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THE WASHINGTON TIMES, SUNDAY, DECE3IBEB 9, 1894.
11
GLHRENGE.
BV BaET HAUTE.
Author of "The Luck of Uoaring Camp."
"The Men of Sandy Bnr," Etc."
Copyrlgat, 18W, by Bret Harte,
PART L Chaiteb IIL
Unsuspected and astounding as the revela
tion was to Clarence, its strange reception oy
the conspirators seemed to him as astound
ing He hndstaried forward, half expecting
that the complacent, self-confessed spy would
he immolated by his infuriated dupes. But,
to his surprise, the shock seemed to havo
changed their natures and given them the
dignity they hnd lacked.
The excitability, irritation, and reckless
ness whieh had previously characterized
them bad disappeared. The deputy and his
posee, who had advanced to the assistance of
their revealed chief, met with .no resistance.
They had evidently, as if with one accord,
drawn away from Judge Beeswinger, leav
ing a cleared space around him, and regarded
their captors with sullen, contemptuous
silenoe. It was only broken by CoL Star
bottle: "Your duty commands you, Eir, to uso all
possible diligence in bringing us before the
Federal jadge of this district. Unless your
master in Washington has violated tho Con
stitution so far as to remove him, tool"
"I understand you perfectly," returned
Judge Beeswinger, with unchanged compos
ure, "and, as you know that Judge "Wilson
unfortunately 'cannot be removed except
through regular cause of impeachment, I sap
pose vou may still count upon his Southern
sympathies tb befriend you. With that I havo
nothing to do: my duty is complete when my
deputy has brought you before him and I
have stated the circumstances of the arrest."
"I congratulate you, sir," said Capt. Pinck
ney, with an ironitAl salute, "in your prompt
reward for your treachery to the South, and
your equally prompt adoption of the peculiar
taotios of your friends in the way in which
you have entered this house."
"I am sorry I cannot congratulate you,
sir," returned Judge Beeswinger, gravely,
"on breaking your oath to the covernmont
that has educated and supported you, and
given you the epaulets you disgrace Nor
shall I discuss 'treachery' with the man who
has not only violated the trust of his country,
but even the integrity of his friend's house
hold. It is for that reason that I withhold
the action of this warrant m so far as it affects
the person of the master and mistress of this
bouse. I am satisfied that Mr. Brant has
been as ignorant of what has been done hero
as I am that his wife has been only the foolish
dupe of a double traitor."
"Silense!"
The words broke simultaneously from the
lips of Clarence and Capt. Pinckney. They
stood staring at each other the one pale, the
other crimson as Mrs. Brant, apparently
oblivious ot the significance of their united
adjuration, turned to Judge Beeswinger in
the fury of her still stifled rage and mortifi
cation. "Keep your mercy for your fellow Bp3"
she saM. with' a contemptuous gesture toward
her husband. "I go with these gentleman!"
'You will not," said Clarejice.quietly, "un
til I have said a word to you alone."
He laid his hand firmly upon her wrist.
The deputy ana his prisoners filed slowly
out of tho courtyard together, the latter
courteously saluting Mrs.Brant as they passed,
but turning from Judse Beeswinger iu cen
temptuous silence. The latter followed them
to the gate, but there he paused.
Turning to Mrs. Brant, who was still half
struggling in the strong grip of her husband,
he said:
"Any compunction I may have had in mis
leading you in aeeeptingyour invitation here,
I dismissed after I had entered this house!
And I trust," he aided, turning to Clarence,
bternly, I leave you master of it!"
As the gate closed behind him Clarence
locked it. As his wife turned upon him an
grily, he said, quietly: "I have no intention
of restraining your liberty a moment after our
fnterviewls over. But until then I do not in
tend to bo disturbed.'
She threw herself disdainfully back In her
chair, her bands clasped in her lap, in half
oentemptueus resignation, with her eyesupon
her long, slim, arched feet crossed before her.
Even in her attitude there was something of
her old fascination, which, however, now
seemed to sting Clarence to the quick.
"I have nothing to say to you in regard to
what ha mst passed In this house, except
that as long as I remain nominally its master
it shall not be repeated. Although I shall no
longer attempt to influence or control your
political sympathies. I shall not allow you to
indulge them where in any way they seem to
imply my sanction. But so little do I oppose
your liberty that you are free to rejoin your
political companions whenever you choose to
do so on your own responsibility. But I must
first know from your own lips that your
sympathies are purely political not a name
for something else."
She had alternately flushed and paled, al
though still keeping her scornful attitude as
he went on, but there was no mistaking tho
genuiness of her vague wonderment at his
concluding words. "I don't understand you."
she said, lifting her eyes to his in a moment
of cold curiosity. "What do you mean-r"
"What do I mean? "What did Judge Bees
winger mean when he called Capt Pinck
ney a double traitor?" he said, roughly.
She sprang to her feet with flashing eyes.
"And you you dare to repeat the eow
trdly lie of a confessed spy. This, then, is
what you wished to tell me this, the insult
for which you have kept me here, because
you are incapable of understanding unselfish
pctroitism or devotion even to your own
cause you lare to judge me by your own
base standards. Yes. it is worthy of you!"
She walked rapidly up and down, and then
uuddenly faced him.
"I understand it all. I appreciate your
magnanimity now. You are "willing I shall
join the company of these chivalrous gentle
men in order to give color to your calumnies.
Say at once that it was you w"bo put up this
spy to correspond with me to come here
in order to entrap me. Yes, entrap me I
who a moment ago stood up for you beforo
these gentlemen, and said you could not lie!
Bah!"
Struck only by the wild extravagance of
her speech and temper, Clarence did not
know that when women are most illogical
they are apt to be most sincere, and, from a
man's standpoint her unreasoning deduc
tions appeared to him only as an affectation
to gain time for thought, or a theatrical dis
play to dazzle, like Susy's. And he was turn
ing, half contemptuously, away, when she
again faced him, with flashing eyes.
"Well, hear me! I accept! I leave hero at
once to join my own people, my own friends
those who understand "ine put what con
etruction on it you choose. Do your worse!
You cannot do more to separate us than you
have done just now."
