the argonauts of north liberty-第20节

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his　hand　towards　the　path。　　They　walked　on　in　silence；　without　even
looking　at　each　other；　until　they　reached　a　small　summer…house　that
stood　in　the　angle　of　the　wall。　　Demorest　entered。　　〃We　cannot　be
heard　here；〃　he　said　curtly。

〃And　we　can　see　what　is　going　on。　　Good；〃　said　Blandford；　coolly
following　him。　　The　summer…house　contained　a　bench　and　a　table。
Blandford　seated　himself　on　the　bench。　　Demorest　remained　standing
beside　the　table。　　There　was　a　moment's　silence。

〃I　came　here　with　no　desire　to　see　you　or　avoid　you；〃　said
Blandford；　with　cold　indifference。　　〃A　few　weeks　ago　I　might
perhaps　have　avoided　you；　for　your　own　sake。　　But　since　then　I　have
learned　that　among　the　many　things　I　owe　toto　your　wife　is　the
fact　that　five　years　ago　she　secretly　DIVORCED　ME；　and　that
consequently　my　living　presence　could　neither　be　a　danger　nor　a
menace　to　you。　　I　see；〃　he　added；　dryly；　with　a　quick　glance　at
Demorest's　horror…stricken　face；　〃that　I　was　also　told　the　truth
when　they　said　you　were　as　ignorant　of　the　divorce　as　I　was。〃

He　stopped；　half　in　pity　of　his　adversary's　shame；　half　in　surprise
of　his　own　calmness。　　Five　years　before；　in　the　tumultuous
consciousness　of　his　wrongs；　he　would　have　scarcely　trusted　himself
face　to　face　with　the　cooler　and　more　self…controlled　Demorest。　　He
wondered　at　and　partly　admired　his　own　coolness　now；　in　the
presence　of　his　enemy's　confusion。

〃As　your　mind　is　at　rest　on　that　point；〃　he　continued；　sarcastically；
〃I　don't　suppose　you　care　to　know　what　became　of　ME　when　I　left
North　Liberty。　　But　as　it　happens　to　have　something　to　do　with　my
being　here　to…night；　and　is　a　part　of　my　business　with　you；　you'll
have　to　listen　to　it。　　Sit　down！　　Very　well；　thenstand　up！　　It's
your　own　house。〃

His　half　cynical；　wholly　contemptuous　ignoring　of　the　real　issue
between　them　was　more　crushing　to　Demorest　than　the　keenest
reproach　or　most　tragic　outburst。　　He　did　not　lift　his　eyes　as
Blandford　resumed　in　a　dry；　business…like　way：

〃When　I　came　across　the　plains　to　California；　I　fell　in　with　a　man
about　my　own　agean　emigrant　also。　　I　suppose　I　looked　and　acted
like　a　crazy　fool　through　all　the　journey；　for　he　satisfied　himself
that　I　had　some　secret　reason　for　leaving　the　States；　and　suspected
that　I　was；　like　himselfa　criminal。　　I　afterwards　learned　that　he
was　an　escaped　thief　and　assassin。　　Well；　he　played　upon　me　all　the
way　here；　for　I　didn't　care　to　reveal　my　real　trouble　to　him；　lest
it　should　get　back　to　North　liberty〃　　He　interrupted　himself　with
a　sarcastic　laugh。　　〃Of　course；　you　understand　that　all　this　while
Joan　was　getting　her　divorce　unknown　to　me；　and　you　were　marrying
heryet　as　I　didn't　know　anything　about　it　I　let　him　compromise　me
to　save　her。　　But〃he　stopped；　his　eye　kindled；　and；　losing　his
self…control　in　what　to　Demorest　seemed　some　incoherent　passion；
went　on　excitedly：　〃that　man　continued　his　persecution　HEREyes；
HERE；　in　this　very　house；　where　I　was　a　trusted　and　honored　guest；
and　threatened　to　expose　me　to　a　pure；　innocent；　simple　girl　who
had　taken　pity　on　meunless　I　helped　him　in　a　conspiracy　of
cattle…stealers　and　road　agents；　of　which　he　was　chief。　　I　was　such
a　cursed　sentimental　fool　then；　that　believing　him　capable　of　doing
this；　believing　myself　still　the　husband　of　that　woman；　your　wife；
and　to　spare　that　innocent　girl　the　shame　of　thinking　me　a　villain；
I　purchased　his　silence　by　consenting。　　May　God　curse　me　for　it！〃

