairly profitable manufacturing business in the adjacent town, + actually believed he was more fitted for adventurous speculation than the + grimly erratic man of energetic impulses and pleasures beside him. He + managed to stammer hesitatingly: + </p> + <p> + “But there's Joan—she—” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense! Let her stay with her mother; you sell out your interest in the + business, put the money into an assorted cargo, and clap it and yourself + into the first ship out of Boston—and there you are. You've been + married going on two years now, and a little separation until you've built + up a business out there, won't do either of you any harm.” + </p> + <p> + Blandford, who was very much in love with his wife, was not, however, + above putting the onus of embarrassing affection upon HER. “You don't + know, Joan, Dick,” he replied. “She'd never consent to a separation, even + for a short time.” + </p> + <p> + “Try her. She's a sensible woman—a deuced sight more than you are. + You don't understand women, Ned. That's what's the matter with you.” + </p> + <p> + It required all of Blandford's fond memories of his wife's conservative + habits, Puritan practicality, religious domesticity, and strong family + attachments, to withstand Demorest's dogmatic convictions. He smiled, + however, with a certain complacency, as he also recalled the previous + autumn when the first news of the California gold discovery had penetrated + North Liberty, and he had expressed to her his belief that it would offer + an outlet to Demorest's adventurous energy. She had received it with + ill-disguised satisfaction, and the remark that if this exodus of Mammon + cleared the community of the godless and unregenerate it would only be + another proof of God's mysterious providence. + </p> + <p> + With the tumultuous wind at their backs it was not long before the buggy + rattled once more over the cobble-stones of the town. Under the direction + of his friend, Demorest, who still retained possession of the reins, drove + briskly down a side street of more pretentious dwellings, where Blandford + lived. One or two wayfarers looked up. + </p> + <p> + “Not so fast, Dick.” + </p> + <p> + “Why? I want to bring you up to your door in style.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes—but—it's Sunday. That's my house, the corner one.” + </p> + <p> + They had stopped before a square, two-storied brick house, with an equally + square wooden porch supported by two plain, rigid wooden columns, and a + hollow sweep of dull concavity above the door, evidently of the same + architectural order as the church. There was no corner or projection to + break the force of the wind that swept its smooth glacial surface; there + was no indication of light or warmth behind its six closed windows. + </p> + <p> + “There seems to be nobody at home,” said Demorest, briefly. “Come along + with me to the hotel.” + </p> + <p> + “Joan sits in the back parlor, Sundays,” explained the husband. + </p> + <p> + “Shall I drive round to the barn and leave the horse and buggy there while + you go in?” continued Demorest, good-humoredly, pointing to the stable + gate at the side. + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you,” returned Blandford, “it's locked, and I'll have to open + it from the other side after I go in. The horse will stand until then. I + think I'll have to say good-night, now,” he added, with a sudden + half-ashamed consciousness of the forbidding aspect of the house, and his + own inhospitality. “I'm sorry I can't ask you in—but you understand + why.” + </p> + <p> + “All right,” returned Demorest, stoutly, turning up his coat-collar, and + unfurling his umbrella. “The hotel is only four blocks away—you'll + find me there to-morrow morning if you call. But mind you tell your wife + just what I told you—and no meandering of your own—you hear! + She'll strike out some idea with her woman's wits, you bet. Good-night, + old man!” He reached out his hand, pressed Blandford's strongly and + potentially, and strode down the street. + </p> + <p> + Blandford hitched his steaming horse to a sleet-covered horse block with a + quick sigh of impatient sympathy over the animal and himself, and after + fumbling in his pocket for a latchkey, opened the front door. A vista of + well-ordered obscurity with shadowy trestle-like objects against the + walls, and an odor of chill decorum, as if of a damp but respectable + funeral, greeted him on entering. A faint light, like a cold dawn, broke + through the glass pane of a door leading to the kitchen. Blandford paused + in the mid-darkness and hesitated. Should he first go to his wife in the + back parlor, or pass silently through the kitchen, open the back gate, and + mercifully bestow his sweating beast in the stable? With the reflection + that an immediate conjugal greeting, while his horse was still exposed to + the fury of the blast in the street, would necessarily be curtailed and + limited, he compromised by quickly passing through the kitchen into the + stable yard, opening the gate, and driving horse and vehicle under the + shed to await later and more thorough ministration. As he entered the back + door, a faint hope that his wife might have heard him and would be waiting + for him in the hall for an instant thrilled him; but he remembered it was + Sunday, and that she was probably engaged in some devotional reading or + exercise. He hesitatingly opened the back-parlor door with a consciousness + of committing some unreasonable trespass, and entered. + </p> + <p> + She was there, sitting quietly before a large, round, shining + centre-table, whose sterile emptiness was relieved only by a shaded lamp + and a large black and gilt open volume. A single picture on the opposite + wall—the portrait of an elderly gentleman stiffened over a + corresponding volume, which he held in invincible mortmain in his rigid + hand, and apparently defied posterity to take from him—seemed to + offer a not uncongenial companionship. Yet the greenish light of the shade + fell upon a young and pretty face, despite the color it extracted from it, + and the hand that supported her low white forehead over which her full + hair was simply parted, like a brown curtain, was slim and gentle-womanly. + In spite of her plain lustreless silk dress, in spite of the formal frame + of sombre heavy horsehair and mahogany furniture that seemed to set her + off, she diffused an atmosphere of cleanly grace and prim refinement + through the apartment. The priestess of this ascetic temple, the + femininity of her closely covered arms, her pink ears, and a little + serviceable morocco house-shoe that was visible lower down, resting on the + carved lion's paw that upheld the centre-table, appeared to be only the + more accented. And the precisely rounded but softly heaving bosom, that + was pressed upon the edges of the open book of sermons before her, seemed + to assert itself triumphantly over the rigors of the volume. + </p> + <p> + At least so her husband and lover thought, as he moved tenderly towards + her. She met his first kiss on her forehead; the second, a supererogatory + one, based on some supposed inefficiency in the first, fell upon a shining + band of her hair, beside her neck. She reached up her slim hands, caught + his wrists firmly, and, slightly putting him aside, said: + </p> + <p> + “There, Edward?” + </p> + <p> + “I drove out from Warensboro, so as to get here to-night, as I have to + return to the city on Tuesday. I thought it would give me a little more + time with you, Joan,” he said, looking around him, and, at last, + hesitatingly drawing an apparently reluctant chair from its formal + position at the window. The remembrance that he had ever dared to occupy + the same chair with her, now seemed hardly possible of credence. + </p> + <p> + “If it was a question of your travelling on the Lord's Day, Edward, I + would rather you should have waited until to-morrow,” she said, with slow + precision. + </p> + <p> + “But—I—I thought I'd get here in time for the meeting,” he + said, weakly. + </p> + <p> + “And instead, you have driven through the town, I suppose, where everybody + will see you and talk about it. But,” she added, raising her dark eyes + suddenly to his, “where else have you been? The train gets into Warensboro + at six, and it's only half an hour's drive from there. What have you been + doing, Edward?” + </p> + <p> + It was scarcely a felicitous moment for the introduction of Demorest's + name, and he would have avoided it. But he reflected that he had been + seen, and he was naturally truthful. “I met Dick Demorest near the church, + and as he had something to tell me, we drove down the turnpike a little + way—so as to be out of the town, you know, Joan—and—and—” + </p> + <p> + He stopped. Her face had taken upon itself that appalling and exasperating + calmness of very good people who never get angry, but drive others to + frenzy by the simple occlusion of an adamantine veil between their own + feelings and their opponents'. “I'll tell you all about it after I've put + up the horse,” he said hurriedly, glad to escape until the veil was lifted + again. “I suppose the hired man is out.” + </p> + <p> + “I should hope he was in church, Edward, but I trust YOU won't delay + taking care of that poor dumb brute who has been obliged to minister to + your and Mr. Demorest's Sabbath pleasures.” + </p> + <p> + Blandford did not wait for a further suggestion. When the door had closed + behind him, Mrs. Blandford went to the mantel-shelf, where a grimly + allegorical clock cut down the hours and minutes of men with a scythe, and + consulted it with a slight knitting of her pretty eyebrows. Then she fell + into a vague abstraction, standing before the open book on the + centre-table. Then she closed it with a snap, and methodically putting it + exactly in the middle of the top of a black cabinet in the corner, lifted + the shaded lamp in her hand and passed slowly with it up the stairs to her + bedroom, where her light steps were heard moving to and fro. In a few + moments she reappeared, stopping for a moment in the hall with the lighted + lamp as if to watch and listen for her husband's return. Seen in that + favorable light, her cheeks had caught a delicate color, and her dark eyes + shone softly. Putting the lamp down in exactly the same place as before, + she returned to the cabinet for the book, brought it again to the table, + opened it at the page where she had placed her perforated cardboard + book-marker, sat down beside it, and with her hands in her lap and her + eyes on the page began abstractedly to tear a small piece of paper into + tiny fragments. When she had reduced it to the smallest shreds, she + scraped the pieces out of her silk lap and again collected them in the + pink hollow of her little hand, kneeling down on the scrupulously + well-swept carpet to peck up with a bird-like action of her thumb and + forefinger an escaped atom here and there. These and the contents of her + hand she poured into the chilly cavity of a sepulchral-looking alabaster + vase that stood on the etagere. Returning to her old seat, and making a + nest for her clasped fingers in the lap of her dress, she remained in that + attitude, her shoulders a little narrowed and bent forward, until her + husband returned. + </p> + <p> + “I've lit the fire in the bedroom for you to change your clothes by,” she + said, as he entered; then evading the caress which this wifely attention + provoked, by bending still more primly over her book, she added, “Go at + once. You're making everything quite damp here.” + </p> + <p> + He returned in a few moments in his slippers and jacket, but evidently + found the same difficulty in securing a conjugal and confidential + contiguity to his wife. There was no apparent social centre or nucleus of + comfort in the apartment; its fireplace, sealed by an iron ornament like a + monumental tablet over dead ashes, had its functions superseded by an + air-tight drum in the corner, warmed at second-hand from the dining-room + below, and offered no attractive seclusion; the sofa against the wall was + immovable and formally repellent. He was obliged to draw a chair beside + the table, whose every curve seemed to facilitate his wife's easy + withdrawal from side-by-side familiarity. + </p> + <p> + “Demorest has been urging me very strongly to go to California, but, of + course, I spoke of you,” he said, stealing his hand into his wife's lap, + and possessing himself of her fingers. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Blandford slowly lifted her fingers enclosed in his clasping hand and + placed them in shameless publicity on the volume before her. This implied + desecration was too much for Blandford; he withdrew his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Does that man propose to go with you?” asked Mrs. Blandford, coldly. + </p> + <p> + “No; he's preoccupied with other matters that he wanted me to talk to you + about,” said her husband, hesitatingly. “He is—” + </p> + <p> + “Because”—continued Mrs. Blandford in the same measured tone, “if he + does not add his own evil company to his advice, it is the best he has + ever given yet. I think he might have taken another day than the Lord's to + talk about it, but we must not despise the means nor the hour whence the + truth comes. Father wanted me to take some reasonable moment to prepare + you to consider it seriously, and I thought of talking to you about it + to-morrow. He thinks it would be a very judicious plan. Even Deacon + Truesdail—” + </p> + <p> + “Having sold his invoice of damaged sugar kettles for mining purposes, is + converted,” said Blandford, goaded into momentary testiness by his wife's + unexpected acquiescence and a sudden recollection of Demorest's prophecy. + “You have changed your opinion, Joan, since last fall, when you couldn't + bear to think of my leaving you,” he added reproachfully. + </p> + <p> + “I couldn't bear to think of your joining the mob of lawless and sinful + men who use that as an excuse for leaving their wives and families. As for + my own feelings, Edward, I have never allowed them to stand between me and + what I believed best for our home and your Christian welfare. Though I + have no cause to admire the influence that I find this man, Demorest, + still holds over you, I am willing to acquiesce, as you see, in what he + advises for your good. You can hardly reproach ME, Edward, for worldly or + selfish motives.” + </p> + <p> + Blandford felt keenly the bitter truth of his wife's speech. For the + moment he would gladly have exchanged it for a more illogical and selfish + affection, but he reflected that he had married this religious girl for + the security of an affection which he felt was not subject to the + temptations of the world—or even its own weakness—as was too + often the case with the giddy maidens whom he had known through Demorest's + companionship. It was, therefore, more with a sense of recalling this + distinctive quality of his wife than any loyalty to Demorest that he + suddenly resolved to confide to her the latter's fatuous folly. + </p> + <p> + “I know it, dear,” he said, apologetically, “and we'll talk it over + to-morrow, and it may be possible to arrange it so that you shall go with + me. But, speaking of Demorest, I think you don't quite do HIM justice. He + really respects YOUR feelings and your knowledge of right and wrong more + than you imagine. I actually believe he came here to-night merely to get + me to interest you in an extraordinary love affair of his. I mean, Joan,” + he added hastily, seeing the same look of dull repression come over her + face, “I mean, Joan—that is, you know, from all I can judge—it + is something really serious this time. He intends to reform. And this is + because he has become violently smitten with a young woman whom he has + only seen half a dozen times, at long intervals, whom he first met in a + railway train, and whose name and residence he don't even know.” + </p> + <p> + There was an ominous silence—so hushed that the ticking of the + allegorical clock came like a grim monitor. “Then,” said Mrs. Blandford, + in a hard, dry voice that her alarmed husband scarcely recognized, “he + proposed to insult your wife by taking her into his shameful confidence.” + </p> + <p> + “Good heavens! Joan, no—you don't understand. At the worst, this is + some virtuous but silly school-girl, who, though she may be intending only + an innocent flirtation with him, has made this man actually and deeply in + love with her. Yes; it is a fact, Joan. I know Dick Demorest, and if ever + there was a man honestly in love, it is he.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you mean to say that this man—an utter stranger to me—a + man whom I've never laid my eyes on—whom I wouldn't know if I met in + the street—expects me to advise him—to—to—” She + stopped. Blandford could scarcely believe his senses. There were tears in + her eyes—this woman who never cried; her voice trembled—she + who had always controlled her emotions. + </p> + <p> + He took advantage of this odd but opportune melting. He placed his arm + around her shoulders. She tried to escape it, but with a coy, shy + movement, half hysterical, half girlish, unlike her usual stony, moral + precision. “Yes, Joan,” he repeated, laughingly, “but whose fault is it? + Not HIS, remember! And I firmly believe he thinks you can do him good.” + </p> + <p> + “But he has never seen me,” she continued, with a nervous little laugh, + “and probably considers me some old Gorgon—like—like—Sister + Jemima Skerret.” + </p> + <p> + Blandford smiled with the complacency of far-reaching masculine intuition. + Ah! that shrewd fellow, Demorest, was right. Joan, dear Joan, was only a + woman after all. + </p> + <p> + “Then he'll be the more agreeably astonished,” he returned, gayly, “and I + think YOU will, too, Joan. For Dick isn't a bad-looking fellow; most women + like him. It's true,” he continued, much amused at the novelty of the + perfectly natural toss and grimace with which Mrs. Blandford received this + statement. + </p> + <p> + “I think he's been pointed out to me somewhere,” she said, thoughtfully; + “he's a tall, dark, dissipated-looking man.” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing of the kind,” laughed her husband. “He's middle-sized and as + blond as your cousin Joe, only he's got a long yellow moustache, and has a + quick, abrupt way of talking. He isn't at all fancy-looking; you'd take + him for an energetic business man or a doctor, if you didn't know him. So + you see, Joan, this correct little wife of mine has been a little, just a + little, prejudiced.” + </p> + <p> + He drew her again gently backwards and nearer his seat, but she caught his + wrists in her slim hands, and rising from the chair at the same moment, + dexterously slipped from his embrace with her back towards him. “I do not + know why I should be unprejudiced by anything you've told me,” she said, + sharply closing the book of sermons, and, with her back still to her + husband, reinstating it formally in its place on the cabinet. “It's + probably one of his many scandalous pursuits of defenceless and believing + women, and he, no doubt, goes off to Boston, laughing at you for thinking + him in earnest; and as ready to tell his story to anybody else and boast + of his double deceit.” Her voice had a touch of human asperity in it now, + which he had never before noticed, but recognizing, as he thought, the + human cause, it was far from exciting his displeasure. + </p> + <p> + “Wrong again, Joan; he's waiting here at the Independence House for me to + see him to-morrow,” he returned, cheerfully. “And I believe him so much in + earnest that I would be ready to swear that not another person will ever + know the story but you and I and he. No, it is a real thing with him; he's + dead in love, and it's your duty as a Christian to help him.” + </p> + <p> + There was a moment of silence. Mrs. Blandford remained by the cabinet, + methodically arranging some small articles displaced by the return of the + book. “Well,” she said, suddenly, “you don't tell me what mother had to + say. Of course, as you came home earlier than you expected, you had time + to stop THERE—only four doors from this house.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, no, Joan,” replied Blandford, in awkward discomfiture. “You see I + met Dick first, and then—then I hurried here to you—and—and—I + clean forgot it. I'm very sorry,” he added, dejectedly. + </p> + <p> + “And I more deeply so,” she returned, with her previous bloodless moral + precision, “for she probably knows by this time, Edward, why you have + omitted your usual Sabbath visit, and with WHOM you were.” + </p> + <p> + “But I can pull on my boots again and run in there for a moment,” he + suggested, dubiously, “if you think it necessary. It won't take me a + moment.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” she said, positively; “it is so late now that your visit would only + show it to be a second thought. I will go myself—it will be a call + for us both.” + </p> + <p> + “But shall I go with you to the door? It is dark and sleeting,” suggested + Blandford, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “No,” she replied, peremptorily. “Stay where you are, and when Ezekiel and + Bridget come in send them to bed, for I have made everything fast in the + kitchen. Don't wait up for me.” + </p> + <p> + She left the room, and in a few moments returned, wrapped from head to + foot in an enormous plaid shawl. A white woollen scarf thrown over her + bare brown head, and twice rolled around her neck, almost concealed her + face from view. When she had parted from her husband, and reached the + darkened hall below, she drew from beneath the folds of her shawl a thick + blue veil, with which she completely enveloped her features. As she opened + the front door and peered out into the night, her own husband would have + scarcely recognized her. + </p> + <p> + With her head lowered against the keen wind she walked rapidly down the + street and stopped for an instant at the door of the fourth house. + Glancing quickly back at the house she had left and then at the closed + windows of the one she had halted before, she gathered her skirts with one + hand and sped away from both, never stopping until she reached the door of + the Independence Hotel. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + Mrs. Blandford entered the side door boldly. Luckily for her, the + austerities of the Sabbath were manifest even here; the bar-room was + closed, and the usual loungers in the passages were absent. Without + risking the recognition of her voice in an inquiry to the clerk, she + slipped past the office, still muffled in her veil, and quickly mounted + the narrow staircase. For an instant she hesitated before the public + parlor, and glanced dubiously along the half-lit corridor. Chance + befriended her; the door of a bedroom opened at that moment, and Richard + Demorest, with his overcoat and hat on, stepped out in the hall. + </p> + <p> + With a quick and nervous gesture of her hand she beckoned him to approach. + He came towards her leisurely, with an amused curiosity that suddenly + changed to utter astonishment as she hurriedly lifted her veil, dropped + it, turned, and glided down the staircase into the street again. He + followed rapidly, but did not overtake her until she had reached the + corner, when she slackened her pace an instant for him to join her. + </p> + <p> + “Lulu,” he said eagerly; “is it you?” + </p> + <p> + “Not a word here,” she said, breathlessly. “Follow me at a distance.” + </p> + <p> + She started forward again in the direction of her own house. He followed + her at a sufficient interval to keep her faintly distinguishable figure in + sight until she had crossed three streets, and near the end of the next + block glided up the steps of a house not far from the one where he + remembered to have left Blandford. As he joined her, she had just + succeeded in opening the door with a pass-key, and was awaiting him. With + a gesture of silence she took his hand in her cold fingers, and leading + him softly through the dark hall and passage, quickly entered the kitchen. + Here she lit a candle, turned, and faced him. He could see that the + outside shutters were bolted, and the kitchen evidently closed for the + night. + </p> + <p> + As she removed the veil from her face he made a movement as if to regain + her hand again, but she drew it away. + </p> + <p> + “You have forced this upon me,” she said hurriedly, “and it may be ruin to + us both. Why have you betrayed me?” + </p> + <p> + “Betrayed you, Lulu—Good God! what do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + She looked him full in the eye, and then said slowly, “Do you mean to say + that you have told no one of our meetings?” + </p> + <p> + “Only one—my old friend Blandford, who lives—Ah, yes! I see it + now. You are neighbors. He has betrayed me. This house is—” + </p> + <p> + “My father's!” she replied boldly. + </p> + <p> + The momentary uneasiness passed from Demorest's resolute face. His old + self-sufficiency returned. “Good,” he said, with a frank laugh, “that will + do for me. Open the door there, Lulu, and take me to him. I'm not ashamed + of anything I've done, my girl, nor need you be. I'll tell him my real + name is Dick Demorest, as I ought to have told you before, and that I want + to marry you, fairly and squarely, and let him make the conditions. I'm + not a vagabond nor a thief, Lulu, if I have met you on the sly. Come, + dear, let us end this now. Come—” + </p> + <p> + But she had thrown herself before him and placed her hand upon his lips. + “Hush! are you mad? Listen to me, I tell you—please—oh, do—no + you must not!” He had covered her hand with kisses and was drawing her + face towards his own. “No—not again, it was wrong then, it is + monstrous now. I implore you, listen, if you love me, stop.” + </p> + <p> + He released her. She sank into a chair by the kitchen-table, and buried + her flushed face in her hands. + </p> + <p> + He stood for a moment motionless before her. “Lulu, if that is your name,” + he said slowly, but gently, “tell me all now. Be frank with me, and trust + me. If there is anything stands in the way, let me know what it is and I + can overcome it. If it is my telling Ned Blandford, don't let that worry + you, he's as loyal a fellow as ever breathed, and I'm a dog to ever think + he willingly betrayed us. His wife, well, she's one of those pious saints—but + no, she would not be such a cursed hypocrite and bigot as this.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, I tell you! WILL you hush,” she said, in a frantic whisper, + springing to her feet and grasping him convulsively by the lapels of his + overcoat. “Not a word more, or I'll kill myself. Listen! Do you know what + I brought you here for? why I left my—this house and dragged you out + of your hotel? Well, it was to tell you that you must leave me, leave HERE—go + out of this house and out of this town at once, to-night! And never look + on it or me again! There! you have said we must end this now. It is ended, + as only it could and ever would end. And if you open that door except to + go, or if you attempt to—to touch me again, I'll do something + desperate. There!” + </p> + <p> + She threw him off again and stepped back, strangely beautiful in the + loosened shackles of her long repressed human emotion. It was as if the + passion-rent robes of the priestess had laid bare the flesh of the woman + dazzling and victorious. Demorest was fascinated and frightened. + </p> + <p> + “Then you do not love me?” he said with a constrained smile, “and I am a + fool?” + </p> + <p> + “Love you!” she repeated. “Love you,” she continued, bowing her brown head + over her hanging arms and clasped hands. “What then has brought me to + this? Oh,” she said suddenly, again seizing him by his two arms, and + holding him from her with a half-prudish, half-passionate gesture, “why + could you not have left things as they were; why could we not have met in + the same old way we used to meet, when I was so foolish and so happy? Why + could you spoil that one dream I have clung to? Why didn't you leave me + those few days of my wretched life when I was weak, silly, vain, but not + the unhappy woman I am now. You were satisfied to sit beside me and talk + to me then. You respected my secret, my reserve. My God! I used to think + you loved me as I loved you—for THAT! Why did you break your promise + and follow me here? I believed you the first day we met, when you said + there was no wrong in my listening to you; that it should go no further; + that you would never seek to renew it without my consent. You tell me I + don't love you, and I tell you now that we must part, that frightened as I + was, foolish as I was, that day was the first day I had ever lived and + felt as other women live and feel. If I ran away from you then it was + because I was running away from my old self too. Don't you understand me? + Could you not have trusted me as I trusted you?” + </p> + <p> + “I broke my promise only when you broke yours. When you would not meet me + I followed you here, because I loved you.” + </p> + <p> + “And that is why you must leave me now,” she said, starting from his + outstretched arms again. “Do not ask me why, but go, I implore you. You + must leave this town to-night, to-morrow will be too late.” + </p> + <p> + He cast a hurried glance around him, as if seeking to gather some reason + for this mysterious haste, or a clue for future identification. He saw + only the Sabbath-sealed cupboards, the cold white china on the dresser, + and the flicker of the candle on the partly-opened glass transom above the + door. “As you wish,” he said, with quiet sadness. “I will go now, and + leave the town to-night; but”—his voice struck its old imperative + note—“this shall not end here, Lulu. There will be a next time, and + I am bound to win you yet, in spite of all and everything.” + </p> + <p> + She looked at him with a half-frightened, half-hysterical light in her + eyes. “God knows!” + </p> + <p> + “And you will be frank with me then, and tell me all?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, another time; but go now.” She had extinguished the candle, + turned the handle of the door noiselessly, and was holding it open. A + faint light stole through the dark passage. She drew back hastily. “You + have left the front door open,” she said in a frightened voice. “I thought + you had shut it behind me,” he returned quickly. “Good night.” He drew her + towards him. She resisted slightly. They were for an instant clasped in a + passionate embrace; then there was a sudden collapse of the light and a + dull jar. The front door had swung to. + </p> + <p> + With a desperate bound she darted into the passage and through the hall, + dragging him by the hand, and threw the front door open. Without, the + street was silent and empty. + </p> + <p> + “Go,” she whispered frantically. + </p> + <p> + Demorest passed quickly down the steps and disappeared. At the same moment + a voice came from the banisters of the landing above. “Who's there?” + </p> + <p> + “It's I, mother.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought so. And it's like Edward to bring you and sneak off in that + fashion.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Blandford gave a quick sigh of relief. Demorest's flight had been + mistaken for her husband's habitual evasion. Knowing that her mother would + not refer to the subject again, she did not reply, but slowly mounted the + dark staircase with an assumption of more than usual hesitating + precaution, in order to recover her equanimity. + </p> + <p> + The clocks were striking eleven when she left her mother's house and + re-entered her own. She was surprised to find a light burning in the + kitchen, and Ezekiel, their hired man, awaiting her in a dominant and + nasal key of religious and practical disapprobation. “Pity you wern't tu + hum afore, ma'am, considerin' the doins that's goin' on in perfessed + Christians' houses arter meetin' on the Sabbath Day.” + </p> + <p> + “What's the difficulty now, Ezekiel?” said Mrs. Blandford, who had + regained her rigorous precision once more under the decorous security of + her own roof. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, here comes an entire stranger axin for Squire Blandford. And when + I tells he warn't tu hum—” + </p> + <p> + “Not at home?” interrupted Mrs. Blandford, with a slight start. “I left + him here.” + </p> + <p> + “Mebbee so, but folks nowadays don't 'pear to keer much whether they break + the Sabbath or not, trapsen' raound town in and arter meetin' hours, ez if + 'twor gin'ral tranin' day—and hez gone out agin.” + </p> + <p> + “Go on,” said Mrs. Blandford, curtly. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, the stranger sez, sez he, 'Show me the way to the stables,' sez + he, and without taken' no for an answer, ups and meanders through the + hall, outer the kitchen inter the yard, ez if he was justice of the peace; + and when he gets there he sez, 'Fetch out his hoss and harness up, and be + blamed quick about it, and tell Ned Blandford that Dick Demorest hez got + to leave town to-night, and ez ther ain't a blamed puritanical shadbelly + in this hull town ez would let a hoss go on hire Sunday night, he guesses + he'll hev to borry his.' And afore I could say Jack Robinson, he tackles + the hoss up and drives outer the yard, flinging this + two-dollar-and-a-half-piece behind him ez if I wur a Virginia slave and he + was John C. Calhoun hisself. I'd a chucked it after him if it hadn't been + the Lord's Day, and it mout hev provoked disturbance.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Demorest is worldly, but one of Edward's old friends,” said Mrs. + Blandford, with a slight kindling of her eyes, “and he would not have + refused to aid him in what might be an errand of grace or necessity. You + can keep the money, Ezekiel, as a gift, not as a wage. And go to bed. I + will sit up for Mr. Blandford.” + </p> + <p> + She passed out and up the staircase into her bedroom, pausing on her way + to glance into the empty back parlor and take the lamp from the table. + Here she noticed that her husband had evidently changed his clothes again + and taken a heavier overcoat from the closet. Removing her own wraps she + again descended to the lower apartment, brought out the volume of sermons, + placed it and the lamp in the old position, and with her abstracted eyes + on the page fell into her former attitude. Every suggestion of the + passionate, half-frenzied woman in the kitchen of the house only four + doors away, had vanished; one would scarcely believe she had ever stirred + from the chair in which she had formally received her husband two hours + before. And yet she was thinking of herself and Demorest in that kitchen. + </p> + <p> + His prompt and decisive response to her appeal, as shown in this last bold + and characteristic action, relieved, while it half piqued her. But the + overruling destiny which had enabled her to bring him from his hotel to + her mother's house unnoticed, had protected them while there, had arrested + a dangerous meeting between him and herself and her husband in her own + house, impressed her more than all. It imparted to her a hideous + tranquillity born of the doctrines of her youth—Predestination! She + reflected with secret exultation that her moral resolution to fly from him + and her conscientiously broken promise had been the direct means of + bringing him there; that step by step circumstances not in themselves evil + or to be combated had led her along; that even her husband and mother had + felt it their duty to assist towards this fateful climax! If Edward had + never kept up his worldly friendship, if she had never been restricted and + compassed in her own; if she had ever known the freedom of other girls,—all + this might not have happened. She had been elected to share with Demorest + and her husband the effects of their ungodliness. She was no longer a free + agent; what availed her resolutions? To Demorest's imperious hope, she had + said, “God knows.” What more could she say? Her small red lips grew white + and compressed; her face rigid, her eyes hollow and abstracted; she looked + like the genius of asceticism as she sat there, grimly formulating a + dogmatic explanation of her lawless and unlicensed passion. + </p> + <p> + The wind had risen to a gale without, and stirred even the sealed + sepulchre of the fireplace with dull rumblings and muffled moans. At times + the hot-air drum in the corner seemed to expand as with some pent-up + emotion. Strange currents of air crossed the empty room like the passage + of unseen spirits, and she even fancied she heard whispers at the window. + This caused her to rise and open it, when she found that the sleet had + given way to a dry feathery snow that was swarming through the slits of + the shutter; a faint reflection from the already whitened fences glimmered + in the panes. She shut the window hastily, with a little shiver of cold. + Where was Demorest in this storm? Would it stop him? She thought with + pride now of the dominant energy that had frightened her, and knew it + would not. But her husband?—what kept him? It was twelve o'clock; he + had seldom stayed out so late before. During the first half hour of her + reflections she had been relieved by his absence; she had even believed + that he had met Demorest in the town, and was not alarmed by it, for she + knew that the latter would avoid any further confidence, and cut short any + return to it. But why had not Edward returned? For an instant the terrible + thought that something had happened, and that they might both return + together, took possession of her, and she trembled. But no; Demorest, who + had already taken such extreme measures, could not consistently listen to + any suggestion for delay. As her only danger lay in Demorest's presence, + the absence of her husband caused her more undefinable uneasiness than + actual alarm. + </p> + <p> + The room had become cold with the dying out of the dining-room fire that + warmed the drum. She would go to bed. She nevertheless arranged the room + again with a singular impression that she was doing it for the last time + in her present existing circumstances, and placing the lamp on the table + in the hall, went up to her own room. By the light of a single candle she + undressed herself hastily, said her prayers punctiliously, and got into + bed, with an unexpected relief at finding herself still occupying it + alone. Then she fell asleep and dreamed of Demorest. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> + <p> + When Edward Blandford found himself alone after his wife had undertaken to + fulfil his abandoned filial duty at her parents' house, he felt a slight + twinge of self-reproach. He could not deny that this was not the first + time he had evaded the sterile Sabbath evenings at his mother-in-law's, or + that even at other times he was not in accord with the cold and colorless + sanctity of the family. Yet he remembered that when he picked out from the + budding womanhood of North Liberty this pure, scentless blossom, he had + endured the privations of its surroundings with a sense of security in + inhaling the atmosphere in which it grew, and knowing the integrity of its + descent. There was a certain pleasure also in invading this seclusion with + human passion; the first pressure of her hand when they were kneeling + together at family prayers had the zest without the sin of a forbidden + pleasure; the first kiss he had given her with their heads over the family + Bible had fairly intoxicated him in the thin, rarefied air of their + surroundings. In transplanting this blossom to his own home with the fond + belief that it would eventually borrow the hues and color of his own + passion, he had no further interest in the house he had left behind. When + he found, however, that the ancestral influence was stronger than he + expected, that the young wife, instead of assimilating to his conditions, + had imported into their little household the rigors of her youthful home, + he had been chilled and disappointed. But he could not help also + remembering that his own boyhood had been spent in an atmosphere like her + own in everything but its sincerity and deep conviction. His father had + recognized the business value of placating the narrow tyranny of the + respectable well-to-do religious community, and had become a conscious + hypocrite and a popular citizen. He had himself been under that influence, + and it was partly a conviction of this that had drawn him towards her as + something genuine and real. It occurred to him now for the first time, as + he looked around upon that compromise of their two lives in this chilly + artificial home, that it was only natural that she would prefer the more + truthful austerities of her mother's house. Had she detected the sham, and + did she despise him for it? + </p> + <p> + These were questions which seemed to bring another self-accusing doubt in + his own mind, although, without his being conscious of it, they had been + really the outcome of that doubt. He could not help dwelling on the + singular human interest she had taken in Demorest's love affair, and the + utterly unexpected emotion she had shown. He had never seen her as + charmingly illogical, capricious, and bewitchingly feminine. Had he not + made a radical mistake in not giving her a frequent provocation for this + innocent emotion—in fact, in not taking her out into a world of + broader sympathies and experiences? What a household they might have had—if + necessary in some other town—away from those cramped prejudices and + limitations! What friends she might have been with Dick and his other + worldly acquaintances; what social pleasures—guiltless amusements + for her pure mind—in theatres, parties, and concerts! Would she have + objected to them?—had he ever seriously proposed them to her? No! if + she had objected there would have been time enough to have made this + present compromise; she would have at least respected and understood his + sacrifice—and his friends. + </p> + <p> + Even the artificial externals of his household had never before so visibly + impressed him. Now that she was no longer in the room it did not even bear + a trace of her habitation, it certainly bore no suggestion of his own. Why + had he bought that hideous horsehair furniture? To remind her of the old + provincial heirlooms of her father's sitting-room. Did it remind her of + it? The stiff and stony emptiness of this room had been fashioned upon the + decorous respectability of his own father's parlor—in which his + father, who usually spent his slippered leisure in the family + sitting-room, never entered except on visits from the minister. It had + chilled his own youthful soul—why had he perpetuated it here? + </p> + <p> + He could only answer these questions by moodily wandering about the house, + and regretting he had not gone with her. After a vain attempt to establish + social and domestic relations with the hot-air drum by putting his feet + upon it—after an equally futile attempt to extract interest from the + book of sermons by opening its pages at random—he glanced at the + clock and suddenly resolved to go and fetch her. It would remind him of + the old times when he used to accompany her from church, and, after her + parents had retired, spend a blissful half-hour alone with her. With what + a mingling of fear and childish curiosity she used to accept his equally + timid caresses! Yes, he would go and fetch her; and he would recall it to + her in a whisper while they were there. + </p> + <p> + Filled with this idea, when he changed his clothes again he put on a + certain heavy beaver overcoat, on whose shaggy sleeve her little, hand had + so often rested when he escorted her from meeting; and he even selected + the gray muffler she had knit for him in the old ante-nuptial days. It was + lying in the half-opened drawer from where she had not long before taken + her disguising veil. + </p> + <p> + It was still blowing in sudden, capricious gusts; and when he opened the + front door the wind charged fiercely upon him, as if to drive him back. + When he had finally forced his way into the street, a return current + closed the door as suddenly and sharply behind him as if it had ejected + him from his home for ever. + </p> + <p> + He reached the fourth house quickly, and as quickly ran up the steps; his + hand was upon the bell when his eye suddenly caught sight of his wife's + pass-key still in the lock. She had evidently forgotten it. Here was a + chance to mischievously banter that habitually careful little woman! He + slipped it into his pocket and quietly entered the dark but perfectly + familiar hall. He reached the staircase without a stumble and began to + ascend softly. Halfway up he heard the sound of his wife's hurried voice + and another that startled him. He ascended hastily two steps, which + brought him to the level of the half-opened transom of the kitchen. A + candle was burning on the kitchen table; he could see everything that + passed in the room; he could hear distinctly every word that was uttered. + </p> + <p> + He did not utter a cry or sound; he did not even tremble. He remained so + rigid and motionless, clutching the banisters with his stiffened fingers, + that when he did attempt to move, all life, as well as all that had made + life possible to him, seemed to have died from him for ever. There was no + nervous illusion, no dimming of his senses; he saw everything with a + hideous clarity of perception. By some diabolical instantaneous + photography of the brain, little actions, peculiarities, touches of + gesture, expression and attitude never before noted by him in his wife, + were clearly fixed and bitten in his consciousness. He saw the color of + his friend's overcoat, the reddish tinge of his wife's brown hair, till + then unnoticed; in that supreme moment he was aware of a sudden likeness + to her mother; but more terrible than all, there seemed to be a nameless + sympathetic resemblance that the guilty pair had to each other in gesture + and movement as of some unhallowed relationship beyond his ken. He knew + not how long he stood there without breath, without reflection, without + one connected thought. He saw her suddenly put her hand on the handle of + the door. He knew that in another