She left him and ran up tho steps with an
extravagaut return of hor old occasional
nymph-like gracefulness the movement of a
woman who has never borne children and a
switch of her long skirts that he remembered
for many a day after as she disappeared in
the oorrtdor.
He remained looking after her indignant,
outraged, and unconvinced! Tnen there
was a rattling at the gate.
He remembered he had locked it. He
opened it to the flushed, pink cheeks and
dancing eyes of Susy. The rain was still
dripping from hor wet oloak as she swung it
from her shoulders.
"I know it all, all that's happened," she
burst out. witfi half girlish exuberance, and
half the actress' declamation. "We mot them
til In the road, posso and prisoners. Chief
Thompson knew me and told mo all And so
you've done it and you're master in your
old house aain. Clarence, old boj'J .Jim
aid you wouldn't do it. Said von'd weaken
on account of her! But I said, No.' I knew
you belter old Clarence, and I saw if in your
face for all your stiffness! He! But for all
that I was mighty nervous and uneasy, and
just made Jim send an excuse to the theater
and we rushed it dowi here. It looks natural
to oe the old house again! And she: you
packed her off with the others, didn't you'
fell me, Clarence," in her old appealing voice
"you shook her, too." '
Based and astounded, and vet expressing
a vague sens of relief with an'odd return of
hiS old tsoderncss toward the wilful woman
beforo him. he bad silently resrardert hr
until her allusion to his wife recalled him to I
wmseii.
"Hurt," be said quickly, with a glance to
jyard the orndor.
"Ah. ' said Susy, with a malicious smile
"then that's why Capt Pinckney was linger
ing iu tho rear with tho deputy."
"Silence!" said Clarence sternly. ''Go in
there," pointing to the garden room below
tho balcony, "and wait until your husband
comes."
Ho half led, half pushed her into tho room
which had boen his business office, and re
turned to the patio. A hesitating voice from
tho balcony said: "Clarence."
It was his wife's voice, but modified and
gentler more like her voice as ho had first
heard it or as if it wore chastened by some
reminiscence of those days. It was his wife's
face, too, that looxed down on his, paler than
he had seen it sluce bo had entered the house.
She was shawled and hooded, carrying n
traveling bag in her hand.
"lam going, Clarence," she said, with gen
tle gravitv, "but not in anger. I oven ask you
to forgive mo for the foolish words that I
think your still more foolish accusation," sho
smiled faintly, "drew from mo. I am going
because I know that I havo brought, and that
while I am here I shall always bo bringing
upon you, the imputation and oven tho re
sponsibly of my own faith! While I am proud
to own it, and, if needs be, suffor for it. I
have no right to ruin your prospects or even
rnnke you tho victim of tho slurs that others
inny cast upon me. Let us part as friends,
separated only by our different political
faiths, but keeping all other faiths together
until God shall settle tho right of this strug
gle. Perhnpsit may be soon I sometimes
think it may be years of agony for all but
until then, good by."
She had slowly descended tho steps to the
patio, looking handsomer than ho had ever
seen her, andias if sustained and uphold by
the euthusinsm of her cause. Her hand was
outstretched toward his, his heart boat vio
lently, in another moment ho might havo for
gotten all and clasped her to his breast
Suddenly sho stopped, her outstretched
arm stiffened, her finger pointed to the chair
on which Susy's cloak was hanging.
"What's mat?" she said In a sharp, high,
metallic voice. "Who is here? Speak'"
"Susy," said Clarence.
She cast a scathing glance around the patio,
and then settled her piercing eyes on Clar
ence with a bitter smile.
"Already!"
Clarence felt tho blood rush to his face as
ho stammered: "Sho knew what was happen
ing hero and came to give you warning."
"Liar!"
"Stop!" said Clarence, with a whilo face.
"She came to tell mo that Capt. Pinckney was
still lingering for you in the road."
He threw open the gate to let herpass. As
sho swept out sho lifted her hand. As he
closed the gate there were tho white marks of
her four Angers on his chock.
PABT I Cuaptek IV.
For once Susy hud not exaggerated. Capt.
Pinckney was lingering with the deputy who
had charge of him on the trail near tho Casa.
It had already .been pretty well understood
by both captives and captors that tho arrest
was simply a legal demonstration, that the
sympathizing Federal judge wduld undoubt
edly order the discharge ol tho prisoners on
their own recognizances, and it was probable
that the deputy saw no harm in grunting
PInckney's request, which was virtually only
a delay in his own liberation. It is also pos
sible that Pinckney had worked upon tho
chivalrous sympathies of the man by profess
ing his disinclination to leave thoir dovoted
colleague, Mr$. Brant, at tho mercy of her
antagonistic and cold-blooded husband at
such a crisis, and it is to bo feared, also, that
Clarence, as a reputed lukewarm partisan,
excited no personal sympathy even from his
own party. Howbeit, the deputy agreed to
delay Pinckney's journey for a parting inter
view with his fair hostess.
How far this expressed the real sentiments
of Capt Pickney was never known. Whetner
his political association with Mrs. Braat Lad
developed into a warmer solicitude, under
stood or ignored by her, and what wore his
hopes and aspirations regarding his future
was by tho course of fate never disclosed. A
man of easy ethics but rigid artificialities of
honor, flattered and pampered by class
prejudice, a so-called "man of the-world,"
with no experience beyond his own limited
circle, yet brave and dovoted to that, it were
well perhaps to leave this last aot of his in
efficient life to tho simple record of the
deputy.
Dismounting, ho approached tho house
from the garden. He was already familiar
witn the low-arched doorway which led to the
business room, and from which he could gain
admittance to the patio. But it so chanced
tnat he entered the dark passage at the mo
ment that Clarence had thrust Susy into the
business room and heard its door shut
sharply. For an instant he believed that Mrs.
Brant had taken refuge there, but as he cau
tiously moved forward he heard her voice in
the patio beyond. Its accents struek him as
pleading; an intense cariosity drew him fur-"
ther aloni; the passage. Suddenly her voice
seemed to change to angry denunciation, and
the word "liar" rang upon his ears. It was
followed by his own name uttered sardoni
cally by Clarence, the swift rustle of a skjrt,
the clash of the gato. and then, forgetting
everything, he burst into the patio.
