the crusade of the excelsior-第31章

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The　color　had　quite　returned　to　her　cheek　as　she　leant　on　his

proffered　arm。　　Yet　perhaps　she　was　really　weaker　than　she　knew；

for　he　felt　the　soft　pressure　of　her　hand　and　the　gentle

abandonment　of　her　figure　against　his　own　as　they　moved　on。　　But

for　some　preoccupying　thought；　he　might　have　yielded　more

completely　to　the　pleasure　of　that　innocent　contact　and　have　drawn

her　closer　towards　him；　yet　they　moved　steadily　on；　he　contenting

himself　from　time　to　time　with　a　hurried　glance　at　the　downcast

fringes　of　the　eyes　beside　him。　　Presently　he　stopped；　his

attention　disturbed　by　what　appeared　to　be　the　fluttering　of　a

black…winged；　red…crested　bird；　in　the　bushes　before　him。　　The　next

moment　he　discovered　it　to　be　the　rose…covered　head　of　Dona　Isabel；

who　was　running　towards　them。　　Eleanor　withdrew　her　arm　from

Hurlstone's。



〃Ah；　imbecile！〃　said　Dona　Isabel；　pouncing　upon　Eleanor　Keene　like

an　affectionate　panther。　　〃They　have　said　you　were　on　the　seashore；

and　I　fly　for　you　as　a　bird。　　Tell　to　me　quick；〃　she　whispered；

hastily　putting　her　own　little　brown　ear　against　Miss　Keene's

mouth；　〃immediatamente；　are　you　much　happy？〃



〃Where　is　Mr。　Brace？〃　said　Miss　Keene；　trying　to　effect　a

diversion；　as　she　laughed　and　struggled　to　get　free　from　her

tormentor。



〃He；　the　idiot　boy！　　Naturally；　when　he　is　for　use；　he　comes　not。

But　as　a　maniacever！　　I　would　that　I　have　him　no　more。　　You　will

to　me　presently　give　yourbrother！　　I　have　since　to…day　a

presentimiento　that　him　I　shall　love！　　Ah！〃



She　pressed　her　little　brown　fist；　still　tightly　clutching　her　fan；

against　her　low　bodice；　as　if　already　transfixed　with　a　secret　and

absorbing　passion。



〃Well；　you　shall　have　Dick　then；〃　said　Miss　Keene；　laughing；　〃but

was　it　for　THAT　you　were　seeking　me？〃



〃Mother　of　God！　you　know　not　then　what　has　happened？　　You　are　a

blinda　deafto　but　one　thing　all　the　time？　　Ah！〃　she　said

quickly；　unfolding　her　fan　and　modestly　diving　her　little　head

behind　it；　〃I　have　ashamed　for　you；　Miss　Keene。〃



〃But　WHAT　has　happened？〃　said　Hurlstone；　interposing　to　relieve　his

companion。　　〃We　fancied　something〃



〃Something！　he　says　something！ah；　that　something　was　a　temblor！

An　earthquake！　　The　earth　has　shaken　himself。　　Look！〃



She　pointed　with　her　fan　to　the　shore；　where　the　sea　had　suddenly

returned　in　a　turbulence　of　foam　and　billows　that　was　breaking　over

the　base　of　the　cross　they　had　just　quitted。



Miss　Keene　drew　a　quick　sigh。　　Dona　Isabel　had　ducked　again

modestly　behind　her　fan；　but　this　time　dragging　with　her　other　arm

Miss　Keene's　head　down　to　share　its　discreet　shadow　as　she

whispered；



〃Andinfatuated　one！you　two　never　noticed　it！〃





CHAPTER　V。



CLOUDS　AND　CHANGE。





The　earthquake　shock；　although　the　first　experienced　by　the

Americans；　had　been　a　yearly　phenomenon　to　the　people　of　Todos

Santos；　and　was　so　slight　as　to　leave　little　impression　upon　either

the　low　adobe　walls　of　the　pueblo　or　the　indolent　population。　　〃If

it's　a　provision　of　Nature　for　shaking　up　these　Rip　Van　Winkle

Latin　races　now　and　then；　it's　a　dead　failure；　as　far　as　Todos

Santos　is　concerned；〃　Crosby　had　said；　with　a　yawn。　　〃Brace；　who's

got　geology　on　the　brain　ever　since　he　struck　cinnabar　ore；　says　he

isn't　sure　the　Injins　ain't　right　when　they　believe　that　the

Pacific　Ocean　used　to　roll　straight　up　to　the　Presidio；　and　there

wasn't　any　channeland　that　reef　of　rocks　was　upheaved　in　their

time。　　But　what's　the　use　of　it？　it　never　really　waked　them　up。〃

〃Perhaps　they're　waiting　for　another　kind　of　earthquake；〃　Winslow