moment they would pass almost before + him. He made a convulsive effort to move, with an inward cry to God for + support, and succeeded in staggering with outstretched palms against the + wall, down the staircase, and blindly forward through the hall to the + front door. As yet he had been able to formulate only one idea—to + escape before them, for it seemed to him that their contact meant the ruin + of them both, of that house, of all that was near to him—a + catastrophe that struck blindly at his whole visible world. He had reached + the door and opened it at the moment that the handle of the kitchen-door + was turned. He mechanically fell back behind the open door that hid him, + while it let the cruel light glimmer for a moment on their clasped + figures. The door slipped from his nerveless fingers and swung to with a + dull sound. Crouching still in the corner, he heard the quick rush of + hurrying feet in the darkness, saw the door open and Demorest glide out—saw + her glance hurriedly after him, close the door, and involve herself and + him in the blackness of the hall. Her dress almost touched him in his + corner; he could feel the near scent of her clothes, and the air stirred + by her figure retreating towards the stairs; could hear the unlocking of a + door above and the voice of her mother from the landing, his wife's reply, + the slow fading of her footsteps on the stairs and overhead, the closing + of a door, and all was quiet again. Still stooping, he groped for the + handle of the door, opened it, and the next moment reeled like a drunken + man down the steps into the street. + </p> + <p> + It was well for him that a fierce onset of wind and sleet at that instant + caught him savagely—stirred his stagnated blood into action, and + beat thought once more into his brain. He had mechanically turned towards + his own home; his first effort of recovering will hurried him furiously + past it and into a side street. He walked rapidly, but undeviatingly on to + escape observation and secure some solitude for his returning thoughts. + Almost before he knew it he was in the open fields. + </p> + <p> + The idea of vengeance had never crossed his mind. He was neither a + physical nor a moral coward, but he had never felt the merely animal fury + of disputed animal possession which the world has chosen to recognize as a + proof of outraged sentiment, nor had North Liberty accepted the ethics + that an exchange of shots equalized a transferred affection. His love had + been too pure and too real to be moved like the beasts of the field, to + seek in one brutal passion compensation for another. Killing—what + was there to kill? All that he had to live for had been already slain. + With the love that was in him—in them—already dead at his + feet, what was it to him whether these two hollow lives moved on and + passed him, or mingled their emptiness elsewhere? Only let them henceforth + keep out of his way! + </p> + <p> + For in his first feverish flow of thought—the reaction to his + benumbed will within and the beating sleet without—he believed + Demorest as treacherous as his wife. He recalled his sudden and unexpected + intrusion into the buggy only a few hours before, his mysterious + confidences, his assurance of Joan's favorable reception of his secret, + and her consent to the Californian trip. What had all this meant if not + that Demorest was using him, the husband, to assist his intrigue, and + carry the news of his presence in the town to her? And this boldness, this + assurance, this audacity of conception was like Demorest! While only + certain passages of the guilty meeting he had just seen and overheard were + distinctly impressed on his mind, he remembered now, with hideous and + terrible clearness, all that had gone before. It was part of the disturbed + and unequal exaltation of his faculties that he dwelt more upon this and + his wife's previous deceit and manifest hypocrisy, than upon the actual + evidence he had witnessed of her unfaithfulness. The corroboration of the + fact was stronger to him than the fact itself. He understood the coldness, + the uncongeniality now—the simulated increase of her aversion to + Demorest—her journeys to Boston and Hartford to see her relatives, + her acquiescence to his frequent absences; not an incident, not a + characteristic of her married life was inconsistent with her guilt and her + deceit. He went even back to her maidenhood: how did he know this was not + the legitimate sequence of other secret schoolgirl escapades. The bitter + worldly light that had been forced upon his simple ingenuous nature had + dazzled and blinded him. He passed from fatuous credulity to equally + fatuous distrust. + </p> + <p> + He stopped suddenly with the roaring of water before him. In the furious + following of his rapid thought through storm and darkness he had come, he + knew not how, upon the bank of the swollen river, whose endangered bridge + Demorest had turned from that evening. A few steps more and he would have + fallen into it. He drew nearer and looked at it with vague curiosity. Had + he come there with any definite intention? The thought sobered without + frightening him. There was always THAT culmination possible, and to be + considered coolly. + </p> + <p> + He turned and began to retrace his steps. On his way thither he had been + fighting the elements step by step; now they seemed to him to have taken + possession of him and were hurrying him quickly away. But where? and to + what? He was always thinking of the past. He had wandered he knew not how + long, always thinking of that. It was the future he had to consider. What + was to be done? + </p> + <p> + He had heard of such cases before; he had read of them in newspapers and + talked of them with cold curiosity. But they were of worldly, sinful + people, of dissolute men whose characters he could not conceive—of + silly, vain, frivolous, and abandoned women whom he had never even met. + But Joan—O God! It was the first time since his mute prayer on the + staircase that the Divine name had been wrested from his lips. It came + with his wife's—and his first tears! But the wind swept the one away + and dried the others upon his hot cheeks. + </p> + <p> + It had ceased to rain, and the wind, which was still high, had shifted + more to the north and was bitterly cold. He could feel the roadway + stiffening under his feet. When he reached the pavement of the outskirts + once more he was obliged to take the middle of the street, to avoid the + treacherous films of ice that were beginning to glaze the sidewalks. Yet + this very inclemency, added to the usual Sabbath seclusion, had left the + streets deserted. He was obliged to proceed more slowly, but he met no one + and could pursue his bewildering thoughts unchecked. As he passed between + the lines of cold, colorless houses, from which all light and life had + vanished, it seemed to him that their occupants were dead as his love, or + had fled their ruined houses as he had. Why should he remain? Yet what was + his duty now as a man—as a Christian? His eye fell on the hideous + facade of the church he was passing—her church! He gave a bitter + laugh and stumbled on again. + </p> + <p> + With one of the gusts he fancied he heard a familiar sound—the + rattling of buggy wheels over the stiffening road. Or was it merely the + fanciful echo of an idea that only at that moment sprung up in his mind? + If it was real it came from the street parallel with the one he was in. + Who could be driving out at this time? What other buggy than his own could + be found to desecrate this Christian Sabbath? An irresistible thought + impelled him at the risk of recognition to quicken his pace and turn the + corner as Richard Demorest drove up to the Independence Hotel, sprang from + his buggy, throwing the reins over the dashboard, and disappeared into the + hotel! + </p> + <p> + Blandford stood still, but for an instant only. He had been wandering for + an hour aimlessly, hopelessly, without consecutive idea, coherent thought + or plan of action; without the faintest inspiration or suggestion of + escape from his bewildering torment, without—he had begun to fear—even + the power to conceive or the will to execute; when a wild idea flashed + upon him with the rattle of his buggy wheels. And even as Demorest + disappeared into the hotel, he had conceived his plan and executed it. He + crossed the street swiftly, leaped into his buggy, lifted the reins and + brought down the whip simultaneously, and the next instant was dashing + down the street in the direction of the Warensboro turnpike. So sudden was + the action that by the time the astonished hall porter had rushed into the + street, horse and buggy had already vanished in the darkness. + </p> + <p> + Presently it began to snow. So lightly at first that it seemed a mere + passing whisper to the ear, the brush of some viewless insect upon the + cheek, or the soft tap of unseen fingers on the shoulders. But by the time + the porter returned from his hopeless and invisible chase of the + “runaway,” he came in out of a swarming cloud of whirling flakes, blinded + and whitened. There was a hurried consultation with the landlord, the + exhibition of much imperious energy and some bank-notes from Demorest, and + with a glance at the clock that marked the expiring limit of the Puritan + Sabbath, the landlord at last consented. By the time the falling snow had + muffled the street from the indiscreet clamor of Sabbath-breaking hoofs, + the landlord's noiseless sledge was at the door and Demorest had departed. + </p> + <p> + The snow fell all that night; with fierce gusts of wind that moaned in the + chimneys of North Liberty and sorely troubled the Sabbath sleep of its + decorous citizens; with deep, passionless silences, none the less fateful, + that softly precipitated a spotless mantle of merciful obliteration + equally over their precise or their straying footprints, that would have + done them good to heed and to remember; and when morning broke upon a + world of week-day labor, it was covered as far as their eyes could reach + as with a clear and unwritten tablet, on which they might record their + lives anew. Near the wreck of the broken bridge on the Warensboro turnpike + an overturned buggy lay imbedded in the drift and debris of the river + hurrying silently towards the sea, and a horse with fragments of broken + and icy harness still clinging to him was found standing before the + stable-door of Edward Blandford. But to any further knowledge of the fate + of its owner, North Liberty awoke never again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART2" id="link2H_PART2"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + PART II + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <p> + The last note of the Angelus had just rung out of the crumbling fissures + in the tower of the mission chapel of San Buena-ventura. The sun which had + beamed that day and indeed every day for the whole dry season over the + red-tiled roofs of that old and happily ventured pueblo seemed to broaden + to a smile as it dipped below the horizon, as if in undiminished enjoyment + of its old practical joke of suddenly plunging the Southern California + coast in darkness without any preliminary twilight. The olive and fig + trees at once lost their characteristic outlines in formless masses of + shadow; only the twisted trunks of the old pear trees in the mission + garden retained their grotesque shapes and became gruesome in the + gathering gloom. The encircling pines beyond closed up their serried + files; a cool breeze swept down from the coast range and, passing through + them, sent their day-long heated spices through the town. + </p> + <p> + If there was any truth in the local belief that the pious incantation of + the Angelus bell had the power of excluding all evil influence abroad at + that perilous hour within its audible radius, and comfortably keeping all + unbelieving wickedness at a distance, it was presumably ineffective as + regarded the innovating stage-coach from Monterey that twice a week at + that hour brought its question-asking, revolver-persuading and + fortune-seeking load of passengers through the sleepy Spanish town. On the + night of the 3d of August, 1856, it had not only brought but set down at + the Posada one of those passengers. It was a Mr. Ezekiel Corwin, formerly + known to these pages as “hired man” to the late Squire Blandford, of North + Liberty, Connecticut, but now a shrewd, practical, self-sufficient, and + self-asserting unit of the more cautious later Californian immigration. As + the stage rattled away again with more or less humorous and open + disparagement of the town and the Posada from its “outsiders,” he lounged + with lazy but systematic deliberation towards Mateo Morez, the proprietor. + </p> + <p> + “I guess that some of your folks here couldn't direct me to Dick + Demorest's house, could ye?” + </p> + <p> + The Senor Mateo Morez was at once perplexed and pained. Pained at the + ignorance thus forced upon him by a caballero; perplexed as to its + intention. Between the two he smiled apologetically but gravely, and said: + “No sabe, Senor. I 'ave not understood.” + </p> + <p> + “No more hev I,” returned Ezekiel, with patronizing recognition of his + obtuseness. “I guess ez heow you ain't much on American. You folks orter + learn the language if you kalkilate to keep a hotel.” + </p> + <p> + But the momentary vision of a waistless woman with a shawl gathered over + her head and shoulders at the back door attracted his attention. She said + something to Mateo in Spanish, and the yellowish-white of Mateo's eyes + glistened with intelligent comprehension. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, posiblemente; it is Don Ricardo Demorest you wish?” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ezekiel's face and manner expressed a mingling of grateful curiosity + and some scorn at the discovery. “Wa'al,” he said, looking around as if to + take the entire Posada into his confidence, “way up in North Liberty, + where I kem from, he was allus known as Dick Demorest, and didn't tack any + forrin titles to his name. Et wouldn't hev gone down there, I reckon, + 'mongst free-born Merikin citizens, no mor'n aliases would in court—and + I kinder guess for the same reason. But folks get peart and sassy when + they're way from hum, and put on ez many airs as a buck nigger. And so he + calls hisself Don Ricardo here, does he?” + </p> + <p> + “The Senor knows Don Ricardo?” said Mateo politely. + </p> + <p> + “Ef you mean me—wa'al, yes—I should say so. He was a partiklar + friend of a man I've known since he was knee-high to a grasshopper.” + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel had actually never seen Demorest but once in his life. He would + have scorned to lie, but strict accuracy was not essential with an + ignorant foreign audience. + </p> + <p> + He took up his carpet-bag. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon I kin find his house, ef it's anyway handy.” + </p> + <p> + But the Senor Mateo was again politely troubled. The house of Don Ricardo + was of a truth not more than a mile distant. It was even possible that the + Senor had observed it above a wall and vineyard as he came into the + pueblo. But it was late—it was also dark, as the Senor would himself + perceive—and there was still to-morrow. To-morrow—ah, it was + always there! Meanwhile there were beds of a miraculous quality at the + Posada, and a supper such as a caballero might order in his own house. + Health, discretion, solicitude for oneself—all pointed clearly to + to-morrow. + </p> + <p> + What part of this speech Ezekiel understood affected him only as an + innkeeper's bid for custom, and as such to be steadily exposed and + disposed of. With the remark that he guessed Dick Demorest's was “a good + enough hotel for HIM,” and that he'd better be “getting along there,” he + walked down the steps, carpet-bag in hand, and coolly departed, leaving + Mateo pained, but smiling, on the doorstep. + </p> + <p> + “An animal with a pig's head—without doubt,” said Mateo, + sententiously. + </p> + <p> + “Clearly a brigand with the liver of a chicken,” responded his wife. + </p> + <p> + The subject of this ambiguous criticism, happily oblivious, meantime + walked doggedly back along the road the stage-coach had just brought him. + It was badly paved and hollowed in the middle with the worn ruts of a + century of slow undeviating ox carts, and the passage of water during the + rainy season. The low adobe houses on each side, with bright + cinnamon-colored tiles relieving their dark-brown walls, had the regular + outlines of their doors and windows obliterated by the crumbling of years, + until they looked as if they had been afterthoughts of the builder, rudely + opened by pick and crowbar, and finished by the gentle auxiliary + architecture of birds and squirrels. Yet these openings at times permitted + glimpses of a picturesque past in the occasional view of a lace-edged + pillow or silken counterpane, striped hangings, or dyed Indian rugs, the + flitting of a flounced petticoat or flower-covered head, or the indolent + leaning figure framed in a doorway of a man in wide velvet trousers and + crimson-barred serape, whose brown face was partly hidden in a yellow + nimbus of cigarette smoke. Even in the semi-darkness, Ezekiel's + penetrating and impertinent eyes took eager note of these facts with + superior complacency, quite unmindful, after the fashion of most critical + travellers, of the hideous contrast of his own long shapeless nankeen + duster, his stiff half-clerical brown straw hat, his wisp of gingham + necktie, his dusty boots, his outrageous carpet-bag, and his straggling + goat-like beard. A few looked at him in grave, discreet wonder. Whether + they recognized in him the advent of a civilization that was destined to + supplant their own ignorant, sensuous, colorful life with austere + intelligence and rigid practical improvement, did not appear. He walked + steadily on. As he passed the low arched door of the mission church and + saw a faint light glimmering from the side windows, he had indeed a weak + human desire to go in and oppose in his own person a debased and + idolatrous superstition with some happily chosen question that would + necessarily make the officiating priest and his congregation exceedingly + uncomfortable. But he resisted; partly in the hope of meeting some + idolater on his way to Benediction, and, in the guise of a stranger + seeking information, dropping a few unpalatable truths; and partly because + he could unbosom himself later to Demorest, who he was not unwilling to + believe had embraced Popery with his adoption of a Spanish surname and + title. + </p> + <p> + It had become quite dark when he reached the long wall that enclosed + Demorest's premises. The wall itself excited his resentment, not only as + indicating an exclusiveness highly objectionable in a man who had + emigrated from a free State, but because he, Ezekiel Corwin, had + difficulty in discovering the entrance. When he succeeded, he found + himself before an iron gate, happily open, but savoring offensively of + feudalism and tyrannical proprietorship, and passed through and entered an + avenue of trees scarcely distinguishable in the darkness, whose mysterious + shapes and feathery plumes were unknown to him. Numberless odors equally + vague and mysterious were heavy in the air, strange and delicate plants + rose dimly on either hand; enormous blossoms, like ghostly faces, seemed + to peer at him from the shadows. For an instant Ezekiel succumbed to an + unprofitable sense of beauty, and acquiesced in this reckless extravagance + of Nature that was so unlike North Liberty. But the next moment he + recovered himself, with the reflection that it was probably unhealthy, and + doggedly approached the house. It was a long, one-storied, structure, + apparently all roof, vine, and pillared veranda. Every window and door was + open; the two or three grass hammocks swung emptily between the columns; + the bamboo chairs and settees were vacant; his heavy footsteps on the + floor had summoned no attendant; not even a dog had barked as he + approached the house. It was shiftless, it was sinful—it boded no + good to the future of Demorest. + </p> + <p> + He put down his carpet-bag on the veranda and entered the broad hall, + where an old-fashioned lantern was burning on a stand. Here, too, the + doors of the various apartments were open, and the rooms themselves empty + of occupants. An opportunity not to be lost by Ezekiel's inquiring mind + thus offered itself. He took the lantern and deliberately examined the + several apartments, the furniture, the bedding, and even the small + articles that were on the tables and mantels. When he had completed the + round—including a corridor opening on a dark courtyard, which he did + not penetrate—he returned to the hall, and set down the lantern + again. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said a voice in his own familiar vernacular, “I hope you like it.” + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel was surprised, but not disconcerted. What he had taken in the + shadow for a bundle of serapes lying on the floor of the veranda, was the + recumbent figure of a man who now raised himself to a sitting posture. + </p> + <p> + “Ez to that,” drawled Ezekiel, with unshaken self-possession, “whether I + like it or not ez only a question betwixt kempany manners and + truth-telling. Beggars hadn't oughter be choosers, and transient visitors + like myself needn't allus speak their mind. But if you mean to signify + that with every door and window open and universal shiftlessness lying + round everywhere temptin' Providence, you ain't lucky in havin' a + feller-citizen of yours drop in on ye instead of some Mexican thief, I + don't agree with ye—that's all.” + </p> + <p> + The man laughed shortly and rose up. In spite of his careless yet + picturesque Mexican dress, Ezekiel instantly recognized Demorest. With his + usual instincts he was naturally pleased to observe that he looked older + and more careworn. The softer, sensuous climate had perhaps imparted a + heaviness to his figure and a deliberation to his manner that was quite + unlike his own potential energy. + </p> + <p> + “That don't tell me who you are, and what you want,” he said, coldly. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al then, I'm Ezekiel Corwin of North Liberty, ez used to live with my + friend and YOURS too, I guess—seein' how the friendship was swapped + into relationship—Squire Blandford.” + </p> + <p> + A slight shade passed over Demorest's face. “Well,” he said, impatiently, + “I don't remember you; what then?” + </p> + <p> + “You don't remember me; that's likely,” returned Ezekiel imperturbably, + combing his straggling chin beard with three fingers, “but whether it's + NAT'RAL or not, considerin' the sukumstances when we last met, ez a matter + of op-pinion. You got me to harness up the hoss and buggy the night Squire + Blandford left home, and never was heard of again. It's true that it kem + out on enquiry that the hoss and buggy ran away from the hotel, and that + you had to go out to Warensboro in a sleigh, and the theory is that poor + Squire Blandford must have stopped the hoss and buggy somewhere, got in + and got run away agin, and pitched over the bridge. But seein' your + relationship to both Squire and Mrs. Blandford, and all the sukumstances, + I reckoned you'd remember it.” + </p> + <p> + “I heard of it in Boston a month afterwards,” said Demorest, dryly, “but I + don't think I'd have recognized you. So you were the hired man who gave me + the buggy. Well, I don't suppose they discharged you for it.