Clarence was just turning from the gae
with the marks of his wife's hand still red on
his white cheek. Ho saw Capt. Pinckney's
eyes upon it, and a faint, half-malfclous. half
hystaric smile upon his lips. But without a
start or gesture of surpriso he locked the
gate, and turning to him said, with frigid
significance:
"I thank you for returning so promptly,
and for recognizing tho only thing I now re
quite at your hands."
But Capt. Pinckney had recovered his
supercilious ease with the signillcant demand.
"You seem to have had something already
from another's hand, sir but I am at your
service," he said, lightly.
"You will consider that I have accepted It
from you. sir," said Clarence, drawing closer
to him with a rigid face. "I suppose it will
not be necessary for mo to return it to make
you understand mo."
"Go on," said Pinckney, flushing slightly.
"Make j-our terms. I am ready."
"But I'm not," said the unexpected voice
of tho deputy at the grille of the gateway."
"Excuso my interfering, gentlemen, but this
sort o' thine ain't down in my schedule. I've
let this gentlemen," pointingto Capt Pinck
ney, "off for a minit to say good-by to a lady
who, I reckon, has just ridden oil in her
buggy with her servant without saying by
your leave; but I don't calkerlnte to let him
inter another business which, like as not, may
prevent me from delivering his body safe and
sound into court Yon hear me!" As Clar
ence opened the gnte he added: "I don't
want tor spoil sport between gents, but it's
got to comeTin after I've done my duty."
"I'll meet you, sir, anywhere, and with
what weapons you choose," said Pinckney,
turning angrily upon Clarence, "as soon as
this farce for which you and your friends
are responsible is over." He was furious
at the reflection that Mrs. Brant had escaped
him.
A different thought was in the husband's
mind. "But what assurance have I that you
are going on with the deputy?" ho said, with
purposely insulting deliberation.
"My word, sir," said Capt. Pinckney,
sharply.
"And if that ain't onuff, there's mine," said
the deputy. "For if this gentleman swerves to
the right or left betwixt this and Santa Inez
I'll blow a hole through him myself ! And
that," he added, deprecatlngly, ""is saying a
good deal for a man who doesn't want to
spoil sport, and, for tho matter of that, is
willing to stand by and see fair play done at
Santa Inez any time to-morrow before break
fast." "Then I can count on you?" said Clarenoe,
with a sudden impulse, extending his hand.
Tho man hesitated a moment and then
grasped it "Well, I wasn't expecting that,"
ho said, slowly; "but you look ns if you meant
businoss, and if you ain't got anybody else to
see you through, I'm thar! I suppose this
gentleman will havo his friends."
"I shall be there at C with my seconds,"
said Pinckney. curtly. "Lead on."
The gate closed behind them. Clarence
looked around tho now empty patio and the
silent house, from which ho could now see
that the servants bad been withdrawn to in
sure the secrecy of th-j gathering. Cool and
coHf cted as he knew he was, he stood still for
a moment in hesitation. Then the sound of
voices came to his car from the garden room
tho light frivolity of Susy's lansrh, and Hook
er's bulkier accents. Ho had forgotten they
wcrothoro ho had even forgottan thoir ex
igence, f
Tracing slili to his calmness, ho called to
Hooker in his usual voicr. That gentleman
apprarnd with a face which his attempts to
make unconcerned and impassive had, how
ever, only (io?ienod into funereal gravitv.
"I ImvH soraplliiiu; to attend to,'- said CJa.r
nv. w t'.i f.i!' t TK rami I must ask you
.ivA M.sy io ox.-!:.,) ;no Jor a little whilo. She
Ic'.s U-.2 .. H.C2 rui'.-, and will call tho
servants from tho nnnox to provide you both
with refreshments. I will join you a little
Inter." Satisfied from Hooker's manner that
they know nothing of his later intorvlow With
Pincknoy, he turned away and ascended to
his own room.
Ho then throw himself into an armchair by
tho dim light of a Bingle candle, as if to re
flect But ho was conscious even then of his
own calmness and wnnt of oxcitemont, and
that no reflection was necessary.
What ho had done and what he intended to
do was quite clear; there wa3 no alternative
suggested or to bo even sought after. Ho had
that sonso of relief which comes with tho cli
max of all groat struggles even of defeat.
Ho had novor known before how homeless
and continuous had been that struggle until
now it was over. He hnd no fear for to-mor-row;
ho would meet it as ho had to-day. with
tho same sincular consciousness of being
equal to the occasion. There was even no
neoesslty of preparation for it; hi3 will, leav
ing his fortune to his wlfo which 6eomod a
slight thing now in this greater separation
was already in his safe in San Francisco; his
pistols wore in tho next room.
Ho was oven slightly disturbed by his own
insensibility, and passed Into his wife's bed
room, partly In the hope of disturbing his se
renity by some memento of their past. There
was no disorder of flight everything was in
its place except tho drawer of her desk,
which was still open as if sho had taken
something from it as an afterthought There
wore letters and papers there some of his
own aud some in Capt Pinckney's handwrit
ing. It did not occur to him to look at thorn
oven to justify himsolf or excuse her. Ho
know that his hatred of Capt Pineknoy was
not so much thnt ho bolleved him hor lover
as his sudden conviction that they were alike.
Ho was tho male of hor species a being
antagonistic to himself, whom ho could light
and crush and revenge himself upon. But
most of all ho loathod his past, not on ac
count of her, but of his own weakness that
hnd mado him her dupo and a misunderstood
mnn to his friends. He had boon derelict of
duty in his unselfish devotion to her; ho had
stiffed his ambition and underrated his own
possibilities no wonder that othors had ac
cepted him at his own valuation. Clarence
Brant was a modest man, but the egotism of
modesty is more fntal than thnt of preten
slon.'for it has the haunting consciousness of
superior virtue.