had　responded　sententiously。



In　six　weeks　it　had　been　forgotten；　except　by　three　peopleMiss

Keene；　James　Hurlstone；　and　Padre　Esteban。　　Since　Hurlstone　had

parted　with　Miss　Keene　on　that　memorable　afternoon　he　had

apparently　lapsed　into　his　former　reserve。　　Without　seeming　to

avoid　her　timid　advances；　he　met　her　seldom；　and　then　only　in　the

presence　of　the　Padre　or　Mrs。　Markham。　　Although　uneasy　at　the

deprivation　of　his　society；　his　present　shyness　did　not　affect　her

as　it　had　done　at　first：　she　knew　it　was　no　longer　indifference；

she　even　fancied　she　understood　it　from　what　had　been　her　own

feelings。　　If　he　no　longer　raised　his　eyes　to　hers　as　frankly　as　he

had　that　day；　she　felt　a　more　delicate　pleasure　in　the

consciousness　of　his　lowered　eyelids　when　they　met；　and　the

instinct　that　told　her　when　his　melancholy　glance　followed　her

unobserved。　　The　sex　of　these　loversif　we　may　call　them　so　who

had　never　exchanged　a　word　of　loveseemed　to　be　changed。　　It　was

Miss　Keene　who　now　sought　him　with　a　respectful　and　frank

admiration；　it　was　Hurlstone　who　now　tried　to　avoid　it　with　a

feminine　dread　of　reciprocal　display。　　Once　she　had　even　adverted

to　the　episode　of　the　cross。　　They　were　standing　under　the　arch　of

the　refectory　door；　waiting　for　Padre　Esteban；　and　looking　towards

the　sea。



〃Do　you　think　we　were　ever　in　any　real　danger；　down　there；　on　the

shorethat　day？〃　she　said　timidly。



〃No；　not　from　the　sea；〃　he　replied；　looking　at　her　with　a　half

defiant　resolution。



〃From　what　then？〃　she　asked；　with　a　naivete　that　was　yet　a　little

conscious。



〃Do　you　remember　the　children　giving　you　their　offerings　that　day？〃

he　asked　abruptly。



〃I　do；〃　she　replied；　with　smiling　eyes。



〃Well；　it　appears　that　it　is　the　custom　for　the　betrothed　couples

to　come　to　the　cross　to　exchange　their　vows。　　They　mistook　us　for

lovers。〃



All　the　instinctive　delicacy　of　Miss　Keene's　womanhood　resented　the

rude　infelicity　of　this　speech　and　the　flippant　manner　of　its

utterance。　　She　did　not　blush；　but　lifted　her　clear　eyes　calmly　to

his。



〃It　was　an　unfortunate　mistake；〃　she　said　coldly；　〃the　more　so　as

they　were　your　pupils。　　Ah！　here　is　Father　Esteban；〃　she　added；

with　a　marked　tone　of　relief；　as　she　crossed　over　to　the　priest's

side。



When　Father　Esteban　returned　to　the　refectory　that　evening；

Hurlstone　was　absent。　　When　it　grew　later；　becoming　uneasy；　the

good　Father　sought　him　in　the　garden。　　At　the　end　of　the　avenue　of

pear…trees　there　was　a　break　in　the　sea…wall；　and　here；　with　his

face　to　the　sea；　Hurlstone　was　leaning　gloomily。　　Father　Esteban's

tread　was　noiseless；　and　he　had　laid　his　soft　hand　on　the　young

man's　shoulder　before　Hurlstone　was　aware　of　his　presence。　　He

started　slightly；　his　gloomy　eyes　fell　before　the　priest's。



〃My　son；〃　said　the　old　man　gravely；　〃this　must　go　on　no　longer。〃



〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　Hurlstone　replied　coldly。



〃Do　not　try　to　deceive　yourself；　nor　me。　　Above　all；　do　not　try　to

deceive　HER。　　Either　you　are　or　are　not　in　love　with　this

countrywoman　of　yours。　　If　you　are　not；　my　respect　for　her　and　my

friendship　for　you　prompts　me　to　save　you　both　from　a　foolish

intimacy　that　may　ripen　into　a　misplaced　affection；　if　you　are

already　in　love　with　her〃



〃I　have　never　spoken　a　word　of　love　to　her！〃　interrupted　Hurlstone

quickly。　　〃I　have　even　tried　to　avoid　her　since〃



〃Since　you　found　that　you　loved　her！　　Ah；　foolish　boy！　and　you

think　that　because　the　lips　speak　not；　the　passions　of　the　heart

are　stilled！　　Do　you　think　your　silence　in　her　presence　is　not　a

