on the frontier-第16部分

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corroboration　of　her　husband's　shame　and　her　own　disgrace。　　This

was　why　she　was　brought　hitherthe　deserted　wife；　and　abandoned

confederate！　　The　mocking　glitter　of　the　concave　vault　above　her；

scoured　by　the　incessant　wind；　the　cold　stare　of　the　shining　pools

beyond；　the　hard　outlines　of　the　Coast　Range；　and　the　jarring

accompaniment　of　her　horse's　hoofs　and　rattling　buggy　wheels

alternately　goaded　and　distracted　her。　　She　found　herself　repeating

〃No！　no！　no！〃　with　the　dogged　reiteration　of　fever。　　She　scarcely

knew　when　or　how　she　reached　the　hacienda。　　She　was　only　conscious

that　as　she　entered　the　patio　the　dusty　solitude　that　had　before

filled　her　with　unrest　now　came　to　her　like　balm。　　A　benumbing

peace　seemed　to　fall　from　the　crumbling　walls；　the　peace　of　utter

seclusion；　isolation；　oblivion；　death！　　Nevertheless；　an　hour

later；　when　the　jingle　of　spurs　and　bridle　were　again　heard　in　the

road；　she　started　to　her　feet　with　bent　brows　and　a　kindling　eye；

and　confronted　Captain　Poindexter　in　the　corridor。



〃I　would　not　have　intruded　upon　you　so　soon　again；〃　he　said

gravely；　〃but　I　thought　I　might　perhaps　spare　you　a　repetition　of

the　scene　of　this　morning。　　Hear　me　out；　please；〃　he　added；　with　a

gentle；　half…deprecating　gesture；　as　she　lifted　the　beautiful　scorn

of　her　eyes　to　his。　　〃I　have　just　heard　that　your　neighbor；　Don

Jose　Santierra；　of　Los　Gatos；　is　on　his　way　to　this　house。　　He　once

claimed　this　land；　and　hated　your　husband；　who　bought　of　the　rival

claimant；　whose　grant　was　confirmed。　　I　tell　you　this；〃　he　added；

slightly　flushing　as　Mrs。　Tucker　turned　impatiently　away；　〃only　to

show　you　that　legally　he　has　no　rights；　and　you　need　not　see　him

unless　you　choose。　　I　could　not　stop　his　coming　without　perhaps

doing　you　more　harm　than　good；　but　when　he　does　come；　my　presence

under　this　roof　as　your　legal　counsel　will　enable　you　to　refer　him

to　me。〃　　He　stopped。　　She　was　pacing　the　corridor　with　short；

impatient　steps；　her　arms　dropped；　and　her　hands　clasped　rigidly

before　her。　　〃Have　I　your　permission　to　stay？〃



She　suddenly　stopped　in　her　walk；　approached　him　rapidly；　and

fixing　her　eyes　on　his；　said；



〃Do　I　know　ALL；　noweverything？〃



He　could　only　reply　that　she　had　not　yet　told　him　what　she　had

heard。



〃Well；〃　she　said　scornfully；　〃that　my　husband　has　been　cruelly

imposed　uponimposed　upon　by　some　wretched　woman；　who　has　made　him

sacrifice　his　property；　his　friends；　his　honoreverything　but　me？〃



〃Everything　but　whom？〃　gasped　Poindexter。



〃But　ME！〃



Poindexter　gazed　at　the　sky；　the　air；　the　deserted　corridor；　the

stones　of　the　patio　itself；　and　then　at　the　inexplicable　woman

before　him。　　Then　he　said　gravely；　〃I　think　you　know　everything。〃



〃Then　if　my　husband　has　left　me　all　he　couldthis　property；〃　she

went　on　rapidly；　twisting　her　handkerchief　between　her　fingers；　〃I

can　do　with　it　what　I　like；　can't　I？〃



〃You　certainly　can。〃



〃Then　sell　it；〃　she　said；　with　passionate　vehemence。　　〃Sell　it

all！　everything！　　And　sell　these。〃　　She　darted　into　her　bedroom；

and　returned　with　the　diamond　rings　she　had　torn　from　her　fingers

and　ears　when　she　entered　the　house。　　〃Sell　them　for　anything

they'll　bring；　only　sell　them　at　once。〃



〃But　for　what？〃　asked　Poindexter；　with　demure　lips　but　twinkling

eyes。



〃To　pay　the　debts　that　thisthiswoman　has　led　him　into；　to