He re-entered his own room and again
threw himself in his chair. His calm was be
ing succeeded by a physical weariness; ho re
mombered ho had not slopt the night beforo,
and ho ought to take somo rest to-be fresh in
tho early moraine;. Yet, he must also-show
himsolf beforo his self-invited guests, Susy
and her husband, or their suspicions would
be aroused. Ho would try to sleep for a Unlo
whilo in tho chair boforo he went down
stairs again. He closod his eyes, oddly
enough, on a dim, dreamy recollection of
Susy, of tho old days in the little Madrono
hollow, where sho had once given him i ren
dezvous. He forgot tho maturer and critical
uneasiness with which ho had then received
her coquettish and willful advances, which
ho now knew was tho effect of the growing
dominance of Mrs. Poyton over him Tho
fnintuess he had felt when awaiting in the old
rose garden a few hours ago seemod to steal
on him once more, and to lapso into n deli
cioub drowsiness. Ho oven seemed again to
inhale the perfumo of tho roses.
"Clarence!"
He started. Ho had been sleoping but the
voice sounded strangely real.
A littlo girlish laugh followed. Ho sprang
to his feet. It was Susy, standing beside
him and Susy evon as she" looked in tho old
days!
For with a flnsh of her old audacity, aided
by her perfect knowledge of tho house, and
tho bunch of household keys sho had found,
which dangled from her girdle, as in the old
fashion, she hud disinterred one of her old
frocks from a closet, slipped it on, and un
loosening her brown hair, bad let it fall in
rippling waves down hor back. It was Susy
in her old girlishness, with the instinct of the
grown actress in tho arrangement of her short
skirt over her pretty ankles, and the half
conscious pose she had taken.
"Poor old Ciarenco," sho said, with danc
ing eyes. "1 might have won a dozen pairs of
cloves from you whilo you slept there. But
youVo tired, and you've had a hard time of It.
No matter you ve shown yourself a man at
last! and I'm proud of you.
Half ashamed of the pleasure he felt, oven
in his embarrassment, Ciarenco stammered:
"But this change this dresss!"
Susy clapped her hands like a child. I
know it would surprise you! It's an old
frock I wore tho year I went away with
aunty. I knew where it was hidden, and
fished it out again with these keys. Clar
enceit seemed so like old times. When I
wa3 with the old servants again aud you
didn't como down I just felt as if I'd never
been away, and I just rampaged free! It
seemod to me, don't you know, not as if I'd
just como but as if I'd always been right
here and it was you who'd just come! Don't
you understand;1 Just as you came when
me and Mary Itogors were here don t you
remember her, Clarence, and how sho used
to do 'goosel)3rry' for us! well just like
that. So I said to Jim "I don't know you
any more get!' and I just slipped on this
frock and ordered Mannela around, as I
used to do and sho in fltsof laughtor
I reckon. Clarence, sho hasn't laughed as
much since I left And then I thought
of you perhaps worried and flus
tered yet over things and the
change, and I just slipped into
the kitchen, and I told old fat Conchita to
make some of these tortillas, you know with
susarand cinnamon sprinkled on top aud I
tied on an apron and brought 'em up to you
on a tray with n glass of that old Catalan
wine that you used to like. Then I sorter felt
frightened when I got hero, aud I didn't hear
any noise, and I put the tray down in tho hall
aud peeped in and found you asleep. Sit
still, I'll fetch "om."
She tripped out into the passage, returning
with the tray, which sho put on the table bo
side Clarence, and then, standing back a lit
tle and with her hands tucked soubrette fash
ion in the tiny pockets of hor apron, gazed at
him with a mischievous smile.
It was impossible not to smilo back as he
nibbled tho crisp Mexican cake and drank the
old Mission wine. And Susy's tongue trilled
an accompaniment to his thanks
"It seems so nico to be here just you and
me. Ciarenco like in the old days with no
body naggin' and snoopin' round nfter you.
Don't be greedy, Ciarenco, but givo mo a
cake." Sho took ono and finished the dregs
of his glass.
He looked critically into the mischievous
eyes, and said, quietly:
''Whore is your husband?"
Thore was no trace of embarrassment,
apology, or even of consciousness in hor
pretty face as sho replied, passing her hand
lightly through his hair:
"Oh, Jim! I've packed him off!"
"Packed him off!" echoed Clarence, slightly
astonished.
"Yes; to Fair Plains; full tilt after your
wife's buggy. You see, Clarence, after the
old cat that's your wife, please left, I
wanted to make suro sho had gone, and
wasn t hangin' round to lead you off ugain,
with your leg tied to her apron string, like a
chicken's! No! I said to Jim, 'Just you rido
after her until you see she's safe and sound
in tho down coach from Fair Plains, without
her knowin' it, and if she's inclined to hang
back or wobble any you post back here and
let me know.' I told him I would stay and
look after vou to see you didn't bolt, too."
She laughed and then added: "But I didn't
think I should fall into tho old ways so soon,
and have such a nico time; did you. Clarence?"
She looked so irresponsible sitting there,
and so childishly or perhaps thoughtlessly
hnppy, that ho could only admire her levity,
and oven the slight shock that her flippant
allusion to his wife had given him seemed to
him only a weakness of his own. After all,
was not hers the true philosophy? Why
should not those bright eyesage things more
clearly than hi3 own? Nevertheless, with his
eyes still fixed upon them, he continued:
"And Jim was willingto go?"
"Why, yes. you silly why shouldn't he?
I'd like to see him refuse. Why, Jim will do
anything I asic him." Then suddenly look
ing full into his eyes, sho said: "That's just
the difference between him and me and you
and that woman!"
"Then you lovo him?"
"About as much as you lovo her," she said,
with an unaffected laugh, "only ho don't
wind mo around his finger."
No doubt she was right for all her thought
lessness, and yot he was going to fight about
that woman to-morrow! No! he forgot he
was going to fight Capt. Pinokney because he
was like her!