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Ezekiel, with undisturbed equanimity. “I kalkilate Joan would + have stopped that. Considerin', too, that I knew her when she was Deacon + Salisbury's darter, and our fam'lies waz thick az peas. She knew me well + enough when I met her in Frisco the other day.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you seen Mrs. Demorest already?” said Demorest, with sudden + vivacity. “Why didn't you say so before?” It was wonderful how quickly his + face had lighted up with an earnestness that was not, however, without + some undefinable uneasiness. The alert Ezekiel noticed it and observed + that it was as totally unlike the irresistible dominance of the man of + five years ago as it was different from the heavy abstraction of the man + of five minutes before. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon you didn't ax me,” he returned coolly. “She told me where you + were, and as I had business down this way she guessed I might drop in.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes—it's all right, Mr. Corwin; glad you did,” said Demorest, + kindly but half nervously. “And you saw Mrs. Demorest? Where did you see + her, and how did you think she was looking? As pretty as ever, eh?” + </p> + <p> + But the coldly literal Ezekiel was not to be beguiled into polite or + ambiguous fiction. He even went to the extent of insulting deliberation + before he replied. “I've seen Joan Salisbury lookin' healthier and ez far + ez I kin judge doin' more credit to her stock and raisin' gin'rally,” he + said, thoughtfully combing his beard, “and I've seen her when she was too + poor to get the silks and satins, furbelows, fineries and vanities she's + flauntin' in now, and that was in Squire Blandford's time, too, I reckon. + Ez to her purtiness, that's a matter of taste. You think her purty, and I + guess them fellows ez was escortin' and squirin' her round Frisco thought + so too, or SHE thought they did to hev allowed it.” + </p> + <p> + “You are not very merciful to your townsfolk, Mr. Corwin,” said Demorest, + with a forced smile; “but what can I do for you?” + </p> + <p> + It was the turn for Ezekiel's face to brighten, or rather to break up, + like a cold passionless mirror suddenly cracked, into various amusing but + distorted reflections on the person before him. “Townies ain't to be + fooled by other townies, Mr. Demorest; at least that ain't my idea o' + marcy, he-he! But seen you're pressin', I don't mind tellen you MY + business. I'm the only agent of Seventeen Patent Medicine Proprietors in + Connecticut represented by the firm of Dilworth & Dusenberry, of San + Francisco. Mebbe you heard of 'em afore—A1 druggists and importers. + Wa'al, I'm openin' a field for 'em and spreadin' 'em gin'rally through + these air benighted and onhealthy districts, havin' the contract for the + hull State—especially for Wozun's Universal Injin Panacea ez cures + everything—bein' had from a recipe given by a Sachem to Dr. Wozun's + gran'ther. That bag—leavin' out a dozen paper collars and socks—is + all the rest samples. That's me, Ezekiel Corwin—only agent for + Californy, and that's my mission.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well; but look here, Corwin,” said Demorest, with a slight return of + his old off-hand manner,—“I'd advise you to adopt a little more + caution, and a little less criticism in your speech to the people about + here, or I'm afraid you'll need the Universal Panacea for yourself. Better + men than you have been shot in my presence for half your freedom.” + </p> + <p> + “I guess you've just hit the bull's-eye there,” replied Ezekiel, coolly, + “for it's that HALF-freedom and HALF-truth that doesn't pay. I kalkilate + gin'rally to speak my hull mind—and I DO. Wot's the consequence? + Why, when folks find I ain't afeard to speak my mind on their affairs, + they kinder guess I'm tellin' the truth about my own. Folks don't like the + man that truckles to 'em, whether it's in the sellin' of a box of pills or + a principle. When they re-cognize Ezekiel Corwin ain't goin' to lie about + 'em to curry favor with 'em, they're ready to believe he ain't goin' to + lie about Jones' Bitters or Wozun's Panacea. And, wa'al, I've been on the + road just about a fortnit, and I haven't yet discovered that the original + independent style introduced by Ezekiel Corwin ever broke anybody's bones + or didn't pay.” + </p> + <p> + And he told the truth. That remarkably unfair and unpleasant spoken man + had actually frozen Hanley's Ford into icy astonishment at his audacity, + and he had sold them an invoice of the Panacea before they had recovered; + he had insulted Chipitas into giving an extensive order in bitters; he had + left Hayward's Creek pledged to Burne's pills—with drawn revolvers + still in their hands. + </p> + <p> + At another time Demorest might have been amused at his guest's audacity, + or have combated it with his old imperiousness, but he only remained + looking at him in a dull sort of way as if yielding to his influence. It + was part of the phenomenon that the two men seemed to have changed + character since they last met, and when Ezekiel said confidentially: “I + reckon you're goin' to show me what room I ken stow these duds o' mine + in,” Demorest replied hurriedly, “Yes, certainly,” and taking up his + guest's carpet-bag preceded him through the hall to one of the apartments. + </p> + <p> + “I'll send Manuel to you presently,” he said, putting down the bag + mechanically; “the servants are not back from church, it's some saint's + festival to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “And so you keep a pack of lazy idolaters to leave your house to take care + of itself, whilst they worship graven images,” said Ezekiel, delighted at + this opportunity to improve the occasion. + </p> + <p> + “If my memory isn't bad, Mr. Corwin,” said Demorest dryly, “when I + accompanied Mr. Blandford home the night he returned from his journey, we + found YOU at church, and he had to put up his horse himself.” + </p> + <p> + “But that was the Sabbath—the seventh day of the command,” retorted + Ezekiel. + </p> + <p> + “And here the Sabbath doesn't consist of only ONE day to serve God in,” + said Demorest, sententiously. + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel glanced under his white lashes at Demorest's thoughtful face. His + fondest fears appeared to be confirmed; Demorest had evidently become a + Papist. But that gentleman stopped any theological discussion by the + abrupt inquiry: + </p> + <p> + “Did Mrs. Demorest say when she thought of returning?” + </p> + <p> + “She allowed she mout kem to-morrow—but—” added Ezekiel + dubiously. + </p> + <p> + “But what?” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, wot with her enjyments of the vanities of this life and the + kempany she keeps, I reckon she's in no hurry,” said Ezekiel, cheerfully. + </p> + <p> + The entrance of Manuel here cut short any response from Demorest, who + after a few directions in Spanish to the peon, left his guest to himself. + </p> + <p> + He walked to the veranda with the same dull preoccupation that Ezekiel had + noticed as so different from his old decisive manner, and remained for a + few moments abstractedly gazing into the dark garden. The strange and + mystic shapes which had impressed even the practical Ezekiel, had become + even more weird and ghost-like in the faint radiance of a rising moon. + </p> + <p> + What memories evoked by his rude guest seemed to take form and outline in + that dreamy and unreal expanse! + </p> + <p> + He saw his wife again, standing as she had stood that night in her + mother's house, with the white muffler around her head, and white face, + imploring him to fly; he saw himself again hurrying through the driving + storm to Warensboro, and reaching the train that bore him swiftly and + safely miles away—that same night when her husband was perishing in + the swollen river. He remembered with what strangely mingled sensations he + had read the account of Blandford's death in the newspapers, and how the + loss of his old friend was forgotten in the associations conjured up by + his singular meeting that very night with the mysterious woman he had + loved. He remembered that he had never dreamed how near and fateful were + these associations; and how he had kept his promise not to seek her + without her permission, until six months after, when she appointed a + meeting, and revealed to him the whole truth. He could see her now, as he + had seen her then, more beautiful and fascinating than ever in her black + dress, and the pensive grace of refined suffering and restrained passion + in her delicate face. He remembered, too, how the shock of her disclosure—the + knowledge that she had been his old friend's wife—seemed only to + accent her purity and suffering and his own wilful recklessness, and how + it had stirred all the chivalry, generosity, and affection of his easy + nature to take the whole responsibility of this innocent but compromising + intrigue on his own shoulders. He had had no self-accusing sense of + disloyalty to Blandford in his practical nature; he had never suspected + the shy, proper girl of being his wife; he was willing to believe now, + that had he known it, even that night, he would never have seen her again; + he had been very foolish; he had made this poor woman participate in his + folly; but he had never been dishonest or treacherous in thought or + action. If Blandford had lived, even he would have admitted it. Yet he was + guiltily conscious of a material satisfaction in Blandford's death, + without his wife's religious conviction of the saving graces of + predestination. + </p> + <p> + They had been married quietly when the two years of her widowhood had + expired; his former relations with her husband and the straitened + circumstances in which Blandford's death had left her having been deemed + sufficient excuse in the eyes of North Liberty for her more worldly union. + They had come to California at her suggestion “to begin life anew,” for + she had not hesitated to make this dislocation of all her antecedent + surroundings as a reason as well as a condition of this marriage. She + wished to see the world of which he had been a passing glimpse; to expand + under his protection beyond the limits of her fettered youth. He had + bought this old Spanish estate, with its near vineyard and its outlying + leagues covered with wild cattle, partly from that strange contradictory + predilection for peaceful husbandry common to men who have led a roving + life, and partly as a check to her growing and feverish desire for change + and excitement. He had at first enjoyed with an almost parental affection + her childish unsophisticated delight in that world he had already wearied + of, and which he had been prepared to gladly resign for her. But as the + months and even years had passed without any apparent diminution in her + zest for these pleasures, he tried uneasily to resume his old interest in + them, and spent ten months with her in the chaotic freedom of San + Francisco hotel life. But to his discomfiture he found that they no longer + diverted him; to his horror he discovered that those easy gallantries in + which he had spent his youth, and in which he had seen no harm, were + intolerable when exhibited to his wife, and he trembled between inquietude + and indignation at the copies of his former self, whom he met in hotel + parlors, at theatres, and in public conveyances. The next time she visited + some friends in San Francisco he did not accompany her. Though he fondly + cherished his experience of her power to resist even stronger temptation, + he was too practical to subject himself to the annoyance of witnessing it. + In her absence he trusted her completely; his scant imagination conjured + up no disturbing picture of possibilities beyond what he actually knew. In + his recent questions of Ezekiel he did not expect to learn anything more. + Even his guest's uncomfortable comments added no sting that he had not + already felt. + </p> + <p> + With these thoughts called up by the unlooked-for advent of Ezekiel under + his roof, he continued to gaze moodily into the garden. Near the house + were scattered several uncouth varieties of cacti which seemed to have + lost all semblance of vegetable growth, and had taken rude likeness to + beasts and human figures. One high-shouldered specimen, partly hidden in + the shadow, had the appearance of a man with a cloak or serape thrown over + his left shoulder. As Demorest's wandering eyes at last became fixed upon + it, he fancied he could trace the faint outlines of a pale face, the lower + part of which was hidden by the folds of the serape. There certainly was + the forehead, the curve of the dark eyebrows, the shadow of a nose, and + even as he looked more steadily, a glistening of the eyes upturned to the + moonlight. A sudden chill seized him. It was a horrible fancy, but it + looked as might have looked the dead face of Edward Blandford! He started + and ran quickly down the steps of the veranda. A slight wind at the same + moment moved the long leaves and tendrils of a vine nearest him and sent a + faint wave through the garden. He reached the cactus; its fantastic bulk + stood plainly before him, but nothing more. + </p> + <p> + “Whar are ye runnin' to?” said the inquiring voice of Ezekiel from the + veranda. + </p> + <p> + “I thought I saw some one in the garden,” returned Demorest, quietly, + satisfied of the illusion of his senses, “but it was a mistake.” + </p> + <p> + “It mout and it moutn't,” said Ezekiel, dryly. “Thar's nothin' to keep any + one out. It's only a wonder that you ain't overrun with thieves and sich + like.” + </p> + <p> + “There are usually servants about the place,” said Demorest, carelessly. + </p> + <p> + “Ef they're the same breed ez that Manuel, I reckon I'd almost as leave + take my chances in the road. Ef it's all the same to you I kalkilate to + put a paytent fastener to my door and winder to-night. I allus travel with + them.” Seeing that Demorest only shrugged his shoulders without replying, + he continued, “Et ain't far from here that some folks allow is the + headquarters of that cattle-stealing gang. The driver of the coach went ez + far ez to say that some of these high and mighty Dons hereabouts knows + more of it than they keer to tell.” + </p> + <p> + “That's simply a yarn for greenhorns,” said Demorest, contemptuously. “I + know all the ranch proprietors for twenty leagues around, and they've lost + as many cattle and horses as I have.” + </p> + <p> + “I wanter know,” said Ezekiel, with grim interest. “Then you've already + had consid'ble losses, eh? I kalkilate them cattle are vally'ble—about + wot figger do you reckon yer out and injured?” + </p> + <p> + “Three or four thousand dollars, I suppose, altogether,” replied Demorest, + shortly. + </p> + <p> + “Then you don't take any stock in them yer yarns about the gang being run + and protected by some first-class men in Frisco?” said Ezekiel, + regretfully. + </p> + <p> + “Not much,” responded Demorest, dryly; “but if people choose to believe + this bluff gotten up by the petty thieves themselves to increase their + importance and secure their immunity—they can. But here's Manuel to + tell us supper is ready.” + </p> + <p> + He led the way to the corridor and courtyard which Ezekiel had not + penetrated on account of its obscurity and solitude, but which now seemed + to be peopled with peons and household servants of both sexes. At the end + of a long low-ceilinged room a table was spread with omelettes, chupa, + cakes, chocolate, grapes, and melons, around which half a dozen attendants + stood gravely in waiting. The size of the room, which to Ezekiel's eyes + looked as large as the church at North Liberty, the profusion of the + viands, the six attendants for the host and solitary guest, deeply + impressed him. Morally rebelling against this feudal display and + extravagance, he, who had disdained to even assist the Blandfords' + servant-in-waiting at table and had always made his solitary meal on the + kitchen dresser, was not above feeling a material satisfaction in sitting + on equal terms with his master's friend and being served by these menials + he despised. He did full justice to the victuals of which Demorest partook + in sparing abstraction, and particularly to the fruit, which Demorest did + not touch at all. Observant of his servants' eyes fixed in wonder on the + strange guest who had just disposed of a second melon at supper, Demorest + could not help remarking that he would lose credit as a medico with the + natives unless he restrained a public exhibition of his tastes. + </p> + <p> + “Ez ha'aw?” queried Ezekiel. + </p> + <p> + “They have a proverb here that fruit is gold in the morning, silver at + noon, and lead at night.” + </p> + <p> + “That'll do for lazy stomicks,” said the unabashed Ezekiel. “When they're + once fortified by Jones' bitters and hard work, they'll be able to tackle + the Lord's nat'ral gifts of the airth at any time.” + </p> + <p> + Declining the cigarettes offered him by Demorest for a quid of tobacco, + which he gravely took from a tin box in his pocket, and to the astonished + eyes of the servants apparently obliterated any further remembrance of the + meal, he accompanied his host to the veranda again, where, tilting his + chair back and putting his feet on the railing, he gave himself up to + unwonted and silent rumination. + </p> + <p> + The silence was broken at last by Demorest, who, half-reclining on a + settee, had once or twice glanced towards the misshapen cactus. + </p> + <p> + “Was there any trace discovered of Blandford, other than we knew before we + left the States?” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, no,” said Ezekiel, thoughtfully. “The last idea was that he'd got + control of the hoss after passin' the bridge, and had managed to turn him + back, for there was marks of buggy wheels on the snow on the far side, and + that fearin' to trust the hoss or the bridge he tried to lead him over + when the bridge gave way, and he was caught in the wreck and carried off + down stream. That would account for his body not bein' found; they do tell + that chunks of that bridge were picked up on the Sound beach near the + mouth o' the river, nigh unto sixty miles away. That's about the last idea + they had of it at North Liberty.” He paused and then cleverly directing a + stream of tobacco juice at an accurate curve over the railing, wiped his + lips with the back of his hand, and added, slowly: “Thar's another idea—but + I reckon it's only mine. Leastways I ain't heard it argued by anybody.” + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” asked Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, it ain't exakly complimentary to E. Blandford, Esq., and it mout + be orkard for YOU.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think you're in the habit of letting such trifles interfere with + your opinion,” said Demorest, with a slightly forced laugh; “but what is + your idea?” + </p> + <p> + “That thar wasn't any accident.” + </p> + <p> + “No accident?” replied Demorest, raising himself on his elbow. + </p> + <p> + “Nary accident,” continued Ezekiel, deliberately, “and, if it comes to + that, not much of a dead body either.” + </p> + <p> + “What the devil do you mean?” said Demorest, sitting up. + </p> + <p> + “I mean,” said Ezekiel, with momentous deliberation, “that E. Blandford, + of the Winnipeg Mills, was in March, '50, ez nigh bein' bust up ez any man + kin be without actually failin'; that he'd been down to Boston that day to + get some extensions; that old Deacon Salisbury knew it, and had been + pesterin' Mrs. Blandford to induce him to sell out and leave the place; + and that the night he left he took about two hundred and fifty dollars in + bank bills that they allus kept in the house, and Mrs. Blandford was in + the habit o' hidin' in the breast-pocket of one of his old overcoats + hangin' up in the closet. I mean that that air money and that air overcoat + went off with him, ez Mrs. Blandford knows, for I heard her tell her ma + about it. And when his affairs were wound up and his debts paid, I reckon + that the two hundred and fifty was all there was left—and he scooted + with it. It's orkard for you—ez I said afore—but I don't see + wot on earth you need get riled for. Ef he ran off on account of only two + hundred and fifty dollars he ain't goin' to run back again for the mere + matter o' your marrying Joan. Ef he had—he'd a done it afore this. + It's orkard ez I said—but the only orkardness is your feelin's. I + reckon Joan's got used to hers.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest had risen angrily to his feet. But the next moment the utter + impossibility of reaching this man's hidebound moral perception by even + physical force hopelessly overcame him. It would only impress him with the + effect of his own disturbing power, that to Ezekiel was equal to a proof + of the truth of his opinions. It might even encourage him to repeat this + absurd story elsewhere with his own construction upon his reception of it. + After all it was only Ezekiel's opinion—an opinion too preposterous + for even a moment's serious consideration. Blandford alive, and a petty + defaulter! Blandford above the earth and complacently abandoning his wife + and home to another! Blandford—perhaps a sneaking, cowardly Nemesis—hiding + in the shadow for future—impossible! It really was enough to make + him laugh. + </p> + <p> + He did laugh, albeit with an uneasy sense that only a few years ago he + would have struck down the man who had thus traduced his friend's memory. + </p> + <p> + “You've been overtaxing your brain in patent-medicine circulars, Corwin,” + he said in a roughly rallying manner, “and you've got rather too much + highfalutin and bitters mixed with your opinions. After that yarn of yours + you must be dry. What'll you take? I haven't got any New England rum, but + I can give you some ten-year-old aguardiente made on the place.