He　had　started　to　his　feet　with　flashing　eyes；　and　the　indication
of　an　overmastering　passion　that　to　Demorest；　absorbed　only　in　the
stupefying　revelation　of　his　wife's　divorce　and　the　horrible　doubt
it　implied；　seemed　utterly　vacant　and　unmeaning。

He　had　often　dreamed　of　Blandford　as　standing　before　him；
reproachful；　indignant；　and　even　desperate　over　his　wife's
unfaithfulness；　but　this　insane　folly　and　fury　over　some　trivial
wrong　done　to　that　plump；　baby…faced；　flirting　Dona　Rosita；　crushed
him　by　its　unconscious　but　degrading　obliteration　of　Joan　and
himself　more　than　the　most　violent　denunciation。　　Dazed　and
bewildered；　yet　with　the　instinct　of　a　helpless　man；　he　clung　only
to　that　part　of　Blandford's　story　which　indicated　that　he　had　come
there　for　Rosita；　and　not　to　separate　him　from　Joan；　and　even
turned　to　his　former　friend　with　a　half…embarrassed　gesture　of
apology　as　he　stammered

〃Then　it　was　YOU　who　were　Rosita's　lover；　and　you　who　have　been
here　to　see　her。　　Forgive　me；　Nedif　I　had　only　known　it。〃　　He
stopped　and　timidly　extended　his　hand。　　But　Blandford　put　it　aside
with　a　cold　gesture　and　folded　his　arms。

〃You　have　forgotten　all　you　ever　knew　of　me；　Demorest！　　I　am　not　in
the　habit　of　making　clandestine　appointments　with　helpless　women
whose　natural　protectors　I　dare　not　face。　　I　have　never　pursued　an
innocent　girl　to　the　house　I　dared　not　enter。　　When　I　found　that　I
could　not　honorably　retain　Dona　Rosita's　affection；　I　fled　her
roof。　　When　I　believed　that　even　if　I　broke　with　this　scoundrelas
I　didI　was　still　legally　if　not　morally　tied　to　your　wife；　and
could　not　marry　Rosita；　I　left　her　never　to　return。　　And　I　tore　my
heart　out　to　do　it。〃

The　tears　were　standing　in　his　eyes。　　Demorest　regarded　him　again
with　vacant　wonder。　　Tears！not　for　Joan's　unfaithfulness　to　him
but　for　this　silly　girl's　transitory　sentimentalism。　　It　was
horrible！

And　yet　what　was　Joan　to　Blandford　now？　　Why　should　he　weep　for　the
woman　who　had　never　loved　himwhom　he　loved　no　longer？　　The　woman
who　had　deceived　himwho　had　deceived　them　BOTH。　　Yes！　for　Joan
must　have　suspected　that　Blandford　was　living　to　have　sought　her
secret　divorceand　yet　she　had　never　told　himhimthe　man　for
whom　she　got　it。　　Ah！　he　must　not　forget　THAT！　　It　was　to　marry　him
that　she　had　taken　that　step。　　It　was　perhaps　a　foolish　cautiona
mistaken　reservation；　but　it　was　the　follythe　mistake　of　a　loving
woman。　　He　hugged　this　belief　the　closer；　albeit　he　was　conscious
at　the　same　time　of　following　Blandford's　story　of　his　alienated
affection　with　a　feeling　of　wonder　and　envy。