return　the　money　she　has　stolen！〃　she　went　on　rapidly；　〃to　keep　him

from　sharing　her　infamy！　　Can't　you　understand？〃



〃But；　my　dear　madam；〃　began　Poindexter；　〃even　if　this　could　be

done〃



〃Don't　tell　me　'if　it　could'it　MUST　be　done。　　Do　you　think　I

could　sleep　under　this　roof；　propped　up　by　the　timbers　of　that

ruined　tienda？　　Do　you　think　I　could　wear　those　diamonds　again；

while　that　termagant　shop…woman　can　say　that　her　money　bought　them？

No。　　If　you　are　my　husband's　friend　you　will　do　thisforfor　his

sake。〃　　She　stopped；　locked　and　interlocked　her　cold　fingers　before

her；　and　said；　hesitating　and　mechanically；　〃You　meant　well；

Captain　Poindexter；　in　bringing　me　here；　I　know！　　You　must　not

think　that　I　blame　you　for　it；　or　for　the　miserable　result　of　it

that　you　have　just　witnessed。　　But　if　I　have　gained　anything　by　it；

for　God's　sake　let　me　reap　it　quickly；　that　I　may　give　it　to　these

people　and　go！　　I　have　a　friend　who　can　aid　me　to　get　to　my　husband

or　to　my　home　in　Kentucky；　where　Spencer　will　yet　find　me；　I　know。

I　want　nothing　more。〃　　She　stopped　again。　　With　another　woman　the

pause　would　have　been　one　of　tears。　　But　she　kept　her　head　above

the　flood　that　filled　her　heart；　and　the　clear　eyes　fixed　upon

Poindexter；　albeit　pained；　were　undimmed。



〃But　this　would　require　time；〃　said　Poindexter；　with　a　smile　of

compassionate　explanation；　〃you　could　not　sell　now；　nobody　would

buy。　　You　are　safe　to　hold　this　property　while　you　are　in　actual

possession；　but　you　are　not　strong　enough　to　guarantee　it　to

another。　　There　may　still　be　litigation；　your　husband　has　other

creditors　than　these　people　you　have　talked　with。　　But　while　nobody

could　oust　youthe　wife　who　would　have　the　sympathies　of　judge　and

juryit　might　be　a　different　case　with　any　one　who　derived　title

from　you。　　Any　purchaser　would　know　that　you　could　not　sell；　or　if

you　did；　it　would　be　at　a　ridiculous　sacrifice。〃



She　listened　to　him　abstractedly；　walked　to　the　end　of　the

corridor；　returned；　and　without　looking　up；　said；



〃I　suppose　you　know　her？〃



〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃



〃This　woman。　　You　have　seen　her？〃



〃Never；　to　my　knowledge。〃



〃And　you　are　his　friend！　　That's　strange。〃　　She　raised　her　eyes　to

his。　　〃Well；〃　she　continued　impatiently；　〃who　is　she？　and　what　is

she？　　You　know　that　surely？〃



〃I　know　no　more　of　her　than　what　I　have　said；〃　said　Poindexter。

〃She　is　a　notorious　woman。〃



The　swift　color　came　to　Mrs。　Tucker's　face　as　if　the　epithet　had

been　applied　to　herself。　　〃I　suppose；〃　she　said　in　a　dry　voice；　as

if　she　were　asking　a　business　question；　but　with　an　eye　that　showed

her　rising　anger；〃I　suppose　there　is　some　law　by　which　creatures

of　this　kind　can　be　followed　and　brought　to　justicesome　law　that

would　keep　innocent　people　from　suffering　for　their　crimes？〃



〃I　am　afraid；〃　said　Poindexter；　〃that　arresting　her　would　hardly

help　these　people　over　in　the　tienda。〃



〃I　am　not　speaking　of　them；〃　responded　Mrs。　Tucker；　with　a　sudden

sublime　contempt　for　the　people　whose　cause　she　had　espoused：　〃I　am

talking　of　my　husband。〃



Poindexter　bit　his　lip。　　〃You'd　hardly　think　of　bringing　back　the

strongest　witness　against　him；〃　he　said　bluntly。



Mrs。　Tucker　dropped　her　eyes　and　was　silent。　　A　sudden　shame

suffused　Poindexter's　cheek；　he　felt　as　if　he　had　struck　that　woman

a　blow。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said　hastily；　〃I　am　talking　like　a

