the argonauts of north liberty-第7部分

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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。

It　was　well　for　him　that　a　fierce　onset　of　wind　and　sleet　at　that
instant　caught　him　savagelystirred　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。

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。　　Killingwhat　was　there　to　kill？
All　that　he　had　to　live　for　had　been　already　slain。　　With　the　love
that　was　in　himin　themalready　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！

For　in　his　first　feverish　flow　of　thoughtthe　reaction　to　his
benumbed　will　within　and　the　beating　sleet　withouthe　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　nowthe
simulated　increase　of　her　aversion　to　Demoresther　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。

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。

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？

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　conceiveof　silly；　vain；　frivolous；　and　abandoned　women
whom　he　had　never　even　met。　　But　JoanO　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'sand　his
first　tears！　　But　the　wind　swept　the　one　away　and　dried　the　others
upon　his　hot　cheeks。

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　manas　a　Christian？　　His
eye　fell　on　the　hideous　facade　of　the　church　he　was　passingher
church！　　He　gave　a　bitter　laugh　and　stumbled　on　again。

With　one　of　the　gusts　he　fancied　he　heard　a　familiar　soundthe
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！

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；
withouthe　had　begun　to　feareven　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。

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。

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。


PART　II

CHAPTER　I


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　throug