"You know it as well a3 1 do, Ciarenco,'
sho said, with a pretty wrinkling of herbrows,
which was her nearest approach to thought
fulness. "You "know you nover really liked
her, only you thought her ways wero grander
and moro proper than mine, and vou know
you were always a little bit of a snob, and a
prig, too! And Mrs. Peyton was bless my
soul! a Benhum, and a planter's daughter,
and I I was onlyapicked-up orphan! That's
where Jim -is hotter than you. Oh, I know
what you'ro nlwnys thinklne you're think
ing we're both exaggerated and" theatrical
ain't you? Don't you think it's a heup better
to be exaggerated and theatrical about things
that are just sentimental and romantic than
to be so awfully possessed and overcome
about things that are only real! There, you
needn't stare at mo so. It'struo! You've had
your fill of giandour and propriety, and
here you are! ' And," sho added with a little,
chuckle, "hero's mo!
"You see, Clarence," sho wont on, "you
ought nevor to havo lot me go nevori You
ought to havo kept mo hero, or run away
with me. And you oughtn't to have tried to
make me proper. And you oughtn't to havo
driven me to flirt with that horrid Spaniard,
and you ougntn't to havo boen so horribly
cold and sevens when I did. And you oughtn't
to havo made me take up with Jim, who was
tho only ono who thought me his oqual. I
might have been very silly and capriolous; I
might havo been very vain, but my vanity
isn't a bit worso than your pride my love of
praise and applause in tho theator isn't a bit
more horrid than your fears of what people
might think of you or mo. That's gospol
truth, isn't it, Clarence? Tell mo! Don't
look that way and this look at me! Isn't It
true?"
"I was thinking of you just now whon I fol
asleep, Susy," he said. Ho did not know why
he said it; ho had not intended to tell her he
had only meant to avoid a direct answer to
hor question, yet oven now he went on.
"And I thought of you whon I was out there
in the roso gardon waiting to come in here."
"You did?" she said, drawing in her breath.
A wave of dolicate pink color came up to her
very eyes it seemed to him as quickly and ns
innocently as whon sho was a girl. "And
what did you think, Klarus" sho half-whispered
"tell me!"
Ho did not speak.
The dawn was breaking as Ciarenco and
Jim Hooker emerged together from the gato
of tho Casa. Mr. Hooker looked sleepy. Ho
had found, after his return from Fair Plains,
that his host had an early engagement at
Santa Inez, and ho had insisted upon riding
to see him off. It was with difficulty, indeed,
that Ciarenco could prevent his accompany
ing htm. Clarence had not revealed to Susy,
tho night before, tho real object of his jour
ney, nor did Hooker evidently suspect it,
yet when he bad mounted his horse ho hesi
tated for an instant but without extending
his hand.
"If I should happen to bo detainod," he bel
gaa with a half smile.
But Jim was struggling with a yawn.
"That's ull righ' don't mind us," ho said,
stretching his arms. Clarence's hesitating
hand dropped to his sido, and with a light,
reckless laugh and a half senso of providen
tial relief he galloped away.
What happened Immediately thereafter, dur
ing his solitary rldo to Santa Inez, looking,
back upon it in after years, seemed but a con
fused recollection, moro llko a dream. The
long stretches of vague distance gradually
opouing clearer with tho rising sun in an un
clouded sky, the meeting with a few early or
belated travelers and his unconscious avbid
anco of them, as if they might know of his
object, tho black shadows of foreshortened
cattle rising beforo him on tho plain and
arousing the same uuensy sensation of their
beiug waylaying men; the wonderinc recog
nition of houses and landmurks ho had long
been familiar with, his purposeless attempts
to recall tho circumstances in which he had
known them all theso wero like a dream.
So, too, wore tho recollections of tho nigh,
boforo, tho episode with Susy, already
mingled aud blended with tho inomory of
their previous pat, hisfutilo attempts to look
forward to tho future, always, however, aban
doned with relief at tho thought that the next
few hours might make them unnecessary. So
also was tho sudjen realization that Santa
Inez was before him. when he bad thought he
was not yot half way there, and as he dis
mounted belore the" courthouso his singular
feeling followed, however, by no fear of dis
tressthat ho bad come so carlv to the ren
dezvous that he was not yet quite prepared
for it
This same senso of unrenllty pervaded his
meeting with the deputy sheriff; the news
that the Federal judge bad, as was expected,
dismissed the prisoners on their own
recognizance, and that Capt Pincknoy was
nt the hotel at breakfast In tho like-abstracted
manner he-replied to tho one or two
questious of the deputy, exhibited the pf3tols
he had brought with him, and finally accom
panied him to a little meadow hidden by trees
below tho hotel, where the other principal
and his seconds wero awaiting them. And
here he awoke! clear-oyed, keen, forceful,
and intense!
So stimulated -wero his faculties that bis
sense of hearing in its acuteness took in every
word of the conven-ntion between the sec
onds, a few paces distaut. He heard his ad
versary's second say carelessly to tho deputy
sheriff, "I presumethis is a case where there
will bo no apology or mediation." and the
deputy's reply. "I reckon my man means
business, but he sperms a little quoer." He
heard tho other second laugh and say lightly,
"They're apt to bo so when it's their first time
out,'' followed ny the moro anxious aside of
tho other second as the deputy turned away,"
"Yes, but 1 don't like his looks." Hissense of
sight was also so acute that having lost the
choice of position when the coin was tossed,
and being turned with his face to the sun,
even through its glare he saw with unerring
distinctness of outline tho black-coated figure
of his opponent move into range, saw the per
fect outline of his features, and how tho easy,
supercilious smile as he threw away his cigar
appeared to drop out of his face with a kind
of vacant awe as ho faced him.
Ho felt his nerves become as steel as
the counting began, and at the word "three"
knew he had fired by tho recoil ofs tho pistol
in his leveled hand simultaneously with its
utterance. And at tho same moment, still
standing liko a rock, he saw his adversary
miserably coll apse, his legs grotesquely curv
ing inward undor him without even the dig
nity of death in his fall, and so sink help
lessly like a felled bull to the ground. Still
erect, and lowering only tho muzzle of his
pistol, as a thin feather ot smoke curled up
its shining side, ho saw tho doctor and sec
onds run quickly to the heap, try to lift its
limp impotonco into shape, and let it drop
again with the words, "Right through the
forehead!"
"You'vb dono for him," said tho deputy,
turning to Clarence with a singular look of
curiosity, "and I leckon you'd better get out
of this mighty quick! They didn't expect it
they're just ragin', thoy may round on you
and," he added more slowly, "they seem to
havo just found out who you are!"
