the argonauts of north liberty-第12部分

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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。

〃Do　tell　it；〃　said　Joan；　〃I　don't　mind　hearing　it　again。〃

〃Then　you　know　it　already？〃　said　Demorest；　surprised。

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。

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　thenit　was　when　the　first　Americans
camenow　it　is　different。　　Then　there　were　no　coachesin　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　thenfor　why？
They　were　always　going；　goingnever　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
wagonshurrying；　pushing　everywhere。　　Ah；　it　took　away　the　breath。
All；　except　one　Americanhe　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　Rositaah；　well；　yes　trulya　leetle。

〃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　andyeshaving　a　devotionvery
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。〃

〃I　see　it　all；〃　said　Demorest；　half　seriously：　〃you　were　coquetting
with　him；　and　he　was　jealous。〃

But　Dona　Rosita　shook　her　head　and　turned　impetuously；　and　said　in
English　to　Joan：

〃No；　it　was　astutciaa　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。〃

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：

〃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〃

〃Senor　who？〃　said　Demorest。

〃Huansoneet　is　the　name　of　him。　　Ah；　Carr！posiblemente　it　is
nothinga　Don　Fulanoor　an　apodoHuanson。〃

〃Oh；　I　see；　JOHNSON；　very　likely。〃

〃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〃

〃Johnson；〃　interrupted　Demorest。

〃No；〃　said　Dona　Rosita　in　grave　triumph；　〃he　say　Essmith。　　For　this
Essmith　is　like　Huansonan　apodonothing。〃

〃Then　you　really　think　this　man　was　your　old　friend？〃　asked
Demorest。

〃I　think。〃

〃And　that　he　was　a　robber　even　when　living　hereand　that　it　was
not　your　cruelty　that　really　drove　him　to　take　the　road？〃

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。〃

〃But　you　might　have　reformed　him　in　time；〃　said　Demorest。

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　whileperhaps　to…
morrowhe　will　restore。'　　No；〃　she　continued；　with　an　air　of
infinite　conviction；　〃it　is　not　good　for　the　menagethe　necessity
of　those　explanation。〃

〃You　told　me　he　was　handsome；〃　said　Joan；　passing　her　arm
carelessly　around　Dona　Rosita's　comfortable　waist。　　〃How　did　he
look？〃

〃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　soso　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　finishAdelante！　　Dr…rrive　on！〃

〃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。〃

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？〃

〃Never。〃

〃I　shouldat　least；　I　wouldn't　have　let　it　end　in　THAT　way；〃　said
Joan　in　a　positive　whisper。

〃Eh？〃　said　Dona　Rosita；　laughing。　　〃So　eet　is　YOU；　Juanita；　that
have　the　romanceeh？　　Ah；　bueno！　'you　have　the　houseso　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。

〃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。

〃I　show　dislike　of　Dona　Rosita？〃　stammered　Demor