CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
THE LOVERS ALONE.
It may be that the haciendado had reasons for thus leaving his daughteralone with Don Rafael, during the few short moments that should elapseprevious to the departure of the young officer.
The voices of the muleteers, who were busily lading the _recua_ of DonValerio, scarce reached the ears of the lovers, who were now embarrassedby the profound silence that reigned in the _sala_. It was the firsttime they had found themselves alone, since the arrival of the officerat the hacienda.
The sun was gilding the tops of the pomegranate trees, where theparroquets were joyously performing their gymnastic exercises; and thebreeze which caressed the plants in the garden, wafted into the saloonthe perfumes of a thousand flowers. It was a solemn and decisivemoment. Gertrudis, happy, yet trembling for the words of love sheexpected to hear, sat with her face partially concealed behind the foldsof her silken _reboso_. In her fingers she still held the scarf she hadbeen embroidering; but, seeing that this betrayed the trembling of herhand, she placed it on a table by her side, lest Don Rafael mightobserve the emotion of which he was the author. It was the last effortof virgin pride--its last attempt at resistance before avowing itselfovercome.
"Gertrudis!" said Don Rafael, endeavouring to stifle the pulsations ofhis heart, "I have spoken to your father. I wish to consecrate thesefew moments--the last I may ever pass in your presence--to anexplanation between us. I implore you, then, to speak, as I intendspeaking myself, without reserve--without ambiguity."
"I promise you that, Don Rafael," responded Gertrudis; "but whatmysterious secret have you been communicating to my father?" added she,in a tone of gentle raillery.
"I told him," replied the lover, "that I had come hither with my heartfull of _you_; that my father's message summoning me to his presence hadbeen received by me as a voice calling me to bliss: since it gave methis opportunity of once more being near you. I told him how I hadhurried over the immense distance that separated us; and how, in orderthat I might see you an hour sooner, I had disregarded the howling ofthe jaguars, and the threatening voice of the inundation--"
Don Rafael became silent, perhaps from embarrassment, while Gertrudisstill remained in a listening attitude. It was a melody to which shecould have listened for ever!
"And when you told my father," said she, after a pause of silence,"that--that--you loved me--did he exhibit any astonishment at theunexpected revelation?"
"No, not any," replied the officer, himself a little surprised at thequestion thus put to him.
"That, then, must have been because I had already told him," said theyoung beauty, with a smile as sweet as her voice. "But my father--whatanswer did he give you?"
"`My dear Don Rafael,' said he to me, `I would be most happy to see ourfamilies united. But this can only be with the consent of Gertrudis,and the free wish of her heart; and I have no reason to think that herheart is yours.' Those were the terrible words that proceeded from thelips of your father. Gertrudis, do your lips confirm them?"
The voice of Don Rafael quivered as he spoke; and this trembling of astrong man--who never trembled in the presence of danger--was sodelicious to the heart of her who loved him, as to hinder her fromhastening to make reply.
On hearing the answer which her father had given to Don Rafael, thecarnation upon her lips became of a deeper hue. She was biting them torestrain a smile. Assuming an air of gravity, however, which had theeffect of rendering her lover still more anxious, she at length madereply--
"Don Rafael!" said she, "you have appealed to my candour, and I shallspeak frankly to you. But swear to me that you will not regard mysincerity as a crime."
"I swear it, Gertrudis! Speak without fear, though your words shouldcrush a heart that is entirely your own."
"Only on one condition can I speak freely."
"Name it! it shall be observed."
"It is, that--while I am making my confession to you, you will keep youreyes fixed upon the tops of those pomegranate trees. Without doing thatyou might risk not hearing certain things--in short, an avowal--such asyou might wish."
"I shall try to obey you," answered Don Rafael, turning his gaze towardsthe tops of the trees, as if about to study the domestic habits of theparroquets, that still continued their evolutions among the branches.
In a timid and trembling voice, Gertrudis commenced--
"One day," said she, "not very long ago--a young girl made a vow to theVirgin, to save the man she loved from fearful danger that threatenedhim. Don't you think, Don Rafael, that that man was dearly loved?"
"That depends upon the nature of the vow," replied the officer.
"You shall hear it. The young girl promised to the Virgin, that if herlover should escape from the danger, she would cause him to cut thehair--Oh! if you look at me I cannot go on--she would cause him to cutthe hair from her head with his own hands--the long tresses which sheherself highly valued, and which he had so passionately admired. Inyour opinion, was that man beloved?"
"Oh! who would not be proud to be so loved?" cried Don Rafael, casting aglance at his questioner that moved her to the depths of her soul.
"I have not yet finished," said she. "Turn your eyes upon the trees, orperhaps you may not hear the end of my tale, and that might vex you.When this young girl, who had not hesitated to sacrifice her hair--theobject of her constant care--the long silken tresses that encircled herhead like the diadem of a queen, and which, perhaps, were, in herlover's eyes, her greatest embellishment--when this poor girl will havecut--had cut them off, I should say--do you believe that her lover--youmay look at me now, Don Rafael--I give you permission--do you believethat he would still love her as before?"
Don Rafael faced round suddenly at the question; not that he yetcomprehended its import; but the tone of melancholy in which Gertrudiswas speaking had profoundly moved him.