lawyer　to　a　lawyer。〃　　He　would　have　taken　any　other　woman　by　the

hand　in　the　honest　fullness　of　his　apology；　but　something

restrained　him　here。　　He　only　looked　down　gently　on　her　lowered

lashes；　and　repeated　his　question　if　he　should　remain　during　the

coming　interview　with　Don　Jose：　〃I　must　beg　you　to　determine

quickly；〃　he　added；　〃for　I　already　hear　him　entering　the　gate。〃



〃Stay；〃　said　Mrs。　Tucker；　as　the　ringing　of　spurs　and　clatter　of

hoofs　came　from　the　corral。　　〃One　moment。〃　　She　looked　up　suddenly；

and　said；　〃How　long　had　he　known　her？〃　　But　before　he　could　reply

there　was　a　step　in　the　doorway；　and　the　figure　of　Don　Jose

Santierra　emerged　from　the　archway。



He　was　a　man　slightly　past　middle　age；　fair　and　well　shaven；

wearing　a　black　broadcloth　serape；　the　deeply　embroidered　opening

of　which　formed　a　collar　of　silver　rays　around　his　neck；　while　a

row　of　silver　buttons　down　the　side　seams　of　his　riding　trousers；

and　silver　spurs；　completed　his　singular　equipment。　　Mrs。　Tucker's

swift　feminine　glance　took　in　these　details；　as　well　as　the　deep

salutation；　more　formal　than　the　exuberant　frontier　politeness　she

was　accustomed　to；　with　which　he　greeted　her。　　It　was　enough　to

arrest　her　first　impulse　to　retreat。　　She　hesitated　and　stopped　as

Poindexter　stepped　forward；　partly　interposing　between　them；

acknowledging　Don　Jose's　distant　recognition　of　himself　with　an

ironical　accession　of　his　usual　humorous　tolerance。　　The　Spaniard

did　not　seem　to　notice　it；　but　remained　gravely　silent　before　Mrs。

Tucker；　gazing　at　her　with　an　expression　of　intent　and　unconscious

absorption。



〃You　are　quite　right；　Don　Jose；〃　said　Poindexter；　with　ironical

concern；　〃it　is　Mrs。　Tucker。　　Your　eyes　do　NOT　deceive　you。　　She

will　be　glad　to　do　the　honors　of　her　house；〃　he　continued；　with　a

simulation　of　appealing　to　her；　〃unless　you　visit　her　on　business；

when　I　need　not　say　I　shall　be　only　too　happy；　to　attend　you；　as

before。〃



Don　Jose；　with　a　slight　lifting　of　the　eyebrows；　allowed　himself　to

become　conscious　of　the　lawyer's　meaning。　　〃It　is　not　of　business

that　I　come　to　kiss　the　Senora's　hand　to…day；〃　he　replied；　with　a

melancholy　softness；　〃it　is　as　her　neighbor；　to　put　myself　at　her

disposition。　　Ah！　the　what　have　we　here　for　a　lady？〃　he　continued；

raising　his　eyes　in　deprecation　of　the　surroundings；　〃a　house　of

nothing；　a　place　of　winds　and　dry　bones；　without　refreshments；　or

satisfaction；　or　delicacy。　　The　Senora　will　not　refuse　to　make　us

proud　this　day　to　send　her　of　that　which　we　have　in　our　poor　home

at　Los　Gatos；　to　make　her　more　complete。　　Of　what　shall　it　be？　　Let

her　make　choice。　　Or　if　she　would　commemorate　this　day　by　accepting

of　our　hospitality　at　Los　Gatos；　until　she　shall　arrange　herself

the　more　to　receive　us　here；　we　shall　have　too　much　honor。〃



〃The　Senora　would　only　find　it　the　more　difficult　to　return　to　this

humble　roof　again；　after　once　leaving　it　for　Don　Jose's　hospitality；〃

said　Poindexter；　with　a　demure　glance　at　Mrs。　Tucker。　　But　the

innuendo　seemed　to　lapse　equally　unheeded　by　his　fair　client　and

the　stranger。　　Rai