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke he lifted a decanter and glass from a small table which Manuel + had placed in the veranda. + </p> + <p> + “I guess not,” said Ezekiel dryly. “It's now goin' on five years since + I've been a consistent temperance man.” + </p> + <p> + “In everything but melons, and criticism of your neighbor, eh?” said + Demorest, pouring out a glass of the liquor. + </p> + <p> + “I hev my convictions,” said Ezekiel with affected meekness. + </p> + <p> + “And I have mine,” said Demorest, tossing off the fiery liquor at a draft, + “and it's that this is devilish good stuff. Sorry you can't take some. I'm + afraid I'll have to get you to excuse me for a while. I have to take a + ride over the ranch before turning in, to see if everything's right. The + house is 'at your disposition,' as we say here. I'll see you later.” + </p> + <p> + He walked away with a slight exaggeration of unconcern. Ezekiel watched + him narrowly with colorless eyes beneath his white lashes. When he had + gone he examined the thoroughly emptied glass of aguardiente, and, taking + the decanter, sniffed critically at its sharp and potent contents. A smile + of gratified discernment followed. It was clear to him that Demorest was a + heavy drinker. + </p> + <p> + Contrary to his prognostication, however, Mrs. Demorest DID arrive the + next day. But although he was to depart from Buenaventura by the same + coach that had set her down at the gate of the casa, he had already left + the house armed with some letters of introduction which Demorest had + generously given him, to certain small traders in the pueblo and along the + route. Demorest was not displeased to part with him before the arrival of + his wife, and thus spare her the awkwardness of a repetition of Ezekiel's + effrontery in her presence. Nor was he willing to have the impediment of a + guest in the house to any explanation he might have to seek from her, or + to the confidences that hereafter must be fuller and more mutual. For with + all his deep affection for his wife, Richard Demorest unconsciously feared + her. The strong man whose dominance over men and women alike had been his + salient characteristic, had begun to feel an undefinable sense of some + unrecognized quality in the woman he loved. He had once or twice detected + it in a tone of her voice, in a remembered and perhaps even once idolized + gesture, or in the accidental lapse of some bewildering word. With the + generosity of a large nature he had put the thought aside, referring it to + some selfish weakness of his own, or—more fatuous than all—to + a possible diminution of his own affection. + </p> + <p> + He was standing on the steps ready to receive her. Few of her appreciative + sex could have remained indifferent to the tender and touching + significance of his silent and subdued welcome. He had that piteous + wistfulness of eye seen in some dogs and the husbands of many charming + women—the affection that pardons beforehand the indifference it has + learned to expect. She approached him smiling in her turn, meeting the + sublime patience of being unloved with the equally resigned patience of + being loved, and feeling that comforting sense of virtue which might + become a bore, but never a self-reproach. For the rest, she was prettier + than ever; her five years of expanded life had slightly rounded the + elongated oval of her face, filled up the ascetic hollows of her temples, + and freed the repression of her mouth and chin. A more genial climate had + quickened the circulation that North Liberty had arrested, and suffused + the transparent beauty of her skin with eloquent life. It seemed as if the + long, protracted northern spring of her youth had suddenly burst into a + summer of womanhood under those gentle skies; and yet enough of her + puritan precision of manner, movement, and gesture remained to temper her + fuller and more exuberant life and give it repose. In a community of + pretty women more or less given to the license and extravagance of the + epoch, she always looked like a lady. + </p> + <p> + He took her in his arms and half-lifted her up the last step of the + veranda. She resisted slightly with her characteristic action of catching + his wrists in both her hands and holding him off with an awkward primness, + and almost in the same tone that she had used to Edward Blandford five + years before, said: + </p> + <p> + “There, Dick, that will do.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> + <p> + Demorest's dream of a few days' conjugal seclusion and confidences with + his wife was quickly dispelled by that lady. “I came down with Rosita + Pico, whose father, you know, once owned this property,” she said. “She's + gone on to her cousins at Los Osos Rancho to-night, but comes here + to-morrow for a visit. She knows the place well; in fact, she once had a + romantic love affair here. But she is very entertaining. It will be a + little change for us,” she added, naively. + </p> + <p> + Demorest kept back a sigh, without changing his gentle smile. “I'm glad + for your sake, dear. But is she not a little flighty and inclined to flirt + a good deal? I think I've heard so.” + </p> + <p> + “She's a young girl who has been severely tried, Richard, and perhaps is + not to blame for endeavoring to forget it in such distraction as she can + find,” said Mrs. Demorest, with a slight return of her old manner. “I can + understand her feelings perfectly.” She looked pointedly at her husband as + she spoke, it being one of her late habits to openly refer to their + ante-nuptial acquaintance as a natural reaction from the martyrdom of her + first marriage, with a quiet indifference that seemed almost an + indelicacy. But her husband only said: “As you like, dear,” vaguely + remembering Dona Rosita as the alleged heroine of a forgotten romance with + some earlier American adventurer who had disappeared, and trying vainly to + reconcile his wife's sentimental description of her with his own + recollection of the buxom, pretty, laughing, but dangerous-eyed Spanish + girl he had, however, seen but once. + </p> + <p> + She arrived the next day, flying into a protracted embrace of Joan, which + included a smiling recognition of Demorest with an unoccupied blue eye, + and a shake of her fan over his wife's shoulder. Then she drew back and + seemed to take in the whole veranda and garden in another long caress of + her eyes. “Ah-yess! I have recognized it, mooch. It es ze same. Of no + change—not even of a leetle. No, she ess always—esso.” She + stopped, looked unutterable things at Joan, pressed her fan below a spray + of roses on her full bodice as if to indicate some thrilling memory + beneath it, shook her head again, suddenly caught sight of Demorest's + serious face, said: “Ah, that brigand of our husband laughs himself at + me,” and then herself broke into a charming ripple of laughter. + </p> + <p> + “But I was not laughing, Dona Rosita,” said Demorest, smiling sadly, + however, in spite of himself. + </p> + <p> + She made a little grimace, and then raised her elbows, slightly lifting + her shoulders. “As it shall please you, Senor. But he is gone—thees + passion. Yess—what you shall call thees sentiment of lof—zo—as + he came!” She threw her fingers in the air as if to illustrate the + volatile and transitory passage of her affections, and then turned again + to Joan with her back towards Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Do please go on—Dona Rosita,” said he, “I never heard the real + story. If there is any romance about my house, I'd like to know it,” he + added with a faint sigh. + </p> + <p> + Dona Rosita wheeled upon him with an inquiring little look. “Ah, you have + the sentiment, and YOU,” she continued, taking Joan by the arms, “YOU have + not. Eet ess good so. When a—the wife,” she continued boldly, + hazarding an extended English abstraction, “he has the sentimente and the + hoosband he has nothing, eet is not good—for a-him—ze wife,” + she concluded triumphantly. + </p> + <p> + “But I have great appreciation and I am dying to hear it,” said Demorest, + trying to laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Well, poor one, you look so. But you shall lif till another time,” said + Dona Rosita, with a mock courtesy, gliding with Joan away. + </p> + <p> + The “other time” came that evening when chocolate was served on the + veranda, where Dona Rosita, mantilla-draped against the dry, clear, + moonlit air, sat at the feet of Joan on the lowest step. Demorest, + uneasily observant of the influence of the giddy foreigner on his wife, + and conscious of certain confidences between them from which he was + excluded, leaned against a pillar of the porch in half abstracted + resignation; Joan, under the tutelage of Rosita, lit a cigarette; Demorest + gazed at her wonderingly, trying to recall, in her fuller and more + animated face, some memory of the pale, refined profile of the Puritan + girl he had first met in the Boston train, the faint aurora of whose cheek + in that northern clime seemed to come and go with his words. Becoming + conscious at last of the eyes of Dona Rosita watching him from below, with + an effort he recalled his duty as her host and gallantly reminded her that + moonlight and the hour seemed expressly fitted for her promised love + story. + </p> + <p> + “Do tell it,” said Joan, “I don't mind hearing it again.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you know it already?” said Demorest, surprised. + </p> + <p> + Joan took the cigarette from her lips, laughed complacently, and exchanged + a familiar glance with Rosita. “She told it me a year ago, when we first + knew each other,” she replied. “Go on, dear,” to Rosita. + </p> + <p> + Thus encouraged, Dona Rosita began, addressing herself first in Spanish to + Demorest, who understood the language better than his wife, and lapsing + into her characteristic English as she appealed to them both. It was + really very little to interest Don Ricardo—this story of a silly + muchacha like herself and a strange caballero. He would go to sleep while + she was talking, and to-night he would say to his wife, “Mother of God! + why have you brought here this chattering parrot who speaks but of one + thing?” But she would go on always like the windmill, whether there was + grain to grind or no. “It was four years ago. Ah! Don Ricardo did not + remember the country then—it was when the first Americans came—now + it is different. Then there were no coaches—in truth one travelled + very little, and always on horseback, only to see one's neighbors. And + suddenly, as if in one day, it was changed; there were strange men on the + roads, and one was frightened, and one shut the gates of the pateo and + drove the horses into the corral. One did not know much of the Americans + then—for why? They were always going, going—never stopping, + hurrying on to the gold mines, hurrying away from the gold mines, hurrying + to look for other gold mines: but always going on foot, on horseback, in + queer wagons—hurrying, pushing everywhere. Ah, it took away the + breath. All, except one American—he did not hurry, he did not go + with the others, he came and stayed here at Buenaventura. He was very + quiet, very civil, very sad, and very discreet. He was not like the + others, and always kept aloof from them. He came to see Don Andreas Pico, + and wanted to beg a piece of land and an old vaquero's hut near the road + for a trifle. Don Andreas would have given it, or a better house, to him, + or have had him live at the casa here; but he would not. He was very proud + and shy, so he took the vaquero's hut, a mere adobe affair, and lived in + it, though a caballero like yourself, with white hands that knew not + labor, and small feet that had seldom walked. In good time he learned to + ride like the best vaquero, and helped Don Andreas to find the lost + mustangs, and showed him how to improve the old mill. And his pride and + his shyness wore off, and he would come to the casa sometimes. And Don + Andreas got to love him very much, and his daughter, Dona Rosita—ah, + well, yes truly—a leetle. + </p> + <p> + “But he had strange moods and ways, this American, and at times they would + have thought him a lunatico had they not believed it to be an American + fashion. He would be very kind and gentle like one of the family, coming + to the casa every day, playing with the children, advising Don Andreas and—yes—having + a devotion—very discreet, very ceremonious, for Dona Rosita. And + then, all in a moment, he would become as ill, without a word or gesture, + until he would stalk out of the house, gallop away furiously, and for a + week not be heard of. The first time it happened, Dona Rosita was piqued + by his rudeness, Don Andreas was alarmed, for it was on an evening like + the present, and Dona Rosita was teaching him a little song on the guitar + when the fit came on him. And he snapped the guitar strings like thread + and threw it down, and got up like a bear and walked away without a word.” + </p> + <p> + “I see it all,” said Demorest, half seriously: “you were coquetting with + him, and he was jealous.” + </p> + <p> + But Dona Rosita shook her head and turned impetuously, and said in English + to Joan: + </p> + <p> + “No, it was astutcia—a trick, a ruse. Because when my father have + arrived at his house, he is agone. And so every time. When he have the fit + he goes not to his house. No. And it ees not until after one time when he + comes back never again, that we have comprehend what he do at these times. + And what do you think? I shall tell to you.” + </p> + <p> + She composed herself comfortably, with her plump elbows on her knees, and + her fan crossed on the palm of her hand before her, and began again: + </p> + <p> + “It is a year he has gone, and the stagecoach is attack of brigands. + Tiburcio, our vaquero, have that night made himself a pasear on the road, + and he have seen HIM. He have seen, one, two, three men came from the wood + with something on the face, and HE is of them. He has nothing on his face, + and Tiburcio have recognize him. We have laugh at Tiburcio. We believe him + not. It is improbable that this Senor Huanson—” + </p> + <p> + “Senor who?” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Huanson—eet is the name of him. Ah, Carr!—posiblemente it is + nothing—a Don Fulano—or an apodo—Huanson.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I see, JOHNSON, very likely.” + </p> + <p> + “We have said it is not possible that this good man, who have come to the + house and ride on his back the children, is a thief and a brigand. And one + night my father have come from the Monterey in the coach, and it was + stopped. And the brigands have take from the passengers the money, the + rings from the finger, and the watch—and my father was of the same. + And my father, he have great dissatisfaction and anguish, for his watch is + given to him of an old friend, and it is not like the other watch. But the + watch he go all the same. And then when the robbers have made a finish + comes to the window of the coach a mascara and have say, 'Who is the Don + Andreas Pico?' And my father have say, 'It is I who am Don Andreas Pico.' + And the mask have say, 'Behold, your watch is restore!' and he gif it to + him. And my father say, 'To whom have I the distinguished honor to thank?' + And the mask say—” + </p> + <p> + “Johnson,” interrupted Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Dona Rosita in grave triumph, “he say Essmith. For this Essmith + is like Huanson—an apodo—nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you really think this man was your old friend?” asked Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “I think.” + </p> + <p> + “And that he was a robber even when living here—and that it was not + your cruelty that really drove him to take the road?” + </p> + <p> + Dona Rosita shrugged her plump shoulders. “You will not comprehend. It was + because of his being a brigand that he stayed not with us. My father would + not have object if he have present himself to me for marriage in these + times. I would not have object, for I was young, and we have knew nothing. + It was he who have object. For why? Inside of his heart he have feel he + was a brigand.” + </p> + <p> + “But you might have reformed him in time,” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + She again shrugged her shoulders. “Quien sabe.” After a pause she added + with infinite gravity: “And before he have reform, it is bad for the + menage. I should invite to my house some friend. They arrive, and one say, + 'I have not the watch of my pocket,' and another, 'The ring of my finger, + he is gone,' and another, 'My earrings, she is loss.' And I am obliged to + say, 'They reside now in the pocket of my hoosband; patience! a little + while—perhaps to-morrow—he will restore.' No,” she continued, + with an air of infinite conviction, “it is not good for the menage—the + necessity of those explanation.” + </p> + <p> + “You told me he was handsome,” said Joan, passing her arm carelessly + around Dona Rosita's comfortable waist. “How did he look?” + </p> + <p> + “As an angel! He have long curls to his back. His moustache was as silk, + for he have had never a barber to his face. And his eyes—Santa + Maria!—so soft and so—so melankoly. When he smile it is like + the moonlight. But,” she added, rising to her feet and tossing the end of + her lace mantilla over her shoulder with a little laugh—“it is + finish—Adelante! Dr-rrive on!” + </p> + <p> + “I don't want to destroy your belief in the connection of your friend with + the road agents,” said Demorest grimly, “but if he belongs to their band + it is in an inferior capacity. Most of them are known to the authorities, + and I have heard it even said that their leader or organizer is a very + unromantic speculator in San Francisco.” + </p> + <p> + But this suggestion was received coldly by the ladies, who superciliously + turned their backs upon it and the suggester. Joan dropped her voice to a + lower tone and turned to Dona Rosita. “And you have never seen him since?” + </p> + <p> + “Never.” + </p> + <p> + “I should—at least, I wouldn't have let it end in THAT way,” said + Joan in a positive whisper. + </p> + <p> + “Eh?” said Dona Rosita, laughing. “So eet is YOU, Juanita, that have the + romance—eh? Ah, bueno! 'you have the house—so I gif to you the + lover also.' I place him at your disposition.” She made a mock gesture of + elaborate and complete abnegation. “But,” she added in Joan's ear, with a + quick glance at Demorest, “do not let our hoosband eat him. Even now he + have the look to strangle ME. Make to him a little lof, quickly, when I + shall walk in the garden.” She turned away with a pretty wave of her fan + to Demorest, and calling out, “I go to make an assignation with my + memory,” laughed again, and lazily passed into the shadow. An ominous + silence on the veranda followed, broken finally by Mrs. Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “I don't think it was necessary for you to show your dislike to Dona + Rosita quite so plainly,” she said, coldly, slightly accenting the Puritan + stiffness, which any conjugal tete-a-tete lately revived in her manner. + </p> + <p> + “I show dislike of Dona Rosita?” stammered Demorest, in surprise. “Come, + Joan,” he added, with a forgiving smile, “you don't mean to imply that I + dislike her because I couldn't get up a thrilling interest in an old story + I've heard from every gossip in the pueblo since I can remember.” + </p> + <p> + “It's not an old story to HER,” said Joan, dryly, “and even if it were, + you might reflect that all people are not as anxious to forget the past as + you are.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest drew back to let the shaft glance by. “The story is old enough, + at least for her to have had a dozen flirtations, as you know, since + then,” he returned gently, “and I don't think she herself seriously + believes in it. But let that pass. I am sorry I offended her. I had no + idea of doing so. As a rule, I think she is not so easily offended. But I + shall apologize to her.” He stopped and approached nearer his wife in a + half-timid, half-tentative affection. “As to my forgetfulness of the past, + Joan, even if it were true, I have had little cause to forget it lately. + Your friend, Corwin—” + </p> + <p> + “I must insist upon your not calling him MY friend, Richard,” interrupted + Joan, sharply, “considering that it was through YOUR indiscretion in + coming to us for the buggy that night, that he suspected—” + </p> + <p> + She stopped suddenly, for at that moment a startled little shriek, quickly + subdued, rang through the garden. Demorest ran hurriedly down the steps in + the direction of the outcry. Joan followed more cautiously. At the first + turning of the path Dona Rosita almost fell into his arms. She was + breathless and trembling, but broke into a hysterical laugh. + </p> + <p> + “I have such a fear come to me—I cry out! I think I have seen a man; + but it was nothing—nothing! I am a fool. It is no one here.” + </p> + <p> + “But where did you see anything?” said Joan, coming up. + </p> + <p> + Rosita flew to her side. “Where? Oh, here!—everywhere! Ah, I am a + fool!” She was laughing now, albeit there were tears glistening on her + lashes when she laid her head on Joan's shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “It was some fancy—some resemblance you saw in that queer cactus,” + said Demorest, gently. “It is quite natural, I was myself deceived the + other night. But I'll look around to satisfy you. Take Dona Rosita back to + the veranda, Joan. But don't be alarmed, dear—it was only an + illusion.” + </p> + <p> + He turned away. When his figure was lost in the entwining foliage, Dona + Rosita seized Joan's shoulder and dragged her face down to a level with + her own. + </p> + <p> + “It was something!” she whispered quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Who?” + </p> + <p> + “It was—HIM!” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense,” groaned Joan, nevertheless casting a hurried glance around + her. + </p> + <p> + “Have no fear,” said Dona Rosita quickly, “he is gone—I saw him pass + away—so! But it was HE—Huanson. I recognize him. I forget him + never.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure?” + </p> + <p> + “Have I the eyes? the memory? Madre de Dios! Am I a lunatico too? Look! He + have stood there—so.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you think he knew you were here?” + </p> + <p> + “Quien sabe?” + </p> + <p> + “And that he came here to see you?” + </p> + <p> + Dona Rosita caught her again by the shoulders, and with her lips to Joan's + ear, said with the intensest and most deliberate of emphasis: + </p> + <p> + “NO!” + </p> + <p> + “What in Heaven's name brought him here then?” + </p> + <p> + “You!” + </p> + <p> + “Are you crazy?” + </p> + <p> + “You! you! YOU!” repeated Dona Rosita, with crescendo energy. “I have come + upon him here; where he stood and look at the veranda, absorrrb of YOU. + You move—he fly.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes! I have said I give him to you. And he came, Bueno,” murmured + Dona Rosita, with a half-resigned, half-superstitious gesture. + </p> + <p> + “WILL you be quiet!” + </p> + <p> + It was the sound of Demorest's feet on the gravel path, returning from his + fruitless search. He had seen nothing. It must have been Dona Rosita's + fancy. + </p> + <p> + “She was just saying she thought she had been mistaken,” said Joan, + quietly. “Let us go in—it is rather chilly here, and I begin to feel + creepy too.” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, as they entered the house again, and the light of the hall + lantern fell upon her face, Demorest thought he had never but once before + seen her look so nervously and animatedly beautiful. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + The following day, when Mr. Ezekiel Corwin had delivered his letters of + introduction, and thoroughly canvassed the scant mercantile community of + San Buenaventura with considerable success, he deposited his carpet-bag at + the stage office in the posada, and found to his chagrin that he had still + two hours to wait before the coach arrived. After a vain attempt to impart + cheerful but disparaging criticism of the pueblo and its people to Senor + Mateo and his wife—whose external courtesy had been visibly + increased by a line from Demorest, but whose confidence towards the + stranger had not been extended in the same proportion—he gave it up, + and threw himself lazily on a wooden bench in the veranda, already hacked + with the initials of his countrymen, and drawing a jack-knife from his + pocket, he began to add to that emblazonry the trade-mark of the Panacea—as + a casual advertisement. During its progress, however, he was struck by the + fact that while no one seemed to enter the posada through the stage + office, the number of voices in the adjoining room seemed to increase, and + the ministrations of Mateo and his wife became more feverishly occupied + with their invisible guests. It seemed to Ezekiel that consequently there + must be a second entrance which he had not seen, and this added to the + circumstance that one or two lounging figures who had been approaching + unaccountably disappeared before reaching the veranda, induced him to rise + and examine the locality. A few paces beyond was an alley, but it appeared + to be already blocked by several cigarette-smoking, short-jacketed men who + were leaning against its walls, and showed no inclination to make way for + him. Checked, but not daunted, Ezekiel coolly returned to the stage + office, and taking the first opportunity when Mateo passed through the + rear door, followed him. As he expected, the innkeeper turned to the left + and entered a large room filled with tobacco smoke and the local habitues + of the posada. But Ezekiel, shrewdly surmising that the private entrance + must be in the opposite direction, turned to the right along the passage + until he came unexpectedly upon the corridor of the usual courtyard, or + patio, of every Mexican hostelry, closed at one end by a low adobe wall, + in which there was a door. The free passage around the corridor was + interrupted by wide partitions, fitted up with tables and benches, like + stalls, opening upon the courtyard where a few stunted fig and orange + trees still grew. As the courtyard seemed to be the only communication + between the passage he had left and the door in the wall, he was about to + cross it, when the voices of two men in the compartment struck his ears. + Although one was evidently an American's, Ezekiel was instinctively + convinced that they were speaking in English only for greater security + against being understood by the frequenters of the posada. It is + unnecessary to say that this was an innocent challenge to the curiosity of + Ezekiel that he instantly accepted. He drew back carefully into the shadow + of the partition as one of the voices asked— + </p> + <p> + “Wasn't that Johnson just come in?” + </p> + <p> + There was a movement as if some one had risen to look over the + compartment, but the gathering twilight completely hid Ezekiel. + </p> + <p> + “No!” + </p> + <p> + “He's late. Suppose he don't come—or back out?” + </p> + <p> + The other man broke into a grim laugh. “I reckon you don't know Johnson + yet, or you'd understand this yer little game o' his is just the one idea + o' his life. He's been two years on that man's track, and he ain't goin' + to back out now that he's got a dead sure thing on him.” + </p> + <p> + “But why is he so keen about it, anyway? It don't seem nat'ral for a + business man built after Johnson's style, and a rich man to boot, to go + into this detective business. It ain't the reward, we know that. Is it an + old grudge?” + </p> + <p> + “You bet!” The speaker paused, and then in a lower voice, which taxed + Ezekial's keen ear to the uttermost, resumed: “It's said up in Frisco that + Cherokee Bob knew suthin' agin Johnson way back in the States; anyhow, I + believe it's understood that they came across the plains together in '50—and + Bob hounded Johnson and blackmailed him here where he was livin', even to + the point of makin' him help him on the road or give information, until + one day Johnson bucked against it—kicked over the traces—and + swore he'd be revenged on Bob, and then just settled himself down to that + business. Wotever he'd been and done himself he made it all right with the + sheriff here; and I've heard ez it wasn't anything criminal or that sort, + but that it was o' some private trouble that he'd confided to that hound + Bob, and Bob had threatened to tell agen him. That's the grudge they say + Johnson has, and that's why he's allowed to be the head devil in this yer + affair. It's an understood thing, too, that the sheriff and the police + ain't goin' to interfere if Johnson accidentally blows the top of Bob's + head off in the scrimmage of a capter.” + </p> + <p> + “And I reckon Bob wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing to him when he + finds out that Johnson has given him away?” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon,” said the other, sententiously, “for it's Johnson's knowledge + of the country and the hoss-stealers that are in with Bob's gang of road + agents that made it easy for him to buy up and win over Bob's friends + here, so that they'd help to trap him.” + </p> + <p> + “It's pretty rough on Bob to be sold out in that way,” said the second + speaker, sympathizingly. + </p> + <p> + “If they were white men, p'rhaps,” returned his companion, contemptuously, + “but this yer's a case of Injin agen Injin, ez the men are Mexican + half-breeds just as Bob's a half Cherokee. The sooner that kind o' cross + cattle exterminate each other the better it'll be for the country. It + takes a white man like Johnson to set 'em by the ears.” + </p> + <p> + A silence followed. Ezekiel, beginning to be slightly bored with his + cheaply acquired but rather impractical information, was about to slip + back into the passage again when he was arrested by a laugh from the first + speaker. + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter?” growled the other. “Do you want to bring the whole + posada out here?” + </p> + <p> + “I was only thinkin' what a skeer them innocent greenhorn passengers will + get just ez they're snoozing off for the night, ten miles from here,” + responded his friend, with a chuckle. “Wonder ef anybody's goin' up from + here besides that patent medicine softy.” + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel stopped as if petrified. + </p> + <p> + “Ef the —— fools keep quiet they won't be hurt, for our men + will be ready to chip in the moment of the attack. But we've got to let + the attack be made for the sake of the evidence. And if we warn off the + passengers from going this trip, and let the stage go up empty, Bob would + suspect something and vamose. But here's Johnson!” + </p> + <p> + The door in the adobe wall had suddenly opened, and a figure in a serape + entered the patio. Ezekiel, whose curiosity was whetted with indignation + at the ignominious part assigned to him in this comedy, forgot even his + risk of detection by the newcomer, who advanced quickly towards the + compartment. When he had reached it he said, in a tone of bitterness: + </p> + <p> + “The game is up, gentlemen, and the whole thing is blown. The scoundrel + has got some confederate here—for he's been seen openly on the road + near Demorest's ranch, and the band have had warning and dispersed. We + must find out the traitor, and take our precautions for the next time. Who + is that there? I don't know him.” + </p> + <p> + He was pointing to Ezekiel, who had started eagerly forward at the first + sound of his voice. The two occupants of the compartment rose at the same + moment, leaped into the courtyard, and confronted Ezekiel. Surrounded by + the three menacing figures he did not quail, but remained intently gazing + upon the newcomer. Then his mouth opened, and he drawled lazily: + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, ef it ain't Squire Blandford, of North Liberty, Connecticut, I'm a + treed coon. Squire Blandford, how DO you do?” + </p> + <p> + The stranger drew back in undisguised amazement; the two men glanced + hurriedly at each other; Ezekiel alone remained cool, smiling, + imperturbable, and triumphant. + </p> + <p> + “Who are YOU, sir? I do not know you,” demanded the newcomer, roughly. + </p> + <p> + “Like ez not,” said Corwin dryly, “it's a matter o' four year sense I + lived in your house. Even Dick Demorest—you knew Dick?—didn't + know me; but I reckon that Mrs. Blandford as used to be—” + </p> + <p> + “That's enough,” said Blandford—for it was he—suddenly + mastering both himself and Corwin by a supreme emphasis of will and + gesture. “Wait!” Then turning to the two others who were discreetly + regarding the blank adobe wall before them, he said: “Excuse me for a few + minutes, gentlemen. There is no hurry now. I will see you later;” and with + an imperative wave of his hand motioned Ezekiel to precede him into the + passage, and followed him. + </p> + <p> + He did not speak until they entered the stage office, when, passing + through it, he said peremptorily: “Follow me.” The few loungers, who + seemed to recognize him, made way for him with a singular deference that + impressed Ezekiel, already dominated by his manner. The first perception + in his mind was that Blandford had in some strange way succeeded to + Demorest's former imperious character. There was no trace left of the old, + gentle subjection to Joan's prim precision. Ezekiel followed him out of + the office as unresistingly as he had followed Demorest into the stables + on that eventful night. They passed down the narrow street until Blandford + suddenly stopped short and turned into the crumbling doorway of one of the + low adobe buildings and entered an apartment. It seemed to be the ordinary + living-room of the house, made more domestic by the presence of a silk + counterpaned bed in one corner, a prie Dieu and crucifix, and one or two + articles of bedchamber furniture. A woman was sitting in deshabille by the + window; a man was smoking on a lounge against the wall. Blandford, in the + same peremptory manner, addressed a command in Spanish to the inmates, who + immediately abandoned the apartment to the seeming trespasser. + </p> + <p> + Motioning his companion to a seat on the lounge just vacated, Blandford + folded his arms and stood erect before him. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” he said, with quick, business conciseness, “what do you want?” + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel was staggered out of his complacency. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al,” he stammered, “I only reckoned to ask the news, ez we are old + friends—I—” + </p> + <p> + “How much do you want?” repeated Blandford, impatiently. + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel was mystified, yet expectant. “I can't say ez I exakly + understand,” he began. + </p> + <p> + “How—much—money—do—you—want,” continued + Blandford, with frigid accuracy, “to get up and get out of this place?” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, consideren ez I'm travellin' here ez the only authorized agent of + a first-class Frisco Drug House,” said Ezekiel, with a mingling of + mortification, pride, and hopefulness, “unless you're travellin' in the + opposition business, I don't see what's that to you.” + </p> + <p> + Blandford regarded him searchingly for an instant. “Who sent you here?” + </p> + <p> + “Dilworth & Dusenberry, Battery Street, San Francisco. Hev their + card?” said Ezekiel, taking one from his waistcoat pocket. + </p> + <p> + “Corwin,” said Blandford, sternly, “whatever your business is here you'll + find it will pay you better, a —— sight, to be frank with me + and stop this Yankee shuffling. You say you have been with Demorest—what + has HE got to do with your business here?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothin',” said Ezekiel. “I reckon he wos ez astonished to see me ez you + are.” + </p> + <p> + “And didn't he send you here to seek me?” said Blandford, impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Considerin' he believes you a dead man, I reckon not.” + </p> + <p> + Blandford gave a hard, constrained laugh. After a pause, still keeping his + eyes fixed on Ezekiel, he said: + </p> + <p> + “Then your recognition of me was accidental?” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, yes. And ez I never took much stock in the stories that you were + washed off the Warensboro Bridge, I ain't much astonished at finding you + agin.” + </p> + <p> + “What did you believe happened to me?” said Blandford, less brusquely. + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel noticed the softening; he felt his own turn coming. “I kalkilated + you had reasons for going off, leaving no address behind you,” he drawled. + </p> + <p> + “What reasons?” asked Blandford, with a sudden relapse of his former + harshness. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, Squire Blandford, sens you wanter know—I reckon your + business wasn't payin', and there was a matter of two hundred and fifty + dollars ye took with ye, that your creditors would hev liked to hev back.” + </p> + <p> + “Who dare say that?” demanded Blandford, angrily. + </p> + <p> + “Your wife that was—Mrs. Demorest ez is—told it to her + mother,” returned Ezekiel, lazily. + </p> + <p> + The blow struck deeper than even Ezekiel's dry malice imagined. For an + instant, Blandford remained stupefied. In the five years' retrospect of + his resolution on that fatal night, whatever doubt of its wisdom might + have obtruded itself upon him, he had never thought of THIS. He had been + willing to believe that his wife had quietly forgotten him as well as her + treachery to him, he had passively acquiesced in the results of that + forgetfulness and his own silence; he had been conscious that his wound + had healed sooner than he expected, but if this consciousness had enabled + him to extend a certain passive forgiveness to his wife and Demorest, it + was always with the conviction that his mysterious effacement had left an + inexplicable shadow upon them which their consciences alone could explain. + But for this unjust, vulgar, and degrading interpretation of his own act + of expiation, he was totally unprepared. It completely crushed whatever + sentiment remained of that act in the horrible irony of finding himself + put upon his defence before the world, without being able now to offer the + real cause. The anguish of that night had gone forever; but the ridiculous + interpretation of it had survived, and would survive it. In the eyes of + the man before him he was not a wronged husband, but an absconding petty + defaulter, whom he had just detected! + </p> + <p> + His mind was quickly made up. In that instant he had resolved upon a step + as fateful as his former one, and a fitting climax to its results. For + five years he had clearly misunderstood his attitude towards his + treacherous wife and perjured friend. Thanks to this practical, selfish + machine before him, he knew it now. + </p> + <p> + “Look here, Corwin,” he said, turning upon Ezekiel a colorless face, but a + steady, merciless eye. “I can guess, without your telling me, what lies + may be circulated about me by the man and woman who know that I have only + to declare myself alive to convict them of infamy—perhaps even of + criminality before the law. You are not MY friend, or you would not have + believed them; if you are THEIRS, you have two courses open to you now. + Keep this meeting to yourself and trust to my mercy to keep it a secret + also; or, tell Mrs. Demorest that you have seen Mr. Johnson, who is not + afraid to come forward at any moment and proclaim that he is Edward + Blandford, her only lawful husband. Choose which course you like—it + is nothing more to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, I reckon that, as far as I know Mrs. Demorest,” said Ezekiel, + dryly, “it don't make the least difference to her either; but if you want + to know my opinion o' this matter, it is that neither you nor Demorest + exactly understand that woman. I've known Joan Salisbury since she was so + high, but if ye expected me to tell you wot she was goin' to do next, I'd + be able to tell ye where the next flash o' lightnin' would strike. It's + wot you don't expect of Joan Salisbury that she does. And the best proof + of it is that she filed papers for a divorce agin you in Chicago and got + it by default a few weeks afore she married Demorest—and you don't + know it.” + </p> + <p> + Blandford recoiled. “Impossible,” he said, but his voice too plainly + showed how clearly its possibility struck him now. + </p> + <p> + “It's so, but it was kept secret by Deacon Salisbury. I overheerd it. + Wa'al, that's a proof that you don't understand Joan, I reckon. And + considerin' that Demorest HIMSELF don't know it, ez I found out only the + other day in talking to him, I kalkilate I'm safe in sayin' that you're + neither o' you quite up to Deacon Salisbury's darter in nat'ral cuteness. + I don't like to obtrude my opinion, Squire Blandford, ez we're old + friends, but I do say, that wot with Demorest's prematooriness and yer own + hangfiredness, it's a good thing that you two worldly men hev got Joan + Salisbury to stand up for North Liberty and keep it from bein' scandalized + by the ungodly. Ef it hadn't been for her smartness, whar y'd both be + landed now? There's a heap in Christian bringin' up, and a power in grace, + Squire Blandford.” + </p> + <p> + His hard, dry face was for an instant transfigured by a grim fealty and + the dull glow of some sectarian clannishness. Or was it possible that this + woman's personality had in some mysterious way disturbed his rooted + selfishness? + </p> + <p> + During his speech Blandford had walked to the window. When Corwin had + ceased speaking, Blandford turned towards him with an equally changed face + and cold imperturbability that astonished him, and held out his hand. “Let + bygones be bygones, Corwin—whether we ever meet again or not. Yet if + I can do anything for you for the sake of old times, I am ready to do it. + I have some power here and in San Francisco,” he continued, with a slight + touch of pride, “that isn't dependent upon the mere name I may travel + under. I have a purpose in coming here.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” said Ezekiel, dryly. “I heard it all from your two friends. + You're huntin' some man that did you an injury.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm hunting down a dog who, suspecting I had some secret in emigrating + here, tried to blackmail and ruin me,” said Blandford, with a sudden + expression of hatred that seemed inconsistent with anything that Ezekiel + had ever known of his old master's character—“a scoundrel who tried + to break up my new life as another had broken up the old.” He stopped and + recovered himself with a short laugh. “Well, Ezekiel, I don't know as his + opinion of me was any worse than yours or HERS. And until I catch HIM to + clear my name again, I let the other slanderers go.” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, I reckon you might lay hands on that devil yet, and not far away, + either. I was up at Demorest's to-day, and I heard Joan and a skittish + sort o' Mexican young lady talkin' about some tramp that had frightened + her. And Miss Pico said—” + </p> + <p> + “What! Who did you say?” demanded Blandford, with a violent start. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, I reckoned I heerd the first name too—Rosita.” + </p> + <p> + A quick flush crossed Blandford's face, and left it glowing like a boy's. + </p> + <p> + “Is SHE there?” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, I reckon she's visitin' Joan,” said Ezekiel, narrowly attentive of + Blandford's strange excitement; “but wot of it?” + </p> + <p> + But Blandford had utterly forgotten Ezekiel's presence. He had remained + speechless and flushed. And then, as if suddenly dazzled by an + inspiration, he abruptly dashed from the room. Ezekiel heard him call to + his passive host with a Spanish oath, but before he could follow, they had + both hurriedly left the house. + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel glanced around him and contemplatively ran his fingers through his + beard. “It ain't Joan Salisbury nor Dick Demorest ez giv' him that start! + Humph! Wa'al—I wanter know!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> + <p> + Mrs. Demorest was so fascinated by the company of Dona Rosita Pico and her + romantic memories, that she prevailed upon that heart-broken but scarcely + attenuated young lady to prolong her visit beyond the fortnight she had + allotted to communion with the past. For a day or two following her + singular experience in the garden, Mrs. Demorest plied her with questions + regarding the apparition she had seen, and finally extorted from her the + admission that she could not positively swear to its being the real + Johnson, or even a perfectly consistent shade of that faithless man. When + Joan pointed out to her that such masculine perfections as curling raven + locks, long silken mustachios, and dark eyes, were attributes by no means + exclusive to her lover, but were occasionally seen among other less + favored and even equally dangerous Americans, Dona Rosita assented with + less objection than Joan anticipated. “Besides, dear,” said Joan, eying + her with feline watchfulness, “it is four years since you've seen him, and + surely the man has either shaved since, or else he took a ridiculous vow + never to do it, and then he would be more fully bearded.” + </p> + <p> + But Dona Rosita only shook her pretty head. “Ah, but he have an air—a + something I know not what you call—so.” She threw her shawl over her + left shoulder, and as far as a pair of soft blue eyes and comfortably + pacific features would admit, endeavored to convey an idea of wicked and + gloomy abstraction. + </p> + <p> + “You child,” said Joan,—“that's nothing; they all of them do that. + Why, there was a stranger at the Oriental Hotel whom I met twice when I + was there—just as mysterious, romantic, and wicked-looking. And in + fact they hinted terrible things about him. Well! so much so, that Mr. + Demorest was quite foolish about my being barely civil to him—you + understand—and—” She stopped suddenly, with a heightened color + under the fire of Rosita's laughing eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Ah—so—Dona Discretion! Tell to me all. Did our hoosband eat + him?” + </p> + <p> + Joan's features suddenly tightened to their old puritan rigidity. “Mr. + Demorest has reasons—abundant reasons—to thoroughly understand + and trust me,” she replied in an austere voice. + </p> + <p> + Rosita looked at her a moment in mystification and then shrugged her + shoulders. The conversation dropped. Nevertheless, it is worthy of being + recorded that from that moment the usual familiar allusions, playful and + serious, to Rosita's mysterious visitor began to diminish in frequency and + finally ceased. Even the news brought by Demorest of some vague rumor in + the pueblo that an intended attack on the stage-coach had been frustrated + by the authorities, and that the vicinity had been haunted by incognitos + of both parties, failed to revive the discussion. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the slight excitement that had stirred the sluggish life of the + pueblo of San Buenaventura had subsided. The posada of Senor Mateo had + lost its feverish and perplexing dual life; the alley behind it no longer + was congested by lounging cigarette smokers; the compartment looking upon + the silent patio was unoccupied, and its chairs and tables were empty. The + two deputy sheriffs, of whom Senor Mateo presumably knew very little, had + fled; and the mysterious Senor Johnson, of whom he—still presumably—knew + still less, had also disappeared. For Senor Mateo's knowledge of what + transpired in and about his posada, and of the character and purposes of + those who frequented it, was tinctured by grave and philosophical doubts. + This courteous and dignified scepticism generally took the formula of + quien sabe to all frivolous and mundane inquiry. He would affirm with + strict verity that his omelettes were unapproachable, his beds miraculous, + his aguardiente supreme, his house was even as your own. Beyond these were + questions with which the simply finite and always discreet human intellect + declined to grapple. + </p> + <p> + The disturbing effect of Senor Corwin upon a mind thus gravely constituted + may be easily imagined. Besides Ezekiel's inordinate capacity for useless + or indiscreet information, it was undeniable that his patent medicines had + effected a certain peaceful revolutionary movement in San Buenaventura. A + simple and superstitious community that had steadily resisted the + practical domestic and agricultural American improvements, succumbed to + the occult healing influences of the Panacea and Jones's Bitters. The + virtues of a mysterious balsam, more or less illuminated with a colored + mythological label, deeply impressed them; and the exhibition of a + circular, whereon a celestial visitant was represented as descending with + a gross of Rogers' Pills to a suffering but admiring multitude, touched + their religious sympathies to such an extent that the good Padre Jose was + obliged to warn them from the pulpit of the diabolical character of their + heresies of healing—with the natural result of yet more dangerously + advertising Ezekiel. There were those too who spoke under their breath of + the miraculous efficacy of these nostrums. Had not Don Victor Arguello, + whose respectable digestion, exhausted by continuous pepper and garlic, + failed him suddenly, received an unexpected and pleasurable stimulus from + the New England rum, which was the basis of the Jones Bitters? Had not the + baker, tremulous from excessive aguardiente, been soothed and sustained by + the invisible morphia, judiciously hidden in Blogg's Nerve Tonic? Nor had + the wily Ezekiel forgotten the weaker sex in their maiden and maternal + requirements. Unguents, that made silken their black but somewhat coarsely + fibrous tresses, opened charming possibilities to the Senoritas; while + soothing syrups lent a peaceful repose to many a distracted mother's + household. The success of Ezekiel was so marked as to justify his return + at the end of three weeks with a fresh assortment and an undiminished + audacity. + </p> + <p> + It was on his second visit that the sceptical, non-committal policy of + Senor Mateo was sorely tried. Arriving at the posada one night, Ezekiel + became aware that his host was engaged in some mysterious conference with + a visitor who had entered through the ordinary public room. The view which + the acute Ezekiel managed to get of the stranger, however, was productive + of no further discovery than that he bore a faint and disreputable + resemblance to Blandford, and was handsome after a conscious, reckless + fashion, with an air of mingled bravado and conceit. But an hour later, as + Corwin was taking the cooler air of the veranda before retiring to one of + the miraculous beds of the posada, he was amazed at seeing what was + apparently Blandford himself emerge on horseback from the alley, and after + a quick glance towards the veranda, canter rapidly up the street. + Ezekiel's first impression was to call to him, but the sudden recollection + that he parted from his old master on confidential terms only three days + before in San Francisco, and that it was impossible for him to be in the + pueblo, stopped him with his fingers meditatively in his beard. Then he + turned in to the posada, and hastily summoned Mateo. + </p> + <p> + The gentleman presented himself in a state of such profound scepticism + that it seemed to have already communicated itself to his shoulders, and + gave him the appearance of having shrugged himself into the room. + </p> + <p> + “Ha'ow long ago did Mr. Johnson get here?” asked Corwin, lazily. + </p> + <p> + “Ah—possibly—then there has been a Mr. Johnson?” This is a + polite doubt of his own perceptions and a courteous acceptance of his + questioner's. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, I guess so. Considerin' I jest saw him with my own eyes,” returned + Ezekiel. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” Mateo was relieved. Might he congratulate the Senor Corwin, who must + be also relieved, and shake his respected hand. Bueno. And then he had met + this Senor Johnson? doubtless a friend? And he was well? and all were + happy? + </p> + <p> + “Look yer, Mattayo! What I wanter know ez THIS. When did that man, who has + just ridden out of your alley, come here? Sabe that—it's a plain + question.” + </p> + <p> + Ah surely, of the clearest comprehension. Bueno. It may have been last + week—or even this week—or perhaps yesterday—or of a + possibility to-day. The Senor Corwin, who was wise and omniscient, would + comprehend that the difficulty lay in deciding WHO was that man. Perhaps a + friend of the Senor Corwin—perhaps only one who LOOKED like him. + There existed—might Mateo point out—a doubt. + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel regarded Mateo with a certain grim appreciation. “Wa'al, is there + anybody here who looks like Johnson?” + </p> + <p> + Again there were the difficulty of ascertaining perfectly how the Senor + Johnson looked. If the Senor Johnson was Americano, doubtless there were + other Americanos who had resembled him. It was possible. The Senor Corwin + had doubtless observed for a little space a caballero who was here, as it + were, in the instant of the appearance of Senor Johnson? Possibly there + was a resemblance, and yet— + </p> + <p> + Corwin had certainly noticed this resemblance, but it did not suit his + cautious intellect to fall in with any prevailing scepticism of his host. + Satisfied in his mind that Mateo was concealing something from him, and + equally satisfied that he would sooner or later find it out, he grinned + diabolically in the face of that worthy man, and sought the meditation of + his miraculous couch. When he had departed, the sceptic turned to his + wife: + </p> + <p> + “This animal has been sniffing at the trail.” + </p> + <p> + “Truly—but Mother of God—where is the discretion of our + friend. If he will continue to haunt the pueblo like a lovesick chicken, + he will get his neck wrung yet.” + </p> + <p> + Following out an ingenious idea of his own, Ezekiel called the next day on + the Demorests, and in some occult fashion obtained an invitation to stay + under their hospitable roof during his sojourn in Buenaventura. Perfectly + aware that he owed this courtesy more to Joan than to her husband, it is + probable that his grim enjoyment was not diminished by the fact; while + Joan, for reasons of her own, preferred the constraint which the presence + of another visitor put upon Demorest's uxoriousness. Of late, too, there + were times when Dona Rosita's naive intelligence, which was not unlike the + embarrassing perceptions of a bright and half-spoiled child, was in her + way, and she would willingly have shared the young lady's company with her + husband had Demorest shown any sympathy for the girl. It was in the faint + hope that Ezekiel might in some way beguile Rosita's wandering attention + that she had invited him. The only difficulty lay in his uncouthness, and + in presenting to the heiress of the Picos a man who had been formerly her + own servant. Had she attempted to conceal that fact she was satisfied that + Ezekiel's independence and natural predilection for embarrassing + situations would have inevitably revealed it. She had even gone so far as + to consider the propriety of investing him with a poor relationship to her + family, when Dona Rosita herself happily stopped all further trouble. On + her very first introduction to him, that charming young lady at once + accepted him as a lunatic whose brains were turned by occult, scientific, + and medical study! Ah! she, Rosita, had heard of such cases before. Had + not a paternal ancestor of hers, one Don Diego Castro, believed he had + discovered the elixir of youth. Had he not to that end refused even to + wash him the hand, to cut him the nail of the finger and the hair of the + head! Exalted by that discovery, had he not been unsparingly + uncomplimentary to all humanity, especially to the weaker sex? Even as the + Senor Corwin! + </p> + <p> + Far from being offended at this ingenious interpretation of his character, + Ezekiel exhibited a dry gratification over it, and even conceived an + unwholesome admiration of the fair critic; he haunted her presence and + preoccupied her society far beyond Joan's most sanguine expectations. He + sat in open-mouthed enjoyment of her at the table, he waylaid her in the + garden, he attempted to teach her English. Dona Rosita received these + extraordinary advances in a no less extraordinary manner. In the scant + masculine atmosphere of the house, and the somewhat rigid New England + reserve that still pervaded it, perhaps she languished a little, and was + not averse to a slight flirtation, even with a madman. Besides, she + assumed the attitude of exercising a wholesome restraint over him. “If we + are not found dead in our bed one morning, and extracted of our blood for + a cordial, you shall thank to me for it,” she said to Joan. “Also for the + not empoisoning of the coffee!” + </p> + <p> + So she permitted him to carry a chair or hammock for her into the garden, + to fetch the various articles which she was continually losing, and which + he found with his usual penetration; and to supply her with information, + in which, however, he exercised an unwonted caution. On the other hand, + certain naive recollections and admissions, which in the quality of a + voluble child she occasionally imparted to this “madman” in return, were + in the proportion of three to one. + </p> + <p> + It had been a hot day, and even the usual sunset breeze had failed that + evening to rock the tops of the outlying pine-trees or cool the heated + tiles of the pueblo roofs. There was a hush and latent expectancy in the + air that reacted upon the people with feverish unrest and uneasiness; even + a lull in the faintly whispering garden around the Demorests' casa had + affected the spirits of its inmates, causing them to wander about in vague + restlessness. Joan had disappeared; Dona Rosita, under an olive-tree in + one of the deserted paths, and attended by the faithful Ezekiel, had said + it was “earthquake weather,” and recalled, with a sign of the cross, a + certain dreadful day of her childhood, when el temblor had shaken down one + of the Mission towers. “You shall see it now, as he have left it so it has + remain always,” she added with superstitious gravity. + </p> + <p> + “That's just the lazy shiftlessness of your folks,” responded Ezekiel with + prompt ungallantry. “It ain't no wonder the Lord Almighty hez to stir you + up now and then to keep you goin'.” + </p> + <p> + Dona Rosita gazed at him with simple childish pity. “Poor man; it have + affect you also in the head, this weather. So! It was even so with the + uncle of my father. Hush up yourself, and bring to me the box of + chocolates of my table. I will gif to you one. You shall for one time have + something pleasant on the end of your tongue, even if you must swallow him + after.” + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel grinned. “Ye ain't afraid o' bein' left alone with the ghost that + haunts the garden, Miss Rosita?” + </p> + <p> + “After YOU—never-r-r.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll find Mrs. Demorest and send her to ye,” said Ezekiel, hesitatingly. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, to attract here the ghost? Thank you, no, very mooch.” + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel's face contracted until nothing but his bright peering gray eyes + could be seen. “Attract the ghost!” he echoed. “Then you kalkilate that + it's—” he stopped, insinuatingly. + </p> + <p> + Rosita brought her fan sharply over his knuckles, and immediately opened + it again over her half-embarrassed face. “I comprehend not anything to + 'ekalkilate.' WILL you go, Don Fantastico; or is it for me to bring to + you?” + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel flew. He quickly found the chocolates and returned, but was + disconcerted on arriving under the olive-tree to find Dona Rosita no + longer in the hammock. He turned into a by-path, where an extraordinary + circumstance attracted his attention. The air was perfectly still, but the + leaves of a manzanita bush near the misshapen cactus were slightly + agitated. Presently Ezekiel saw the stealthy figure of a man emerge from + behind it and approach the cactus. Reaching his hand cautiously towards + the plant, the stranger detached something from one of its thorns, and + instantly disappeared. The quick eyes of Ezekiel had seen that it was a + letter, his unerring perception of faces recognized at the same moment + that the intruder was none other than the handsome, reckless-looking man + he had seen the other day in conference with Mateo. + </p> + <p> + But Ezekiel was not the only witness of this strange intrusion. A few + paces from him, Dona Rosita, unconscious of his return, was gazing in a + half-frightened, breathless absorption in the direction of the stranger's + flight. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al!” drawled Ezekiel lazily. + </p> + <p> + She started and turned towards him. Her face was pale and alarmed, and yet + to the critical eye of Ezekiel it seemed to wear an expression of + gratified relief. She laughed faintly. + </p> + <p> + “Ef that's the kind o' ghost you hev about yer, it's a healthy one,” + drawled Ezekiel. He turned and fixed his keen eyes on Rosita's face. “I + wonder what kind o' fruit grows on the cactus that he's so fond of?” + </p> + <p> + Either she had not seen the abstraction of the letter, or his acting was + perfect, for she returned his look unwaveringly. “The fruit, eh? I have + not comprehend.” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, I reckon I will,” said Ezekiel. He walked towards the cactus; + there was nothing to be seen but its thorny spikes. He was confronted, + however, by the sudden apparition of Joan from behind the manzanita at its + side. She looked up and glanced from Ezekiel to Dona Rosita with an + agitated air. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you saw him too?” she said eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon,” answered Ezekiel, with his eyes still on Rosita. “I was + wondering what on airth he was so taken with that air cactus for.” + </p> + <p> + Rosita had become slightly pale again in the presence of her friend. Joan + quietly pushed Ezekiel aside and put her arm around her. “Are you + frightened again?” she asked, in a low whisper. + </p> + <p> + “Not mooch,” returned Rosita, without lifting her eyes. + </p> + <p> + “It was only some peon, trespassing to pick blossoms for his sweetheart,” + she said significantly, with a glance towards Ezekiel. “Let us go in.” + </p> + <p> + She passed her hand through Rosita's passive arm and led her towards the + house, Ezekiel's penetrating eyes still following Rosita with an + expression of gratified doubt. + </p> + <p> + For once, however, that astute observer was wrong. When Mrs. Demorest had + reached the house she slipped into her own room, and, bolting the door, + drew from her bosom a letter which SHE had picked from the cactus thorn, + and read it with a flushed face and eager eyes. + </p> + <p> + It may have been the effect of the phenomenal weather, but the next day a + malign influence seemed to pervade the Demorest household. Dona Rosita was + confined to her room by an attack of languid nerves, superinduced, as she + was still voluble enough to declare, by the narcotic effect of some + unknown herb which the lunatic Ezekiel had no doubt mysteriously + administered to her with a view of experimenting on its properties. She + even avowed that she must speedily return to Los Osos, before Ezekiel + should further compromise her reputation by putting her on a colored label + in place of the usual Celestial Distributer of the Panacea. Ezekiel + himself, who had been singularly abstracted and reticent, and had + absolutely foregone one or two opportunities of disagreeable criticism, + had gone to the pueblo early that morning. The house was comparatively + silent and deserted when Demorest walked into his wife's boudoir. + </p> + <p> + It was a pretty room, looking upon the garden, furnished with a singular + mingling of her own inherited formal tastes and the more sensuous coloring + and abandon of her new life. There were a great many rugs and hangings + scattered in disorder around the room, and apparently purposeless, except + for color; there was a bamboo lounge as large as a divan, with two or + three cushions disposed on it, and a low chair that seemed the incarnation + of indolence. Opposed to this, on the wall, was the rigid picture of her + grandfather, who had apparently retired with his volume further into the + canvas before the spectacle of this ungodly opulence; a large Bible on a + funereal trestle-like stand, and the primmest and barest of + writing-tables, before which she was standing as at a sacrificial altar. + With an almost mechanical movement she closed her portfolio as her husband + entered, and also shut the lid of a small box with a slight snap. This + suggested exclusion of him from her previous occupation, whatever it might + have been, caused a faint shadow of pain to pass across his loving eyes. + He cast a glance at his wife as if mutely asking her to sit beside him, + but she drew a chair to the table, and with her elbow resting on the box, + resignedly awaited his speech. + </p> + <p> + “I don't mean to disturb you, darling,” he said, gently, “but as we were + alone, I thought we might have one of our old-fashioned talks, and—” + </p> + <p> + “Don't let it be so old-fashioned as to include North Liberty again,” she + interrupted, wearily. “We've had quite enough of that since I returned.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought you found fault with me then for forgetting the past. But let + that pass, dear; it is not OUR affairs I wanted to talk to you about now,” + he said, stifling a sigh, “it's about your friend. Please don't + misunderstand what I am going to say; nor that I interpose except from + necessity.” + </p> + <p> + She turned her dark brown eyes in his direction, but her glance passed + abstractedly over his head into the garden. + </p> + <p> + “It's a matter perfectly well known to me—and, I fear, to all our + servants also—that somebody is making clandestine visits to our + garden. I would not trouble you before, until I ascertained the object of + these visits. It is quite plain to me now that Dona Rosita is that object, + and that communications are secretly carried on between her and some + unknown stranger. He has been here once or twice before; he was here again + yesterday. Ezekiel saw him and saw her.” + </p> + <p> + “Together?” asked Mrs. Demorest, sharply. + </p> + <p> + “No; but it was evident that there was some understanding, and that some + communication passed between them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well?” said Mrs. Demorest, with repressed impatience. + </p> + <p> + “It is equally evident, Joan, that this stranger is a man who does not + dare to approach your friend in her own house, nor more openly in this; + but who, with her connivance, uses us to carry on an intrigue which may be + perfectly innocent, but is certainly compromising to all concerned. I am + quite willing to believe that Dona Rosita is only romantic and reckless, + but that will not prevent her from becoming a dupe of some rascal who dare + not face us openly, and who certainly does not act as her equal.