the golden fleece-第21章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lland with him； I hope； to all that is uncanny and abnormal in the lives of you young folks！〃
The last rites having been paid to the dead； the party mounted their horses and rode out of the gorge on to the long levels of the desert。
〃Who come yonder？〃 said Freeman。
〃A couple of Mexicans； I think；〃 said the general。
〃One of them is a woman；〃 said Meschines。
〃They look very weary；〃 remarked Freeman。
Miriam fixed her eyes on the approaching pair for a moment； and then said； 〃They are Senor de Mendoza and Grace Parsloe。〃
And so； indeed； they were； and thus； in this lonely spot； all the dramatis personae of this history found themselves united。
In answer to the obvious question； how Grace and De Mendoza happened to be there； it transpired that； left to their own devices； they had undertaken no less an enterprise than to discover the hidden treasure。 Grace had communicated to the Mexican such bits of information as she had picked up and such surmises as she had formed； and he had been able to supplement her knowledge to an extent that seemed to justify them in attempting the adventure； not to mention the fact that Don Miguel （such was the ardor of his sentiment for Grace） would； had she desired it； have gone with her into a fiery furnace or a den of lions。 Grace； who was ambitious as well as romantic； and who longed for the power and independence that wealth would give； was all alight with the idea of capturing the hoard of Montezuma： her social position would be altered at a stroke； and the world would be at her feet。 Whether she would then have rewarded Don Miguel for his devotion； is possibly open to doubt： the sudden acquisition of boundless wealth has been known to turn larger heads than hers。 Fortunately； however； this temptation was withheld from her： so far from finding the treasure； she and Don Miguel very soon lost themselves in the desert； and had been wandering about ever since； dolely uncomfortable； and in no small danger of losing their lives。 They were already at the end of their last resource when they happened to encounter the other party； as we have seen； and immeasurable was their joy at the unlooked…for deliverance。 So there was another halt； to enable them to rest and recuperate； and it was not until the evening of that day that the journey was finally resumed。
Meanwhile； Grace had time to think over all that happened； and to arrive at certain conclusions。 She was at bottom a good girl； though liable to be led away by her imagination； her vanity； and her temperament。 Don Miguel's best qualities had revealed themselves to her in the desert： he had always thought of her before himself； had done all that in him lay to save her from fatigue and suffering； and had stuck to her faithfully when he might perhaps have increased his own chances of escape by abandoning her。 Did not such a man deserve to be rewarded？especially as he was a handsome fellow； of good family； and possessed of quite a respectable income。 Moreover； Harvey Freeman was now beyond her reach： he was going to marry Miriam； and she had realized that her own brief infatuation for him had had no very deep root after all。 Accordingly； she smiled encouragingly upon Don Miguel； and before they set out on their homeward ride she had vouchsafed him the bliss of knowing that he might call her his。
The general； as her guardian； did not withhold his approval； but when Grace drew him aside and besought him never to reveal to her intended the fact that she had once been a shop…girl； the old warrior smiled。
〃You can depend upon me to keep your secret； if you wish it； my dear；〃 said he； 〃but I warn you that such concealments between husband and wife are not wise。 He loves you and would only love you the more for your frankness in confessing what you seem to consider a discreditable episode： though I for my part am free to tell you that you will be lucky if your future life affords you the opportunity of doing anything else so much to your credit。 But the chances are that he will find it out sooner or later； and that may not be so agreeable； either to him or to you。 Better tell him all now。〃
But Grace pictured to herself the aristocratic pride of an hidalgo shocked by the suggestion of the plebeianism of trade； and she would not consent to the revelation。 But the general's prediction was fulfilled sooner than might have been expected。
For； after they were married； Don Miguel decided to visit the Atlantic coast on the wedding journey； and one of the first notable places they reached was； of course； New York。 Don Miguel was delighted； and was never weary of strolling up Fifth Avenue and down Broadway； with his beautiful wife on his arm。 He marvelled at the vast white pile of the Fifth Avenue Hotel； he frowned at the Worth Monument； he stared inexhaustibly into the shop…windows； he exclaimed with admiration at the stupendous piles of masonry which contained the goods of New York's merchant princes。 It seemed to be his opinion that the possessors of so much palpable wealth must be the true aristocracy of the country。
And one afternoon it happened that as they were strolling along Broadway； between Twenty…third Street and Union Square； and were crossing one of the side…streets； a horse belonging to one of Lord and Taylor's delivery… wagons became frightened； and bolted round the corner。 One of the hind wheels of the vehicle came in contact with Grace's shoulder； and knocked her down。 The blow and the fall stunned her。 Don Miguel's grief and indignation were expressed with tropical energy； and a by…stander said； 〃Better carry her into the store； mister； it's their wagon run her down； and they can't do less than look after her。〃
The counsel seemed reasonable； and Don Miguel； with the assistance of a policeman； lifted his wife and bore her into the stately shop。 One of the floor…walkers met them at the door； he cast a glance at their burden； and exclaimed； 〃Why； it's Miss Parsloe！〃 And immediately a number of the employees gathered round； all regarding her with interest and sympathy； all anxious to help； andwhich was what mystified Don Miguel all calling her by name！ How came they to know Grace Parsloe？ Nay； they even glanced at Don Miguel； as if to ask what was HIS business with the beautiful unconscious one！
〃This lady are my wife；〃 he said； with dignity。 〃She not any more Miss Parsloe。〃
〃Oh； Grace has got married！〃 exclaimed the young ladies； one to another； and then an elderly man； evidently in authority； came forward and said； 〃I suppose you are aware； sir； that Miss Parsloe was formerly one of our girls here； and a very clever and useful girl she was。 I need not say how sorry we are for this accident： I have sent for the physician： but I cannot but be glad that the misfortune has at least given me the opportunity of telling you how highly your wife was valued and respected here。〃
At this juncture； Grace opened her eyes： she looked from one face to another； and knew that fate had brought the truth to light。 But the physical shock tempered the severity of the mental one： besides； she could not help being pleased at the sight of so many well…remembered and friendly faces； and； finally； her husband did not look by any means so angry and scandalized as she had feared he would。 Indeed； he appeared almost gratified。 The truth probably was； he was flattered to see his wife the centre of so much interest and attention； and at the discovery that she had been in some way an honored appanage of so imposing an establishment。 So； by the time Grace was well enough to be driven back to her hotel； the senor was prattling cheerfully and familiarly with all and sundry； and was promising to bring his wife back there the next day； to talk over old times with her former associates。
Such was Grace's punishment： it was not very severe； but then her fault had been a venial one； and the episode was of much moral benefit to her。 She liked her husband all the better for having nothing more to conceal from him； her vanity was rebuked； and her false pride chastened； and when； in after…years； her pretty daughters and black…haired sons gathered about her knees； she was wont to warn them sagely against the un…American ab