Even whila he was speaking, Clarence with
his quickened ears heard the words, "one of
Hamilton Brant's pups." Just like his
father," from tho group around tho dead
man. Ho did not hesitate, but walked coolly
toward them. Yet a certain fierce pride
which ho had nevor known beforo
stirred in his veins, as their voices
hushed aud they half recoiled beforo him.
"Am I understand from my second, gen
tlemen." he said, looking around tho group,
"that you are not satisfied?"
"The fight was square enough," said Pinck
ney's second, in some embarrassment, "but I
reckon thnt ho" pointing to the dead man
"did not know who you were?"
'Do you mean that ho did know that I was
tho son of a man prollcient In the use of arms?"
"I reckon that's about it," returned tho
second, glancing nt the others.
'I am glad to say, sir, that I have a better
opinion of his courage, said Clarence, lifting
his hat to tho dead body ns he turned away.
Yet he was conscious of no remorse, con
cern, or oven pHty in his act Perhaps this
was visible in his face, for tho group ap
peared awed by this perfection of the duel
ist's coolness, and even returned his formal
parting saluation with a vague and timid ro
Bpect Ho thanked the deputy, regained the
hotel, saddled his horse, and galloped away
But not toward tho rancho. Now that he
oould think of hi3 future, that had no place
in his reflections; even tho episode of Susy
was forgotten in the new nnd strange con
ception of himself and his irresponsibility
whioh had oome upon him with the killing of
PincKnoy and tho words of his second. It was
his dead father who had stiffened his arm and
directed tho fatal shot! It waB the heredi
tary influences which others had been so
quick to recognize that had brought about
this completing climax of his trouble. How
else could he account for it that he, a
conscientious, poaceful.sensitivo man, tender
and forgiving as he had believed himself to
be, could now leel so littlo sorrow or com
punction for his culminating aot?
Ho had read of succo33ful duelists who
wore haunted by remorse for their first victim;
who retained a terrible consciousness of the
appoaranco of tho dead man; he had no such
feeling; ho had only n grim contentment in
tho wiped-out, inefficient life, and contempt
for tho limp and helpless body. Ho suddenly
recalled tho callousness as a boy, when face
to faco with tho victims of tho Indian mas
sacre, his sonse of fastidious superciliousness
in tho discovery of the body of Susy's mother
suroly it was tho cold blood of his father in
fluencing him over thus. What had he to do
with affection, with domestic happiness, with
tho ordinary ambition of man's life, whose
blood wa3 frozen at tho source!
Yot ovon with this very thought camo onco
moro the old inconsistent tenderness ho bad 03
a boy lavished upon the almost unknown and
fugitive father who had forsaken his childish
companionship, andromeabored him only by
secret gifts. He remembered how ho had
worshiped him ovon while tho pious padres
at San Jose were endeavoring to eliminato
this terrible poison from his blood and com
bat his hereditary instinct In hi3 conflicts with
his schoolfellows. And it was a part of this
inconsistency that, riding away from tho
scono of his first bloodshed, his oyes woro
dimmed with moisture, not for tho victim,
but for the ono being whom ho believed had
impelled him to the act
This, and moro was in his mind during hlB
long rido to Fair Plains, his journey by coach
to Embascadero, his midnight passage across
tho dark waters of the bay, and his re-on-trance
to San Francisco but what should bo
his futuro was still unsettled.
As ho wodnd around the cre3t of Bussian
Hill and looked down again upon the awak
ened city, ho wa3 startlod to see that It was
fluttering and streaming with bunting. From
every public buildiDg and hotel, from tho
roofs of private house1?, and even tho windows
ot lonely dwellings, flapped and waved tho
striped und starry banner. The steady breath
of the sea carried it out from masts and yards
of ships at thoir wharves from the battle
ments of tho forts at Alcatraz andYerba
Buena. Ho remembered that tho ferrymen
had told him that news from Fort Sumter
had swept tho city with a revulsion of patri
otic sentiment, and that there was no doubt
that the Stato was saved to the Union. Ho
looked down upon it with haggard and be
wildered oyes. and then a strange gasp and
fulness of the throat. For afar a solitary
bugle had blown tho "rovelllo" at Fort Alca
traz! End of Pabt I.
(To be continued.)
PRESENTS SUITABLE
FOR SLIM FURSES
The shops are filled with GbrlBtmas wares
and gifts for tho Yuletlde. Naturally the
rush is not as great as it will be later on, for
most women lovo to procrastinate about
theso things, looking and deliberating to
their heart's 'content before buying. "Where
tho purso is slim and friends aro many, and
presents must bo given, this matter of se
lection Is a very soriou3 question. It is
rather a wise thing, therefore, to run over
some of tho many novelties that aro brought
out two weeks beforehand.
Books there aro in abundance. Tho latest
works in the newest bindings, barring, of
course, sensational literature, it being an un
written law of the etiquette of giving that
volumes easily obtainable In paper cover for
17 or 20 cents are not suitable lor presents.
And a book should be selected with more care
than a silver set.
SILVKK LEADS IK TAVOU.
Silver, it seems, remains tho favorite metal
in which to express good wishes. This is
mado up into dozens ot charming articles.
The well-known devices for toilet articles are
all thoro, with the addition of a brush cleaner.
This little affair Is construetod on the pattern
of a curry-comb with repousse handle. It
serves to scratch out dust which lodges in tho
bristles and should be so speedily dislodged
in a brush. It obviates the necessity for fre
quent washing a process that does not tend
to strengthen the hold of the metal back to
the bristles.
Ink bottles are mado after a new devico this
year. The receptacle proper is smaller, if
anything, but mounted in a bottle of cut glas3
as largo as a small caraffe, with immense
silver stoppers, tho wholo setting on a round
salver of the same metal. The price is 74,
rendering this costlj trifle suitable only for
the very rich.
, FOR SLENDER TUHSES.