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Rosita is no chicken, and you are not her guardian.” + </p> + <p> + There was a vague heartlessness, more in her voice than in her words, that + touched him as her cold indifference to himself had never done, and for an + instant stung his crushed spirit to revolt. “No” he said, sternly, “but I + am her father's FRIEND, and I shall not allow his daughter to be + compromised under my roof.” + </p> + <p> + Her eyes sprang up to meet his in hatred as promptly as they once had met + in love. “And since when, Richard Demorest, have you become so + particular?” she began, with dry asperity. “Since you lured ME from the + side of my wedded husband? Since you met ME clandestinely in trains and + made love to ME under an assumed name? Since you followed ME to my house + under the pretext of being my husband's friend, and forced me—yes, + forced me—to see you secretly under my mother's roof? Did you think + of compromising ME then? Did you think of ruining my reputation, of + driving my husband from his home in despair? Did you call yourself a + rascal then? Did you—” + </p> + <p> + “Stop!” he said, in a voice that shook the rafters; “I command you, stop!” + </p> + <p> + She had gradually worked herself from a deliberately insulting precision + into an hysterical, and it is to be feared a virtuous, conviction of her + wrongs. Beginning only with the instinct to taunt and wound the man before + her, she had been led by a secret consciousness of something else he did + not know to anticipate his reproach and justify herself in a wild feminine + abandonment of emotion. But she stopped at his words. For a moment she was + even thrilled again by the strength and imperiousness she had loved. + </p> + <p> + They were facing each other after five years of mistaken passion, even as + they had faced each other that night in her mother's kitchen. But the + grave of that dead passion yawned between them. It was Joan who broke the + silence, that after her single outburst seemed to fill and oppress the + room. + </p> + <p> + “As far as Rosita is concerned,” she said, with affected calmness, “she is + going to-night. And you probably will not be troubled any longer by your + mysterious visitor.” + </p> + <p> + Whether he heeded the sarcastic significance of her last sentence, or even + heard her at all, he did not reply. For a moment he turned his blazing + eyes full upon her, and then without a word strode from the room. + </p> + <p> + She walked to the door and stood uneasily listening in the passage until + she heard the clatter of hoofs in the paved patio, and knew that he had + ordered his horse. Then she turned back relieved to her room. + </p> + <p> + It was already sunset when Demorest drew rein again at the entrance of the + corral, and the last stroke of the Angelus was ringing from the Mission + tower. He looked haggard and exhausted, and his horse was flecked with + foam and dirt. Wherever he had been, or for what object, or whether, + objectless and dazed, he had simply sought to lose himself in aimlessly + wandering over the dry yellow hills or in careering furiously among his + own wild cattle on the arid, brittle plain; whether he had beaten all + thought from his brain with the jarring leap of his horse, or whether he + had pursued some vague and elusive determination to his own door, is not + essential to this brief chronicle. Enough that when he dismounted he drew + a pistol from his holster and replaced it in his pocket. + </p> + <p> + He had just pushed open the gate of the corral as he led in his horse by + the bridle, when he noticed another horse tethered among some cotton woods + that shaded the outer wall of his garden. As he gazed, the figure of a man + swung lightly from one of the upper boughs of a cotton-wood on the wall + and disappeared on the other side. It was evidently the clandestine + visitor. Demorest was in no mood for trifling. Hurriedly driving his horse + into the enclosure with a sharp cut of his riata, he closed the gate upon + him, slipped past the intervening space into the patio, and then unnoticed + into the upper part of the garden. Taking a narrow by-path in the + direction of the cotton woods that could be seen above the wall, he + presently came in sight of the object of his search moving stealthily + towards the house. It was the work of a moment only to dash forward and + seize him, to find himself engaged in a sharp wrestle, to half draw his + pistol as he struggled with his captive in the open. But once in the + clearer light, he started, his grasp of the stranger relaxed, and he fell + back in bewildered terror. + </p> + <p> + “Edward Blandford! Good God!” + </p> + <p> + The pistol had dropped from his hand as he leaned breathless against a + tree. The stranger kicked the weapon contemptuously aside. Then quietly + adjusting his disordered dress, and picking the brambles from his sleeve, + he said with the same air of disdain, “Yes! Edward Blandford, whom you + thought dead! There! I'm not a ghost—though you tried to make me one + this time,” he said, pointing to the pistol. + </p> + <p> + Demorest passed his hand across his white face. “Then it's you—and + you have come here for—for—Joan?” + </p> + <p> + “For Joan?” echoed Blandford, with a quick scornful laugh, that made the + blood flow back into Demorest's face as from a blow, and recalled his + scattered senses. “For Joan,” he repeated. “Not much!” + </p> + <p> + The two men were facing each other in irreconcilable yet confused + antagonism. Both were still excited and combative from their late physical + struggle, but with feelings so widely different that it would have been + impossible for either to have comprehended the other. In the figure that + had apparently risen from the dead to confront him, Demorest only saw the + man he had unconsciously wronged—the man who had it in his power to + claim Joan and exact a terrible retribution! But it was part of this + monstrous and irreconcilable situation that Blandford had ceased to + contemplate it, and in his preoccupation only saw the actual interference + of a man whom he no longer hated, but had begun to pity and despise. + </p> + <p> + He glanced coolly around him. “Whatever we've got to say to each other,” + he said deliberately, “had better not be overheard. At least what I have + got to say to you.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> + <p> + Demorest, now as self-possessed as his adversary, haughtily waved his hand + towards the path. They walked on in silence, without even looking at each + other, until they reached a small summer-house that stood in the angle of + the wall. Demorest entered. “We cannot be heard here,” he said curtly. + </p> + <p> + “And we can see what is going on. Good,” said Blandford, coolly following + him. The summer-house contained a bench and a table. Blandford seated + himself on the bench. Demorest remained standing beside the table. There + was a moment's silence. + </p> + <p> + “I came here with no desire to see you or avoid you,” said Blandford, with + cold indifference. “A few weeks ago I might perhaps have avoided you, for + your own sake. But since then I have learned that among the many things I + owe to—to your wife is the fact that five years ago she secretly + DIVORCED ME, and that consequently my living presence could neither be a + danger nor a menace to you. I see,” he added, dryly, with a quick glance + at Demorest's horror-stricken face, “that I was also told the truth when + they said you were as ignorant of the divorce as I was.” + </p> + <p> + He stopped, half in pity of his adversary's shame, half in surprise of his + own calmness. Five years before, in the tumultuous consciousness of his + wrongs, he would have scarcely trusted himself face to face with the + cooler and more self-controlled Demorest. He wondered at and partly + admired his own coolness now, in the presence of his enemy's confusion. + </p> + <p> + “As your mind is at rest on that point,” he continued, sarcastically, “I + don't suppose you care to know what became of ME when I left North + Liberty. But as it happens to have something to do with my being here + to-night, and is a part of my business with you, you'll have to listen to + it. Sit down! Very well, then—stand up! It's your own house.” + </p> + <p> + His half cynical, wholly contemptuous ignoring of the real issue between + them was more crushing to Demorest than the keenest reproach or most + tragic outburst. He did not lift his eyes as Blandford resumed in a dry, + business-like way: + </p> + <p> + “When I came across the plains to California, I fell in with a man about + my own age—an emigrant also. I suppose I looked and acted like a + crazy fool through all the journey, for he satisfied himself that I had + some secret reason for leaving the States, and suspected that I was, like + himself—a criminal. I afterwards learned that he was an escaped + thief and assassin. Well, he played upon me all the way here, for I didn't + care to reveal my real trouble to him, lest it should get back to North + liberty—” He interrupted himself with a sarcastic laugh. “Of course, + you understand that all this while Joan was getting her divorce unknown to + me, and you were marrying her—yet as I didn't know anything about it + I let him compromise me to save her. But”—he stopped, his eye + kindled, and, losing his self-control in what to Demorest seemed some + incoherent passion, went on excitedly: “that man continued his persecution + HERE—yes, HERE, in this very house, where I was a trusted and + honored guest, and threatened to expose me to a pure, innocent, simple + girl who had taken pity on me—unless I helped him in a conspiracy of + cattle-stealers and road agents, of which he was chief. I was such a + cursed sentimental fool then, that believing him capable of doing this, + believing myself still the husband of that woman, your wife, and to spare + that innocent girl the shame of thinking me a villain, I purchased his + silence by consenting. May God curse me for it!” + </p> + <p> + He had started to his feet with flashing eyes, and the indication of an + overmastering passion that to Demorest, absorbed only in the stupefying + revelation of his wife's divorce and the horrible doubt it implied, seemed + utterly vacant and unmeaning. + </p> + <p> + He had often dreamed of Blandford as standing before him, reproachful, + indignant, and even desperate over his wife's unfaithfulness; but this + insane folly and fury over some trivial wrong done to that plump, + baby-faced, flirting Dona Rosita, crushed him by its unconscious but + degrading obliteration of Joan and himself more than the most violent + denunciation. Dazed and bewildered, yet with the instinct of a helpless + man, he clung only to that part of Blandford's story which indicated that + he had come there for Rosita, and not to separate him from Joan, and even + turned to his former friend with a half-embarrassed gesture of apology as + he stammered— + </p> + <p> + “Then it was YOU who were Rosita's lover, and you who have been here to + see her. Forgive me, Ned—if I had only known it.” He stopped and + timidly extended his hand. But Blandford put it aside with a cold gesture + and folded his arms. + </p> + <p> + “You have forgotten all you ever knew of me, Demorest! I am not in the + habit of making clandestine appointments with helpless women whose natural + protectors I dare not face. I have never pursued an innocent girl to the + house I dared not enter. When I found that I could not honorably retain + Dona Rosita's affection, I fled her roof. When I believed that even if I + broke with this scoundrel—as I did—I was still legally if not + morally tied to your wife, and could not marry Rosita, I left her never to + return. And I tore my heart out to do it.” + </p> + <p> + The tears were standing in his eyes. Demorest regarded him again with + vacant wonder. Tears!—not for Joan's unfaithfulness to him—but + for this silly girl's transitory sentimentalism. It was horrible! + </p> + <p> + And yet what was Joan to Blandford now? Why should he weep for the woman + who had never loved him—whom he loved no longer? The woman who had + deceived him—who had deceived them BOTH. Yes! for Joan must have + suspected that Blandford was living to have sought her secret divorce—and + yet she had never told him—him—the man for whom she got it. + Ah! he must not forget THAT! It was to marry him that she had taken that + step. It was perhaps a foolish caution—a mistaken reservation; but + it was the folly—the mistake of a loving woman. He hugged this + belief the closer, albeit he was conscious at the same time of following + Blandford's story of his alienated affection with a feeling of wonder and + envy. + </p> + <p> + “And what was the result of this touching sacrifice?” continued Blandford, + trying to resume his former cynical indifference. “I'll tell you. This + scoundrel set himself about to supplant me. Taking advantage of my + absence, his knowledge that her affection for me was heightened by the + mystery of my life, and trusting to profit by a personal resemblance he is + said to bear to me, he began to haunt her. Lately he has grown bolder, and + he dared even to communicate with her here. For it is he,” he continued, + again giving way to his passion, “this dog, this sneaking coward, who + visits the place unknown to you, and thinks to entrap the poor girl + through her memory of me. And it is he that I came here to prevent, to + expose—if necessary to kill! Don't misunderstand me. I have made + myself a deputy of the law for that purpose. I've a warrant in my pocket, + and I shall take him, this mongrel, half-breed Cherokee Bob, by fair means + or foul!” + </p> + <p> + The energy and presence of his passion was so infectious that it + momentarily swept away Demorest's doubts of the past. “And I will help + you, before God, Blandford,” he said eagerly. “And Joan shall, too. She + will find out from Rosita how far—” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” interrupted Blandford, dryly; “but your wife has already + interfered in this matter, to my cost. It is to her, I believe, I owe this + wretch's following Rosita here. She already knows this man—has met + him twice in San Francisco; he even boasts of YOUR jealousy. You know best + how far he lied.” + </p> + <p> + But Demorest had braced himself against the chill sensation that had begun + to creep over him as Blandford spoke. He nerved himself and said, proudly, + “I forbade her knowing him on account of his reputation solely. I have no + reason to believe she has ever even wished to disobey me.” + </p> + <p> + A smile of scorn that had kindled in Blandford's eyes, darkened with a + swift shadow of compassion as he glanced at Demorest's hard, ashen face. + He held out his hand with a sudden impulse. “Enough, I accept your offer, + and shall put it to the test this very night. I know—if you do not—that + Rosita is to leave here for Los Osos an hour from now in a private + carriage, which your wife has ordered especially for her. The same + information tells me that this villain and another of his gang will be in + wait for the carriage three miles out of the pueblo to attack it and carry + off the young girl.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you mad!” said Demorest, in unfeigned amazement. “Do you believe them + capable of attacking a private carriage and carrying off a solitary, + defenceless woman? Come, Blandford, this is a school-girl romance—not + an act of mercenary highwaymen—least of all Cherokee Bob and his + gang. This is some madness of Rosita's, surely,” he continued with a + forced laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Does this mean that you think better of your promise?” asked Blandford, + dryly. + </p> + <p> + “I said I was at your service,” said Demorest, reproachfully. + </p> + <p> + “Then hear my plan to prevent it, and yet take that dog in the act,” said + Blandford. “But we must first wait here till the last moment to ascertain + if he makes any signal to show that his plan is altered, or that he has + discovered he is watched.” He turned, and in his preoccupation laid his + hand for an instant upon Demorest's shoulder with the absent familiarity + of old days. Unconscious as the action was, it thrilled them both—from + its very unconsciousness—and impelled them to throw themselves into + the new alliance with such feverish and excited activity in order to + preclude any dangerous alien reflection, that when they rose a few moments + later and cautiously left the garden arm-in-arm through the outer gates, + no one would have believed they had ever been estranged, least of all the + clever woman who had separated them. + </p> + <p> + It was nearly nine o'clock when the two friends, accompanied by the + sheriff of the county, left San Buenaventura turnpike and turned into a + thicket of alders to wait the coming of the carriage they were to + henceforth follow cautiously and unseen in a parallel trail to the main + road. The moon had risen, and with it the long withheld wind that now + swept over the distant stretch of gleaming road and partly veiled it at + times with flying dust unchecked by any dew from the clear cold sky. + Demorest shivered even with his ready hand on his revolver. Suddenly the + sheriff uttered an exclamation of disgust. + </p> + <p> + “Blasted if thar ain't some one in the road between us and their ambush.” + </p> + <p> + “It's one of their gang—scouting. Lie close.” + </p> + <p> + “Scout be darned. Look at him bucking round there in the dust. He can't + even ride! It's some blasted greenhorn taking a pasear on a hoss for the + first time. Damnation! he's ruined everything. They'll take the alarm.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll push on and clear him out,” said Blandford, excitedly. “Even if + they're off, I may yet get a shot at the Cherokee.” + </p> + <p> + “Quick then,” said Demorest, “for here comes the carriage.” He pointed to + a dark spot on the road occasionally emerging from the driven dust clouds. + </p> + <p> + In another moment Blandford was at the heels of the awkward horseman, who + wheeled clumsily at his approach and revealed the lank figure of Ezekiel + Corwin! + </p> + <p> + “You here!” said Blandford, in stupefied fury. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, yes, squire,” said Ezekiel lazily, in spite of his uneasy seat. “I + kalkilated ef there was suthin' goin' on, I'd like to see it.” + </p> + <p> + “You cursed prying fool! you've spoiled all. There!” he shouted + despairingly, as the quick clatter of hoofs rang from the arroyo behind + them, “there they go! That's your work, blockhead! Out of my way, or by + God—” but the sentence was left unfinished as, joined by the + sheriff, who had galloped up at the sound of the robbers' flight, he + darted past the unconcerned Ezekiel. Demorest would have followed, but + Blandford, with a warning cry to him to remain and protect the carriage, + halted him at the side of Corwin as the vehicle now rapidly approached. + </p> + <p> + But Ezekiel was before him even then, and as the driver pulled up, that + inquiring man tumbled from his horse, ran to the door and opened it. + Demorest rode up, glanced into the carriage, and fell back in blank + amazement. + </p> + <p> + It was his wife who was sitting there alone, pale, erect, and beautiful. + By some illusion of the moonlight, her face and figure, covered with soft + white wrappings for a journey, looked as he remembered to have seen her + the first night they had met in the Boston train. The picture was + completed by the traveling bag and rug that lay on the seat before her. + Another terrible foreboding seized him; his brain reeled. Was he going + mad? + </p> + <p> + “Joan!” he stammered. “You? What is the meaning of this?” + </p> + <p> + Ezekiel whom but for his dazed condition he might have seen violently + contorting his features in Joan's face, presumably in equal astonishment—broke + into a series of discordant chuckles. + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, ef that ain't Deacon Salisbury's darter all over. Ha! Here are ye + two men folks makin' no end o' fuss to save that Mexican gal with pistols + and ambushes and plots and counterplots, and yer's Joan Salisbury shows ye + the way ha'ow to do it. And so, ma'am, you succeeded in fixin' it up with + Dona Rosita to take her place and just sell them robbers cheap! Wa'al, + ma'am, yer sold this yer party, too—for”—he advanced his face + close to hers—“I never let on a word, though I knew it, and although + they nearly knocked me off my hoss in their fuss and fury. Ha! ha! They + wanted to know what I was doin' here, he-he! Tell 'em, Joan, tell 'em.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest gazed from one to another with a troubled face, yet one on which + a faint relief was breaking. + </p> + <p> + “What does he mean, Joan? Speak,” he said, almost imploringly. + </p> + <p> + Joan, whose color was slightly returning, drew herself up with her old + cold Puritan precision. + </p> + <p> + “After the scene you made this morning, Richard, when you chose to accuse + your wife of unfaithfulness to her friend, her guest, and even your + reputation, I resolved to go myself with Dona Rosita to Los Osos and + explain the matter to her father. Some rumor of the ridiculous farce I + have just witnessed reached us through Ezekiel, and frightened the poor + girl so that she declined—and properly, too to face the hoax which + you and some nameless impersonator of a disgraced fugitive have gotten up + for purposes of your own! I wish you joy of your work! If the play is over + now, I presume I may be allowed to proceed on my journey?” + </p> + <p> + “Not yet,” said Demorest slowly, with a face over which the chasing doubts + had at last settled in a grayish pallor. “Believe what you like, + misunderstand me if you will, laugh at the danger you perhaps comprehend + better than I do, but upon this road, wherever or to whatever it was + leading you—to-night you go no further!” + </p> + <p> + “Then I suppose I may return home,” she said coldly. “Ezekiel will + accompany me back to protect me from—robbers. Come, Ezekiel. Mr. + Demorest and his friends can be safely trusted to take care of—your + horse.” + </p> + <p> + And as the grinning Ezekiel sprang into the carriage beside her, she + pulled up the glass in the fateful and set face of her once trusting + husband; the carriage turned and drove off, leaving him like a statue in + the road. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + The bell of the North Liberty Second Presbyterian Church had just ceased + ringing. But in the last five years it had rung out the bass viol and + harmonium, and rung in an organ and choir; and the old austere interior + had been subjected at the hands of the rising generation to an invasion of + youthful warmth and color. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the + choir itself, where the bright spring sunshine, piercing a newly-opened + stained-glass window, picked out the new spring bonnet of Mrs. Demorest + and settled upon it during the singing of the hymn. Perhaps that was the + reason why a few eyes were curiously directed in that direction, and that + even the minister himself strayed from the precise path of doctrine to + allude with ecclesiastical vagueness to certain shining examples of the + Christian virtues that were “again in our midst.” The shrewd face and + white eyelashes of Ezekiel Corwin, junior partner in the firm of Dilworth + & Dusenberry, of San Francisco, were momentarily raised towards the + choir, and then relapsed into an expression of fatigued + self-righteousness. + </p> + <p> + When the service was over a few worshipers lingered near the choir + staircase, mindful of the spring bonnet. + </p> + <p> + “It looks quite nat'ral,” said Deacon Fairchild, “ter see Joan Salisbury + attendin' the ministration of the Word agin. And I ain't sorry she didn't + bring that second husband of hers with her. It kinder looks like old times—afore + Edward Blandford was gathered to the Lord.” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” replied his auditor meekly, “and they do say ez ha'ow + Demorest got more powerful worldly and unregenerate in that heathen + country, and that Joan ez a professin' Christian had to leave him. I've + heerd tell thet he'd got mixed up, out thar, with some half-breed outlaw, + of the name o' Johnson, ez hez a purty, high-flyin' Mexican wife. It was + fort'nit for Joan that she found a friend in grace in Brother Corwin to + look arter her share in the property and bring her back tu hum.” + </p> + <p> + “She's lookin' peart,” said Sister Bradley, “though to my mind that bonnet + savors still o' heathen vanities.” + </p> + <p> + “Et's the new idees—crept in with that organ,” groaned Deacon + Fairchild; “but—sho—thar she comes.” + </p> + <p> + She shone for an instant—a charming vision—out of the shadow + of the choir stairs, and then glided primly into the street. + </p> + <p> + The old sexton, still in waiting with his hand on the half-closed door, + paused and looked after her with a troubled brow. A singular and utterly + incomprehensible recollection and resemblance had just crossed his mind. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Argonauts of North Liberty, by Bret Harte + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARGONAUTS OF NORTH LIBERTY *** + +***** This file should be named 2703-h.htm or 2703-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/0/2703/ + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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