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shone　as　clearly　as　in　the　light　of　day；　the　moving　current　of　the

channel　glittered　like　black　pearls；　the　stagnant　pools　like　molten

lead；　but　not　a　sign　of　life　nor　motion　broke　the　monotony　of　the

broad　expanse。　　She　must　have　surely　dreamed　it。　　A　chill　wind

drove　her　back　to　the　house　again；　she　entered　her　bedroom；　and　in

half　an　hour　she　was　in　a　peaceful　sleep。





CHAPTER　V





The　two　men　kept　their　secret。　　Mr。　Poindexter　convinced　Mrs。

Tucker　that　the　sale　of　Los　Cuervos　could　not　be　effected　until　the

notoriety　of　her　husband's　flight　had　been　fairly　forgotten；　and

she　was　forced　to　accept　her　fate。　　The　sale　of　her　diamonds；　which

seemed　to　her　to　have　realized　a　singularly　extravagant　sum；

enabled　her　to　quietly　reinstate　the　Pattersons　in　the　tienda　and

to　discharge　in　full　her　husband's　liabilities　to　the　rancheros　and

his　humbler　retainers。



Meanwhile　the　winter　rains　had　ceased。　　It　seemed　to　her　as　if　the

clouds　had　suddenly　one　night　struck　their　white　tents　and　stolen

away；　leaving　the　unvanquished　sun　to　mount　the　vacant　sky　the　next

morning　alone；　and　possess　it　thenceforward　unchallenged。　　One

afternoon　she　thought　the　long　sad　waste　before　her　window　had

caught　some　tint　of　gayer　color　from　the　sunset；　a　week　later　she

found　it　a　blazing　landscape　of　poppies；　broken　here　and　there　by

blue　lagoons　of　lupine；　by　pools　of　daisies；　by　banks　of　dog…roses；

by　broad　outlying　shores　of　dandelions　that　scattered　their　lavish

gold　to　the　foot　of　the　hills；　where　the　green　billows　of　wild　oats

carried　it　on　and　upwards　to　the　darker　crest　of　pines。　　For　two

months　she　was　dazzled　and　bewildered　with　color。　　She　had　never

before　been　face　to　face　with　this　spendthrift　Californian　Flora；

in　her　virgin　wastefulness；　her　more　than　goddess…like　prodigality。

The　teeming　earth　seemed　to　quicken　and　throb　beneath　her　feet；　the

few　circuits　of　a　plough　around　the　outlying　corral　were　enough　to

call　out　a　jungle　growth　of　giant　grain　that　almost　hid　the　low

walls　of　the　hacienda。　　In　this　glorious　fecundity　of　the　earth；　in

this　joyous　renewal　of　life　and　color；　in　this　opulent　youth　and

freshness　of　soil　and　sky；　it　alone　remained；　the　dead　and　sterile

Past；　left　in　the　midst　of　buoyant　rejuvenescence　and　resurrection；

like　an　empty　churchyard　skull　upturned　on　the　springing　turf。　　Its

bronzed　adobe　walls　mocked　the　green　vine　that　embraced　them；　the

crumbling　dust　of　its　courtyard　remained　ungerminating　and

unfruitful；　to　the　thousand　stirring　voices　without；　its　dry　lips

alone　remained　mute；　unresponsive　and　unchanged。



During　this　time　Don　Jose　had　become　a　frequent　visitor　at　Los

Cuervos；　bringing　with　him　at　first　his　niece　and　sister　in　a

stately　precision　of　politeness　that　was　not　lost　on　the　proud　Blue

Grass　stranger。　　She　returned　their　visit　at　Los　Gatos；　and　there

made　the　formal　acquaintance　of　Don　Jose's　grandmother；　a　lady　who

still　regarded　the　decrepit　Concha　as　a　giddy　muchacha；　and　who

herself　glittered　as　with　the　phosphorescence　of　refined　decay。

Through　this　circumstance　she　learned　that　Don　Jose　was　not　yet

fifty；　and　that　his　gravity　of　manner　and　sedateness　was　more　the

result　of　fastidious　isolation　and　temperament　than　years。　　She

could　not　tell　why　the　information　gave　her　a　feeling　of　annoyance；

but　it　caused　her　to　regret　the　absence　of　Poindexter；　and　to

wonder；　also　somewhat　nervously；　why　he　had　lately　avoided　her

presence。　　The　thought　that　he　might　be　doing　so　from　a　recollection

of　the　innuendoes　of　Mrs。　Patterson　caused　a　little　tremor　of

indignation　in　her　pulses。　　〃As　if〃　but　she　did　not　finish　the

sentence　even　to　herself；　and　her　eyes　filled　with　bitter　tears。



Yet　she　had　thought　of　the　husband　who　had　so　cruelly　wronged　her

less　feverishly；　less　impatiently　than　before。　　For　she　thought　she

loved　him　now　the　more　deeply；　because；　although　she　was　not

reconciled　to　his　absence；　it　seemed　to　keep　alive　the　memory　of

what　he　had　been　before　his　one　wild　act　separated　them。　　She　had

never　seen　the　reflection　of　another　woman's　eyes　in　his；　the　past

contained　no　haunting　recollection　of　waning　or　alienated

affection；　she　could　meet　him　again；　and；　clasping　her　arms　around

him；　awaken　as　if　from　a　troubled　dream　without　reproach　or

explanation。　　Her　strong　belief　in　this　made　her　patient；　she　no

longer　sought　to　know　the　particulars　of　his　flight；　and　never

