the devotion of enriquez-第7节

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I　hurried　away；　leaving　Don　Pedro　still　protesting。　　I　knew　the

gardens；　and　the　stone　seat　at　an　angle　of　the　wall；　not　a　dozen

yards　from　the　casa。　　The　moon　shone　full　upon　it。　　There；　indeed；

lay　the　little　gray…feathered　fan。　　But　beside　it；　also；　lay　the

crumpled　black　gold…embroidered　riding…gauntlet　that　Enriquez　had

worn　at　the　rodeo。



I　thrust　it　hurriedly　into　my　pocket；　and　ran　back。　　As　I　passed

through　the　gateway　I　asked　a　peon　to　send　Enriquez　to　me。　　The　man

stared。　　Did　I　not　know　that　Don　Enriquez　had　ridden　away　two

minutes　ago？



When　I　reached　the　veranda；　I　handed　the　fan　to　Miss　Mannersley

without　a　word。　　〃BUENO；〃　said　Don　Pedro；　gravely；　〃it　is　as　well。

There　shall　be　no　bones　broken　over　the　getting　of　it；　for

Enriquez；　I　hear；　has　had　to　return　to　the　Encinal　this　very

evening。〃



Miss　Mannersley　retired　early。　　I　did　not　inform　her　of　my

discovery；　nor　did　I　seek　in　any　way　to　penetrate　her　secret。

There　was　no　doubt　that　she　and　Enriquez　had　been　together；　perhaps

not　for　the　first　time；　but　what　was　the　result　of　their　interview？

From　the　young　girl's　demeanor　and　Enriquez'　hurried　departure；　I

could　only　fear　the　worst　for　him。　　Had　he　been　tempted　into　some

further　extravagance　and　been　angrily　rebuked；　or　had　he　avowed　a

real　passion　concealed　under　his　exaggerated　mask　and　been

deliberately　rejected？　　I　tossed　uneasily　half　the　night；　following

in　my　dreams　my　poor　friend's　hurrying　hoofbeats；　and　ever　starting

from　my　sleep　at　what　I　thought　was　the　sound　of　galloping　hoofs。



I　rose　early；　and　lounged　into　the　patio；　but　others　were　there

before　me；　and　a　small　group　of　Don　Pedro's　family　were　excitedly

discussing　something；　and　I　fancied　they　turned　away　awkwardly　and

consciously　as　I　approached。　　There　was　an　air　of　indefinite

uneasiness　everywhere。　　A　strange　fear　came　over　me　with　the　chill

of　the　early　morning　air。　　Had　anything　happened　to　Enriquez？　　I

had　always　looked　upon　his　extravagance　as　part　of　his　playful

humor。　　Could　it　be　possible　that　under　the　sting　of　rejection　he

had　made　his　grotesque　threat　of　languishing　effacement　real？

Surely　Miss　Mannersley　would　know　or　suspect　something；　if　it　were

the　case。



I　approached　one　of　the　Mexican　women　and　asked　if　the　senorita　had

risen。　　The　woman　started；　and　looked　covertly　round　before　she

replied。　　Did　not　Don　Pancho　know　that　Miss　Mannersley　and　her　maid

had　not　slept　in　their　beds　that　night；　but　had　gone；　none　knew

where？



For　an　instant　I　felt　an　appalling　sense　of　my　own　responsibility

in　this　suddenly　serious　situation；　and　hurried　after　the

retreating　family　group。　　But　as　I　entered　the　corridor　a　vaquero

touched　me　on　the　shoulder。　　He　had　evidently　just　dismounted；　and

was　covered　with　the　dust　of　the　road。　　He　handed　me　a　note　written

in　pencil　on　a　leaf　from　Miss　Mannersley's　sketchbook。　　It　was　in

Enriquez'　hand；　and　his　signature　was　followed　by　his　most

extravagant　rubric。





Friend　Pancho：　When　you　read　this　line　you　shall　of　a　possibility

think　I　am　no　more。　　That　is　where　you　shall　slip　up；　my　little

brother！　　I　am　much　moreI　am　two　times　as　much；　for　I　have　marry

Miss　Boston。　　At　the　Mission　Church；　at　five　of　the　morning；　sharp！

No　cards　shall　be　left！　　I　kiss　the　hand　of　my　venerable　uncle…in…

law。　　You　shall　say　to　him　that　we　fly　to　the　South　wilderness　as

the　combined　evangelical　missionary　to　the　heathen！　　Miss　Boston

herself　say　this。　　Ta…ta！　　How　are　you　now？



Your　own　Enriquez。











End