protestation　that　she；　even　she；　child　as　she　is；　can　read；　with

the　cunning　of　her　sex？〃



〃Wellif　I　am　in　love　with　her；　what　then？〃　said　Hurlstone

doggedly。　　〃It　is　no　crime　to　love　a　pure　and　simple　girl。　　Am　I

not　free？　　You　yourself；　in　yonder　church；　told　me〃



〃Silence；　Diego；〃　said　the　priest　sternly。　　〃Silence；　before　you

utter　the　thought　that　shall　disgrace　you　to　speak　and　me　to　hear！〃



〃Forgive　me；　Father　Esteban；〃　said　the　young　man　hurriedly；

grasping　both　hands　of　the　priest。　　〃Forgive　meI　am　mad

distractedbut　I　swear　to　you　I　only　meant〃



〃Hush！〃　interrupted　the　priest　more　gently。　　〃So；　that　will　do。〃

He　stopped；　drew　out　his　snuff…box；　rapped　the　lid；　and　took　a

pinch　of　snuff　slowly。　　〃We　will　not　recur　to　that　point。　　Then　you

have　told　her　the　story　of　your　life？〃



〃No；　but　I　will；　She　shall　know　alleverythingbefore　I　utter　a

word　of　love　to　her；〃



〃Ah！　bueno！　muy　bueno！〃　said　the　Padre；　wiping　his　nose

ostentatiously。　　〃Ah！　let　me　see！　　Then；　when　we　have　shown　her

that　we　cannot　possibly　marry　her；　we　will　begin　to　make　love　to

her！　　Eh；　eh！　that　is　the　American　fashion。　　Ah；　pardon！〃　he

continued；　in　response　to　a　gesture　of　protestation　from　Hurlstone；

〃I　am　wrong。　　It　is　when　we　have　told　her　that　we　cannot　marry　her

as　a　Protestant；　that　we　will　make　love　as　a　Catholic。　　Is　that

it？〃



〃Hear　me；〃　said　Hurlstone　passionately。　　〃You　have　saved　me　from

madness　and；　perhaps；　death。　　Your　careyour　kindnessyour

teachings　have　given　me　life　again。　　Don't　blame　me；　Father

Esteban；　if；　in　casting　off　my　old　self；　you　have　given　me　hopes　of

a　new　and　fresher　lifeof〃



〃A　newer　and　fresher　love；　you　would　say；〃　said　the　Padre；　with　a

sad　smile。　　〃Be　it　so。　　You　will　at　least　do　justice　to　the　old

priest；　when　you　remember　that　he　never　pressed　you　to　take　vows

that　would　have　prevented　this　forever。〃



〃I　know　it；〃　said　Hurlstone；　taking　the　old　man's　hand。　　〃And　you

will　remember；　too；　that　I　was　happy　and　contented　before　this　came

upon　me。　　Tell　me　what　I　shall　do。　　Be　my　guidemy　friend；　Father

Esteban。　　Put　me　where　I　was　a　few　months　agobefore　I　learned　to

love　her。〃



〃Do　you　mean　it；　Diego？〃　said　the　old　man；　grasping　his　hand

tightly；　and　fixing　his　eyes　upon　him。



〃I　do。〃



〃Then　listen　to　me；　for　it　is　my　turn　to　speak。　　When；　eight　months

ago；　you　sought　the　shelter　of　that　blessed　roof；　it　was　for　refuge

from　a　woman　that　had　cursed　your　life。　　It　was　given　you。　　You

would　leave　it　now　to　commit　an　act　that　would　bring　another　woman；

as　mad　as　yourself；　clamoring　at　its　doors　for　protection　from　YOU。

For　what　you　are　proposing　to　this　innocent　girl　is　what　you

accepted　from　the　older　and　wickeder　woman。　　You　have　been　cursed

because　a　woman　divided　for　you　what　was　before　God　an　indivisible

right；　and　you；　Diego；　would　now　redivide　that　with　another；　whom

you　dare　to　say　you　LOVE！　　You　would　use　the　opportunity　of　her

helplessness　and　loneliness　here　to　convince　her；　you　would　tempt

her　with　sympathy；　for　she　is　unhappy；　with　companionship；　for　she

has　no　longer　the　world　to　choose　fromwith　everything　that　should

make　her　sacred　from　your　pursuit。〃



〃Enough；〃　said　Hurlstone　hoarsely；　〃say　no　more。　　Only　I　implore

you　tell　me　what　to　do　now　to　save　her。　　I　willif　you　tell　me　to

do　itleave　her　forever。〃



〃Why　should　YOU　go？〃　said　the　priest　quietly。　　〃HER　absence　will　be

sufficient。〃



〃HER　absence？〃　echoed　Hurlstone。



〃Hers　alone。　　The　conditions　that　brought　YOU　here　are　unchanged。

You　are　still　in　need　of　an　asylum　from　the　world　and　the　wife　you

have　repudiated。　　Why　should　you　abandon　it？　　For　the　girl；　there