But there are a host of smaller and less
expensive articles. For men there are silver
mounted corks, Invaluable when traveling for
preserving tho oouquet of wine Small silver
bouquet holders that remain invisible on tho
outside ol a coat lapel, superb pipes heavily
encrusted with filagree or inlaid with onyx, a
new oxidation applied to silver matchcases,
with admirable copies of famous pictures in
bas-relief.
For the domestic girl novollies in the way
of spool rests, of silver or tortoise shell, aro
fashioned. Matching theso are, emerys in
fruit patterns mounted on metal, nnd accom
panied by long silver bodkin holders.
Cucumber serverettes are the last thing in
table ware, with vegetable dishes as well as
simple and inexpensive silver shells mado to
hold porcelain baking r.ish; these aro tho
prettiest imaginable receptables in which to
'irve potatoes au gratin or maccaroni, and
can bo bought for 2 or 3.
For the desk one finds articles to meet
every need, mado of boa constrictor skin.
Some might feel about owning such an am
phibian collection as did the old farm woman
who killed a turkey gobbler that always hated
and defied her. The legend runs that even
after he was quartered and pickod ho roso up
in the night and slaved her. Still ono can
not bo prejudiced if one wishes to bo fashion
able. Shopping bags are popular, made of dark
moire and Haunting a heavy metal clasp with
name and address inscribed. The now hand
kerchief case introduced by Caroline Miskel,
is new and pretty. It ii attached to tho belt
or skirt by two tiny hooks, tho bag of silK
cords, "V" shaped and tipped with silver or
gold. They are considered smart for dinner
orjevening gown, never for the street.
A small cut-glass mucilage bottle, mounted
in silver, is a pretty and reasonablo gift
just showing in the shops, together with
hairpin boxes. These aro square and divi
sional, a compartment for each stylo of pin.
This brings up tho great variety of orna
mental combs. All modeled after the Span
ish, they are devised in every shnde of tor
toise and inlaid or fllagreed wltn gold, silver
or mother of pearl, and vary in prico from
S2.50 to $25.
Shoe horns, paper knives and the usual
paraphernalia of men's articles aro now
tipped with ivorized horn as carving knives
aro treated. It is durable and moro mascu
line. SUE WON THE BET.
Camilla TVahlburgiHade Iler Horse Jump
the Dining Tabic
The latest sensation of the day in Paris is
tho result of a novel bet made between two
leading lights of the fashionable jockey club
in that city. It camo about in this way: Dur
ing a dinner given in honor of the winner of
grand autumn races the guests began to tell
stories of fine horsemanship. An elderly of
ficer present said that he thought the young
men of this generation did not ride so well as
they did in tho good old days. This led to
an animated dispute, which ended by Max
Lebaudy offering to bet that ho knew a lady
rider that could do anything with a horse
that any man of this or any generation had
done.
Tho old officer accepted tho bet, stipulat
ing that tho lady should rido her horeo into
the banquet hall and take a flying leap over
tho tabic without disturbing or touching the
wine bottles, flowers, or anything elso on the
table. Nobody dreamed that tho bet would
be accepted.
It was done, however, and next evening
when the snme party was gathered around
the festive board the event took place. The
world-famous equestrienne, Camilla Ton
Walilburg, mounted on her favorite full
blooded Arabian horso and attired in the
regular riding habit suddenly appeared in
the door of the dining-room. Wltn a cheery
"Good evening gentlemen," sho gave tho
spur to her animal, and, beforo tho thor
oughly surprised and amazed dinere had
time to collect their thought), sho had boen
carried over tho tablo in the most graceful
and approved fashion by her spirited horse.
Not oven tho filled wine glasses wero jarred
and Max won his bet and the crowd did
homage to and toastod tho dashing equestrienne.
FASHIOHS JDST FROM PARIS
Hats Have Grown Wide to Balance
the Big Sleeyes.
DAZZLING NEW HEAD-DRESSES
Ono in Particular Was Adorned by Over-
& lapping: Scales of Cold, Gradually Shading
Into Black Seal Is Still the Orthodox
Thing in Jackets SmaU Skins Utilized.
Paei3, Dec. 8, 1S94. "Hats have grown
wide to preserve tho unities," said oracularly
Mons. Carlier, tho well-known modiste of
tho Avenue do POpera. "Tho movement was
inovitablo to keep pace with the sleeves.
Measured by past seasons to-day's hats you
may see aro enormous, but set over to-day's
gowns thoy aro perfect and they aro moderate.
All Is by comparison. Do I make myself
clear?"
It was a pretty illustration of how dres3, a3
well as pictures, follow tho laws of art. If
one part of the composition, as the sleovo top,
reaches out boyond tho old outline, straight
way a now outline must bo Imagined, andthl3
new imaginary outline must be touched from
point to point by other members reaching,
out, as tho skirt edge, tho hair, the hat. to
form to tho eyo an agreeable continuity. The
dress artist works liko the landscape artist
Unity, harmony, simplicity aro his laws and
beauty i3 his end.
8AET0RIAL HAB2I05T.
"But I will tell you of something Immod
erate," pursued tho milliner. "It would bo to
set over these wide sleeves a hat tall and
narrow. Tho result would be a frightful dls-
CASBIAOE BOBE.
cord. A woman would be turned into a Latin
cross. No. the hats of to-day are not enor
mous. They are only large," ho said, and in
dicated a superb confection on whose ample
crown a bird rested, with wings deployed
some twenty inches from tip to tip. and an
other whoso knot of ribbons would not bo
spanned by a two-foot rule. The while I
tried to understand all that is and is not
in an adjective. Tho extremes, at least, lie
close together, for if the sleeves are a nair's
breadth too small, the hats worn in Paris to
day become at once gigantic Their size
makes them literally stunning.
"The bonnet, small as it is, you observe, has
this snme outward movement over the ears.
Maybe it is only an ornamental pin that
reaches out, or a plume, the slightest indica
tion is enough, the eyo needs only a sugges
tion and fancy supplies the rest. For example,
look at this little capote. It Is diminutive,
a size for a doll, yet this wide bow on the
front and the tipsover the ears all havo the
lateral movement. A six-inch brim would
not be more suggestive: it is an embodiment
of the prevailing idea. The bonnet in ques
tion wns forniPd after tho peasant s headdress
of Provence, of green metallic paper, a new
bonnet material, embroidered over with jet.
