the argonauts of north liberty-第22章
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elusive determination to his own door； is not essential to this
brief chronicle。 Enough that when he dismounted he drew a pistol
from his holster and replaced it in his pocket。
He had just pushed open the gate of the corral as he led in his
horse by the bridle； when he noticed another horse tethered among
some cotton woods that shaded the outer wall of his garden。 As he
gazed； the figure of a man swung lightly from one of the upper
boughs of a cotton…wood on the wall and disappeared on the other
side。 It was evidently the clandestine visitor。 Demorest was
in no mood for trifling。 Hurriedly driving his horse into the
enclosure with a sharp cut of his riata； he closed the gate upon
him； slipped past the intervening space into the patio； and then
unnoticed into the upper part of the garden。 Taking a narrow by…
path in the direction of the cotton woods that could be seen above
the wall； he presently came in sight of the object of his search
moving stealthily towards the house。 It was the work of a moment
only to dash forward and seize him； to find himself engaged in a
sharp wrestle； to half draw his pistol as he struggled with his
captive in the open。 But once in the clearer light； he started；
his grasp of the stranger relaxed； and he fell back in bewildered
terror。
〃Edward Blandford！ Good God！〃
The pistol had dropped from his hand as he leaned breathless
against a tree。 The stranger kicked the weapon contemptuously
aside。 Then quietly adjusting his disordered dress； and picking
the brambles from his sleeve； he said with the same air of disdain；
〃Yes！ Edward Blandford； whom you thought dead！ There！ I'm not a
ghostthough you tried to make me one this time；〃 he said；
pointing to the pistol。
Demorest passed his hand across his white face。 〃Then it's you
and you have come here forforJoan？〃
〃For Joan？〃 echoed Blandford； with a quick scornful laugh； that
made the blood flow back into Demorest's face as from a blow； and
recalled his scattered senses。 〃For Joan；〃 he repeated。 〃Not
much！〃
The two men were facing each other in irreconcilable yet confused
antagonism。 Both were still excited and combative from their late
physical struggle； but with feelings so widely different that it
would have been impossible for either to have comprehended the
other。 In the figure that had apparently risen from the dead to
confront him； Demorest only saw the man he had unconsciously
wrongedthe man who had it in his power to claim Joan and exact a
terrible retribution！ But it was part of this monstrous and
irreconcilable situation that Blandford had ceased to contemplate
it； and in his preoccupation only saw the actual interference of a
man whom he no longer hated； but had begun to pity and despise。
He glanced coolly around him。 〃Whatever we've got to say to each
other；〃 he said deliberately； 〃had better not be overheard。 At
least what I have got to say to you。〃
CHAPTER V
Demorest； now as self…possessed as his adversary； haughtily waved
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
