the argonauts of north liberty-第24章

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succeeded　in　fixin'　it　up　with　Dona　Rosita　to　take　her　place　and　just
sell　them　robbers　cheap！　　Wa'al；　ma'am；　yer　sold　this　yer　party；
toofor〃he　advanced　his　face　close　to　hers〃I　never　let　on　a
word；　though　I　knew　it；　and　although　they　nearly　knocked　me　off　my
hoss　in　their　fuss　and　fury。　　Ha！　ha！　　They　wanted　to　know　what　I
was　doin'　here；　he…he！　　Tell　'em；　Joan；　tell　'em。〃

Demorest　gazed　from　one　to　another　with　a　troubled　face；　yet　one　on
which　a　faint　relief　was　breaking。

〃What　does　he　mean；　Joan？　　Speak；〃　he　said；　almost　imploringly。

Joan；　whose　color　was　slightly　returning；　drew　herself　up　with　her
old　cold　Puritan　precision。

〃After　the　scene　you　made　this　morning；　Richard；　when　you　chose　to
accuse　your　wife　of　unfaithfulness　to　her　friend；　her　guest；　and
even　your　reputation；　I　resolved　to　go　myself　with　Dona　Rosita　to
Los　Osos　and　explain　the　matter　to　her　father。　　Some　rumor　of　the
ridiculous　farce　I　have　just　witnessed　reached　us　through　Ezekiel；
and　frightened　the　poor　girl　so　that　she　declinedand　properly；　too
to　face　the　hoax　which　you　and　some　nameless　impersonator　of　a
disgraced　fugitive　have　gotten　up　for　purposes　of　your　own！　　I　wish
you　joy　of　your　work！　　If　the　play　is　over　now；　I　presume　I　may　be
allowed　to　proceed　on　my　journey？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　said　Demorest　slowly；　with　a　face　over　which　the　chasing
doubts　had　at　last　settled　in　a　grayish　pallor。　　〃Believe　what　you
like；　misunderstand　me　if　you　will；　laugh　at　the　danger　you　perhaps
comprehend　better　than　I　do；　but　upon　this　road；　wherever　or　to
whatever　it　was　leading　youto…night　you　go　no　further！〃

〃Then　I　suppose　I　may　return　home；〃　she　said　coldly。　　〃Ezekiel　will
accompany　me　back　to　protect　me　fromrobbers。　　Come；　Ezekiel。
Mr。　Demorest　and　his　friends　can　be　safely　trusted　to　take　care　of
your　horse。〃

And　as　the　grinning　Ezekiel　sprang　into　the　carriage　beside　her；　she
pulled　up　the　glass　in　the　fateful　and　set　face　of　her　once　trusting
husband；　the　carriage　turned　and　drove　off；　leaving　him　like　a　statue
in　the　road。

　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。

The　bell　of　the　North　Liberty　Second　Presbyterian　Church　had　just
ceased　ringing。　　But　in　the　last　five　years　it　had　rung　out　the　bass
viol　and　harmonium；　and　rung　in　an　organ　and　choir；　and　the　old
austere　interior　had　been　subjected　at　the　hands　of　the　rising
generation　to　an　invasion　of　youthful　warmth　and　color。　　Nowhere　was
this　more　apparent　than　in　the　choir　itself；　where　the　bright　spring
sunshine；　piercing　a　newly…opened　stained…glass　window；　picked　out
the　new　spring　bonnet　of　Mrs。　Demorest　and　settled　upon　it　during　the
singing　of　the　hymn。　　Perhaps　that　was　the　reason　why　a　few　eyes　were
curiously　directed　in　that　direction；　and　that　even　the　minister
himself　strayed　from　the　precise　path　of　doctrine　to　allude　with
ecclesiastical　vagueness　to　certain　shining　examples　of　the　Christian
virtues　that　were　〃again　in　our　midst。〃　　The　shrewd　face　and　white
eyelashes　of　Ezekiel　Corwin；　junior　partner　in　the　firm　of　Dilworth　&
Dusenberry；　of　San　Francisco；　were　momentarily　raised　towards　the
choir；　and　then　relapsed　into　an　expression　of　fatigued　self…
righteousness。

When　the　service　was　over　a　few　worshipers　lingered　near　the　choir
staircase；　mindful　of　the　spring　bonnet。

〃It　looks　quite　nat'ral；〃　said　Deacon　Fairchild；　〃ter　see　Joan
Salisbury　attendin'　the　ministration　of　the　Word　agin。　　And　I　ain't
sorry　she　didn't　bring　that　second　husband　of　hers　with　her。　　It
kinder　looks　like　old　timesafore　Edward　Blandford　was　gathered　to
the　Lord。〃

〃That's　so；〃　replied　his　auditor　meekly；　〃and　they　do　say　ez　ha'ow
Demorest　got　more　powerful　worldly　and　unregenerate　in　that　heathen
country；　and　that　Joan　ez　a　professin'　Christian　had　to　leave　him。
I've　heerd　tell　thet　he'd　got　mixed　up；　out　thar；　with　some
half…breed　outlaw；　of　the　name　o'　Johnson；　ez　hez　a　purty；　high…
flyin'　Mexican　wife。　　It　was　fort'nit　for　Joan　that　she　found　a
friend　in　grace　in　Brother　Corwin　to　look　arter　her　share　in　the
property　and　bring　her　back　tu　hum。〃

〃She's　lookin'　peart；〃　said　Sister　Bradley；　〃though　to　my　mind　that
bonnet　savors　still　o'　heathen　vanities。〃

〃Et's　the　new　ideescrept　in　with　that　organ；〃　groaned　Deacon
Fairchild；　〃butshothar　she　comes。〃

She　shone　for　an　instanta　charming　visionout　of　the　shadow　of　the
choir　stairs；　and　then　glided　primly　into　the　street。

The　old　sexton；　still　in　waiting　with　his　hand　on　the　half…closed
door；　paused　and　looked　after　her　with　a　troubled　brow。　　A　singular
and　utterly　incomprehensible　recollection　and　resemblance　had　just
crossed　his　mind。







End