On the front was a bow of black lace of but
terfly form, wired out with a thread of beads
in metallic colors, and at the center was a tar
of flashing jet A pompon rose over the top,
and black tips fe'l at the sides. It was an
unedited model fc theater wear.
DAZZLE a HEAD DBESSES.
"These lustrous capotes are the key of the
season," nnd Monsieur indicated another one.
It was all in overlapping scales of gold that
shaded down to black. Its form se emed to
PARISIAN, STEEST TOILET.
bo a diminutive Koman helmet pierced
through on each sido with arrows stuck in
liko long Japanese hairpins; high nbove the
crest towored tho tail of a paradise bird toned
down to black, and small black tips fell down
tho back. But those details woro lost in tho
general effect, which was ravishing; it nes
tled down in tho hair liko a bird in its nest.
"Como to tho medium-sized round hat and
you observe the same general character, al
ways there Is thi3 lateral movement, this
sympathy with tho slaove." A black folt
amazon was the illustration, tho sides rolled
up against the crown, tho vacated space over
the ears occupied by a knot of English point
I laco; verdure green velvet passed round tho
JltllV
1 If i
crown and formed a standing loop on each
side, and a bunch of plumes at the back rose
high and fell down low upon the hair.
"The richest trimmings are those great
birds of rare plumage that have to bo sought
in the jungles of the earth, but they ara costly
and small purses content themselves with
dove3 artificially dyed, or with flocks o
smaller birds, numbers being put upon tho
same hat As to colors in fashion, all tho
tints of reddisb-vf olet como first; they are tho
rage; next in order are rose, geranium, dab
Hah, and reddish brown. . Black plumes are
used in profusion. They aro under the brim.
and stand out at the sides and fall down at
the back. Tho aro the trimming par excel
lence. "Ono Indiscreet question, monsieur. If
these bonnet3 are the key for tho coquette,
what la tho key for tho elderly womani" and.
i &':
.s-t iiur
vx.
" '
5BT BOA AND BONNET.
monsieur smiled curiously and said: "It 13 all
one; there are no elderly women. Thi3 glit
tering eapota moulin i3 worn by women of
sixty-five, and it suits them, too.'
In Paris all is possible, even eternal youth.
FCE XOTELTIES.
The fur season started in, 33 usual, with a
variety of new furs, each of which by rumor
would become the vogue, but each of which,
in fact has disappeared in turn till there 13
now left for day wear only the old standbya
of seal and sable, with astrakhan in the sec
ond plan, and for evening the long-haired
Persian lamb and ermine. Seal still makes
the orthodox jacket; sable remains the moss
beautiful fur for trimming, and only the
white furs mentioned have oeen found to ade
quately grace beauty at night.
JVS. FIGABOS.
Likewise French women start inthe'sea
son with an attempt at jaeket3.bat after a few"
tentatives, tho jacket disappears; the furriers
make them but nobody wears them. French,
women do not liko jackets, which have too
much a look of utility; French style does not
assimilate them. This season the skirt of the
jaeket was very quickly boobed off short as
waist line, leaving a sealskin bodice or a
Sgaro. as you please, or vest as the French,
say. This figaro is close fitted, single cr
double breasted, with a vest perhaps of as
trakhan hooked up elose to the throat with a
collarband and decorated with large tortuise
shell buttons.
A silk blouse may possibly be worn under
it, but not a bodice; it is too elose. This gar
ment suits exactly the French idea: it has no
long, sedate lines in it: it gives a plump look
to the figure: there is something staccato in
it; it 13, in fine, chic Atee it is a garment
perfectly formed for active sports, ssatisg,
bicycling and so on, which reeommenIs it t
fin de sieele women in general. Add to it a
velvet skirt, a muff to match and a big hat,
and there is formed one of the most charming
costumes of the season, worth half a dozf-a
long ja&ets in effect of vivaeity and style.
SCXFTVOCS WBAP9.
For ceremonious dress, kDg jackets ara
made, but they are oftenest of velvet, match
ing in color a silk, satin, or eloth skirt with,
revers and collar fur-faeed. These have a
' THE SEW FRENCH HAT.
dignity befitting dignified occasions, which is
another matter, and not the everyday affair
of the coquette.
Fur capes are vory fashionable and ex
pensive also. They are nearly haif-length,
and very full and have a fur collar of silver or
black fox. Yictorines ot sable are one of the
Greatest elegancies, cut not wide and droop
ingly sedate, as in our grandmother's day,
but abridged and full of frivolous gouets wita
ends that reach the foot. Let oyer balloon
sleeves, the victorine gives to the wearer at a
distance somewhat the look of a pair .if
scissors. Thissci33ors effect ia tho quint
essence of style.
fob. TEncarxGS.
Quantities of small animal skins entire am
used for trimmings. Apparently the slaughter
of beast3 to furnish forth the gownrivals thaa
of birds to decorate the hat, but it is ex
plained that these innumerable littlo animals
are manufactured, so far toward creation
have the furriera gone. Certain gowns look;
like the walls of a trapper's lodge after the
day's hunt; heads and tails follow each other
in procession around tho skirt, are knotted
up into rosettes and occupy every point avail
able for an ornament. For a boa one beast
does not snfflee, two are fastened together,
the tails hanging down the back and thg
heads crossed in front. Butthese things pasi
the boundaries of taste and ore only men
tioned to show the blow of the wind.
The skirt has tho front breadth trimmed
round entablier with fur and a band of che
nllle passementerie, and 13 buttoned from th
belt down on each side with three indes eni
smoked pearl buttons. A triangular plait ol
the velvet Is set in between tho front and sid
gores. The back breadth is bordered round
and up the sidc3 Hko the front. High-neckee
bodice of tho cloth slightly bouffant In fronv
over a velvet bolt. Tho neck rounds up to
ward the shoulders and 13 caught with a head
of a little beast that forms a strap over th&
shoulder. A tippet round the neck furnishes
a third head, and the muff, is ornamented
with heads and tails. Ada Cons,