A tender tear--a tear of envy for the lot of this unknown, sopassionately loved--glistened in his eye, as he made reply--
"Oh, Gertrudis!" said he, "no devotion could repay such a sacrifice asthat; and the young girl you speak of, however beautiful she might be,could not be otherwise than an angel in the eyes of her lover."
Gertrudis pressed her hand over her heart, to stay the flood of joyfulemotion that was rushing through it.
After a pause she continued, her voice quivering as she spoke--
"Once more, and for the last time, I desire you to raise your eyestowards heaven. We have reason to be thankful to it."
While Don Rafael obeyed the direction, Gertrudis permitted the _reboso_to fall from her shoulders; and with her fingers she removed the combthat imprisoned her shining hair, which, coiled up in two long plaitedtresses, encircled her crown like a diadem. These she allowed to dropdown at will, until they hung far below her waist. Then seizing in onehand the scissors she had just been using at her work, and with theother covering the crimson blush upon her cheek, she held forth theinstrument, at the same time crying out--
"Now, Don Rafael! aid me in keeping my vow, by cutting for me the hairfrom my head."
"I?" exclaimed Don Rafael, in whose ear her voice had sounded like thevoice of an angel. "I?" repeated he, astounded at the proposal."Gertrudis! Gertrudis!"
"I have promised it to the Virgin for saving you last night. Now do youcomprehend, Don Rafael--my dearly beloved Rafael?"
"Oh, Gertrudis!" cried the lover, in an ecstasy of joy, "you should haveprepared me more gradually for so much happiness."
And kneeling in front of the young girl, he eagerly took hold of herhand, which no longer refused to let him touch it, but, on the contrary,was rather advanced to meet his lips.
"Is it my fault?" said Gertrudis, in a tone of sweet playfulness. "Isit my fault if men are slow at taking a hint? _Santissima_! for a fullquarter of an hour, shameful as it may appear, have I been endeavouringto prepare you for what you call your happiness." Then suddenly layingaside her playful tone, she continued--"But now, my
dear Rafael, I mustremember my vow. I have made it, and you must assist me in itsaccomplishment."
"But why did you promise your hair?" inquired the lover, with a slightair of chagrin.
"Because I had nothing more valuable to offer in exchange for yourlife--mine perhaps as well. Oh! I am well repaid for the sacrifice byknowing that you love me. Come, Rafael! take the scissors."
"Oh! I could never manage with that weak instrument," said Don Rafael,speaking merely to gain time.
"Ah! are you going to complain of the trouble it will give you?"inquired Gertrudis, bending down towards her lover, who was stillkneeling before her--"Come, my brave Rafael! Use these scissors. Icommand you."
Don Rafael took the shining instrument in his trembling hand, but stillhesitated to use them--like the woodman, who, with his axe raisedagainst some noble tree of the forest he has been ordered to cut down,hesitates before striking the first blow. Gertrudis would have smiledto encourage him, but at that moment, as she looked upon those gorgeoustresses, so long and carefully guarded, and which, if unfolded, wouldhave covered her like a shawl, the poor young girl could not hinder atear from escaping her.
"Stay, my Rafael--a moment yet," cried she, while the crimson blushmantled higher upon her cheeks. "I have long desired--dreamt of it as asupreme felicity--to entwine in these poor tresses the man whom I shouldone day love, and--and--"
Before she could finish speaking, Don Rafael had caught the perfumedtresses between his fingers, and rapturously kissing them, passed themaround his neck.
"Now I am ready," continued she, raising the long plaits that encircledher lover's cheeks, and setting the captive free. "Go on, Rafael! I amready."
"I should never have the courage to commit such a fearful act," criedthe officer, flinging the scissors upon the floor, and crushing themunder his heel.
"It must be done, Rafael; it must be done. God will punish me else.Perhaps He may punish me by taking away from me your love."
"Well, I shall do it," rejoined the reluctant lover, "but not yetawhile. On my return, Gertrudis. For my sake, leave it over tillthen."
The passionate appeal of Don Rafael at length obtained a respite, untilthe time fixed for his return; which was to be on the morrow--as soon ashe should have assured himself of the safety of his father.
While their next meeting was being arranged between the two lovers,Gertrudis suddenly started up, like a young doe that springs from itsperfumed lair at the first sound of the hunter's horn.
"Surely I heard a noise?" said she; "a strange noise. What could itmean?"
Don Rafael, whose senses had been entirely absorbed by his new-foundhappiness, sprang also to his feet, and stood listening.
They had scarce listened for a dozen seconds, when a well-known soundfell upon the ears of both--though well-known, a sound significant andominous. It was the report of a gun, quickly followed by several othersas if fired in fusillade.
At the same moment, Don Mariano and his daughter Marianita rushed intothe room. They, too, had heard the reports, which were in the directionof the hills, and were proceeding to the rear of the hacienda to inquirethe cause.
All remained listening and alarmed--Don Rafael, more than even the younggirls: for too much happiness has the effect of weakening the heart.The most profound silence reigned throughout the building; for thefiring, heard by the servants of the hacienda, had inspired one and allof them with the same mute alarm; just as pigeons asleep upon the treearoused by the first scream of the kite, remain for some momentsterrified and motionless in their places.