dreamed　that　her　passive　submission　to　his　absence　was　partly　due

to　a　fear　that　something　in　his　actual　presence　at　that　moment

would　have　destroyed　that　belief　forever。



For　this　reason　the　delicate　reticence　of　the　people　at　Los　Gatos；

and　their　seclusion　from　the　world　which　knew　of　her　husband's

fault；　had　made　her　encourage　the　visits　of　Don　Jose；　until　from

the　instinct　already　alluded　to　she　one　day　summoned　Poindexter　to

Los　Cuervos；　on　the　day　that　Don　Jose　usually　called。　　But　to　her

surprise　the　two　men　met　more　or　less　awkwardly　and　coldly；　and　her

tact　as　hostess　was　tried　to　the　utmost　to　keep　their　evident

antagonism　from　being　too　apparent。　　The　effort　to　reconcile　their

mutual　discontent；　and　some　other　feeling　she　did　not　quite

understand；　produced　a　nervous　excitement　which　called　the　blood　to

her　cheek　and　gave　a　dangerous　brilliancy　to　her　eyes；　two

circumstances　not　unnoticed　nor　unappreciated　by　her　two　guests。

But　instead　of　reuniting　them；　the　prettier　Mrs。　Tucker　became；　the

more　distant　and　reserved　grew　the　men；　until　Don　Jose　rose　before

the　usual　hour；　and　with　more　than　usual　ceremoniousness　departed。



〃Then　my　business　does　not　seem　to　be　with　HIM？〃　said　Poindexter；

with　quiet　coolness；　as　Mrs。　Tucker　turned　her　somewhat　mystified

face　towards　him。　　〃Or　have　you　anything　to　say　to　me　about　him　in

private？〃



〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know　what　you　both　mean；〃　she　returned　with　a

slight　tremor　of　voice。　　〃I　had　no　idea　you　were　not　on　good　terms。

I　thought　you　were！　　It's　very　awkward。〃　　Without　coquetry　and

unconsciously　she　raised　her　blue　eyes　under　her　lids　until　the

clear　pupils　coyly　and　softly　hid　themselves　in　the　corners　of　the

brown　lashes；　and　added；　〃You　have　both　been　so　kind　to　me。〃



〃Perhaps　that　is　the　reason；〃　said　Poindexter；　gravely。　　But　Mrs。

Tucker　refused　to　accept　the　suggestion　with　equal　gravity；　and

began　to　laugh。　　The　laugh；　which　was　at　first　frank；　spontaneous；

and　almost　child…like；　was　becoming　hysterical　and　nervous　as　she

went　on；　until　it　was　suddenly　checked　by　Poindexter。



〃I　have　had　no　difficulties　with　Don　Jose　Santierra；〃　he　said；

somewhat　coldly　ignoring　her　hilarity；　〃but　perhaps　he　is　not

inclined　to　be　as　polite　to　the　friend　of　the　husband　as　he　is　to

the　wife。〃



〃Mr。　Poindexter！〃　said　Mrs。　Tucker　quickly；　her　face　becoming　pale

again。



〃I　beg　your　pardon！〃　said　Poindexter；　flushing；　〃but〃



〃You　want　to　say；〃　she　interrupted　coolly；　〃that　you　are　not

friends；　I　see。　　Is　that　the　reason　why　you　have　avoided　this

house？〃　she　continued　gently。



〃I　thought　I　could　be　of　more　service　to　you　elsewhere；〃　he　replied

evasively。　　〃I　have　been　lately　following　up　a　certain　clue　rather

closely。　　I　think　I　am　on　the　track　of　a　confidante　ofofthat

woman。〃



A　quick　shadow　passed　over　Mrs。　Tucker's　face。　　〃Indeed！〃　she　said

coldly。　　〃Then　I　am　to　believe　that　you　prefer　to　spend　your

leisure　moments　in　looking　after　that　creature　to　calling　here？〃



Poindexter　was　stupefied。　　Was　this　the　woman　who　only　four　months

ago　was　almost　vindictively　eager　to　pursue　her　husband's　paramour！

There　could　be　but　one　answer　to　itDon　Jose！　　Four　months　ago　he

would　have　smiled　compassionately　at　it　from　his　cynical　pre…

eminence。　　Now　he　managed　with　difficulty　to　stifle　the　bitterness

of　his　reply。



〃If　you　do　not　wish　the　inquiry　carried　on；〃　he　began；　〃of　course〃



〃I？　　What　does　it　matter　to　me？〃　she　said　coolly。　　〃Do　as　you

please。〃



Nevertheless；　half　an　hour　later；　as　he　was　leaving；　she　said；　with

a　certain　hesitating　timidity；　〃Do　not　leave　me　so　much　alone　here；

and　let　that　woman　go。〃



This　was　not　the　only　unlooked…for　sequel　to　her　innocent　desire　to

propitiate　her　best　friends。　　Don　Jose　did　not　call　again　upon　his

usual　day；　but　in　his　place　came　Dona　Clara；　his　younger　sister。

When　Mrs。　Tucker　had　politely　asked　after　the　absent　Don　Jose；　Dona

Clara　wound　her　swarthy　arms　around　the　fair　American's　waist　and

replied；　〃But　why　did　you　send　for　the　abogado　Poindexter　when　my

brother　called？〃



〃But　Captain　Poindexter　calls　as　one　of　my　friends；〃　said　the

amazed　Mrs。　Tucker。　　〃He　is　a　gentleman；　and　has　been　a　soldier　and

an　officer；〃　she　added　with　some　warmth。



〃Ah；　yes；　a　soldier　of　the　law；　what　you　call　an　oficial　de

policia；　a　chief　of　gendarmes；　my　sister；　but　not　a　gentlemana

camarero　to　protect　a　lady。〃



Mrs。　Tucker　would　have　uttered　a　hasty　reply；　but　the　perfect　and

good…natured　simp