〃And　what　was　the　result　of　this　touching　sacrifice？〃　continued
Blandford；　trying　to　resume　his　former　cynical　indifference。　　〃I'll
tell　you。　　This　scoundrel　set　himself　about　to　supplant　me。　　Taking
advantage　of　my　absence；　his　knowledge　that　her　affection　for　me
was　heightened　by　the　mystery　of　my　life；　and　trusting　to　profit　by
a　personal　resemblance　he　is　said　to　bear　to　me；　he　began　to　haunt
her。　　Lately　he　has　grown　bolder；　and　he　dared　even　to　communicate
with　her　here。　　For　it　is　he；〃　he　continued；　again　giving　way　to
his　passion；　〃this　dog；　this　sneaking　coward；　who　visits　the　place
unknown　to　you；　and　thinks　to　entrap　the　poor　girl　through　her
memory　of　me。　　And　it　is　he　that　I　came　here　to　prevent；　to　expose
if　necessary　to　kill！　　Don't　misunderstand　me。　　I　have　made　myself
a　deputy　of　the　law　for　that　purpose。　　I've　a　warrant　in　my　pocket；
and　I　shall　take　him；　this　mongrel；　half…breed　Cherokee　Bob；　by
fair　means　or　foul！〃

The　energy　and　presence　of　his　passion　was　so　infectious　that　it
momentarily　swept　away　Demorest's　doubts　of　the　past。　　〃And　I　will
help　you；　before　God；　Blandford；〃　he　said　eagerly。　　〃And　Joan
shall；　too。　　She　will　find　out　from　Rosita　how　far〃

〃Thank　you；〃　interrupted　Blandford；　dryly；　〃but　your　wife　has
already　interfered　in　this　matter；　to　my　cost。　　It　is　to　her；　I
believe；　I　owe　this　wretch's　following　Rosita　here。　　She　already
knows　this　manhas　met　him　twice　in　San　Francisco；　he　even　boasts
of　YOUR　jealousy。　　You　know　best　how　far　he　lied。〃

But　Demorest　had　braced　himself　against　the　chill　sensation　that
had　begun　to　creep　over　him　as　Blandford　spoke。　　He　nerved　himself
and　said；　proudly；　〃I　forbade　her　knowing　him　on　account　of　his
reputation　solely。　　I　have　no　reason　to　believe　she　has　ever　even
wished　to　disobey　me。〃

A　smile　of　scorn　that　had　kindled　in　Blandford's　eyes；　darkened
with　a　swift　shadow　of　compassion　as　he　glanced　at　Demorest's　hard；
ashen　face。　　He　held　out　his　hand　with　a　sudden　impulse。　　〃Enough；
I　accept　your　offer；　and　shall　put　it　to　the　test　this　very　night。
I　knowif　you　do　notthat　Rosita　is　to　leave　here　for　Los　Osos　an
hour　from　now　in　a　private　carriage；　which　your　wife　has　ordered
especially　for　her。　　The　same　information　tells　me　that　this
villain　and　another　of　his　gang　will　be　in　wait　for　the　carriage
three　miles　out　of　the　pueblo　to　attack　it　and　carry　off　the　young
girl。〃

〃Are　you　mad！〃　said　Demorest；　in　unfeigned　amazement。　　〃Do　you
believe　them　capable　of　attacking　a　private　carriage　and　carrying
off　a　solitary；　defenceless　woman？　　Come；　Blandford；　this　is　a
school…girl　romancenot　an　act　of　mercenary　highwaymenleast　of
all　Cherokee　Bob　and　his　gang。　　This　is　some　madness　of　Rosita's；
surely；〃　he　continued　with　a　forced　laugh。

〃Does　this　mean　that　you　think　better　of　your　promise？〃　asked
Blandford；　dryly。

〃I　said　I　was　at　your　service；〃　said　Demorest；　reproachfully。

〃Then　hear　my　plan　to　prevent　it；　and　yet　take　that　dog　in　the　act；〃
said　Blandford。　　〃But　we　must　first　wait　here　till　the　last　moment
to　ascertain　if　he　makes　any　signal　to　show　that　his　plan　is　altered；
or　that　he　has