Maruja

  CHAPTER VI

  To the open chagrin of most of the gentlemen and the unexpected reliefof some of her own sex, Maruja, after an evening of more than usualcaprice and willfulness, retired early to her chamber. Here shebeguiled Enriquita, a younger sister, to share her solitude for anhour, and with a new and charming melancholy presented her with maturecounsel and some younger trinkets and adornments.

  "Thou wilt find them but folly, 'Riquita; but thou art young, and wiltoutgrow them as I have. I am sick of the Indian beads, everybody wearsthem; but they seem to suit thy complexion. Thou art not yet quite oldenough for jewelry; but take thy choice of these." "'Ruja," repliedEnriquita, eagerly, "surely thou wilt not give up this necklace ofcarved amber, that was brought thee from Manilla--it becomes thee so!Everybody says it. All the caballeros, Raymond and Victor, swear thatit sets off thy beauty like nothing else." "When thou knowest menbetter," responded Maruja, in a deep voice, "thou wilt care less forwhat they say, and despise what they do. Besides, I wore itto-day--and--I hate it." "But what fan wilt thou keep thyself? Theone of sandal-wood thou hadst to-day?" continued Enriquita, timidlyeying the pretty things upon the table. "None," responded Maruja,didactically, "but the simplest, which I shall buy myself. Truly, itis time to set one's self against this extravagance. Girls thinknothing of spending as much upon a fan as would buy a horse and saddlefor a poor man." "But why so serious tonight, my sister?" said thelittle Enriquita, her eyes filling with ready tears. "It grieves me,"responded Maruja, promptly, "to find thee, like the rest, giving thysoul up to the mere glitter of the world. However, go, child, take theheads, but leave the amber; it would make thee yellower than thou art;which the blessed Virgin forbid! Good-night!"

  She kissed her affectionately, and pushed her from the room.Nevertheless, after a moment's survey of her lonely chamber, shehastily slipped on a pale satin dressing-gown, and, darting across thepassage, dashed into the bedroom of the youngest Miss Wilson, haledthat sentimental brunette from her night toilet, dragged her into herown chamber, and, enwrapping her in a huge mantle of silk and gray fur,fed her with chocolates and chestnuts, and, reclining on hersympathetic shoulder, continued her arraignment of the world and itsfollies until nearly daybreak.

  It was past noon when Maruja awoke, to find Faquita standing by herbedside with ill-concealed impatience.

  "I ventured to awaken the Dona Maruja," she said, with vivaciousalacrity, "for news! Terrible news! The American, Dr. West, is founddead this morning in the San Jose road!"

  "Dr. West dead!" repeated Maruja, thoughtfully, but without emotion.

  "Surely dead--very dead. He was thrown from his horse and dragged bythe stirrups--how far, the Blessed Virgin only knows. But he is founddead--this Dr. West--his foot in the broken stirrup, his hand holding apiece of the bridle! I thought I would waken the Dona Maruja, that noone else should break it to the Dona Maria."

  "That no one else should break it to my mother?" repeated Maruja,coldly. "What mean you, girl?"

  "I mean that no stranger should tell her," stammered Faquita, loweringher bold eyes.

  "You mean," said Maruja, slowly, "that no silly, staring,tongue-wagging gossip should dare to break upon the morning devotionsof the lady mother with open-mouthed tales of horror! You are wise,Faquita! I will tell her myself. Help me to dress."

  But the news had already touched the outer shell of the great house,and little groups of the visitors were discussing it upon the veranda.For once, the idle badinage of a pleasure-seeking existence wassuspended; stupid people with facts came to the fore; practical peoplewith inquiring minds became interesting; servants were confidentiallyappealed to; the local expressman became a hero, and it was evennoticed that he was intelligent and good-looking.

  "What makes it more distressing," said Raymond, joining one of thegroups, "is, that it appears the Doctor visited Mrs. Saltonstall lastevening, and left the casa at eleven. Sanchez, who was perhaps thelast person who saw him alive, says that he noticed his horse was veryviolent, and the Doctor did not seem able to control him. The accidentprobably happened half an hour later, as he was picked up about threemiles from here, and from appearances must have been dragged, with hisfoot in the stirrup, fully half a mile before the girth broke and freedthe saddle and stirrup together. The mustang, with nothing on but hisbroken bridle, was found grazing at the rancho as early as fouro'clock, an hour before the body of his master was discovered by themen sent from the rancho to look for him."

  "Eh, but the man must have been clean daft to have trusted himself toone of those savage beasts of the country," said Mr. Buchanan. "And hewas no so young either--about sixty, I should say. It didna look evenrespectable, I remember, when we met him the other day, careering overthe country for all the world like one of those crazy Mexicans. Andyet he seemed steady and sensible enough when he didna let his schemesof 'improvements' run away with him like yon furious beastie. Eh well,puir man--it was a sudden ending! And his family--eh?"

  "I don't think he has one--at least here," said Raymond. "You can'talways tell in California. I believe he was a widower."

  "Ay, man, but the heirs; there must be considerable property?" saidBuchanan, impatiently.

  "Oh, the heirs. If he's made no will, which doesn't look like soprudent and practical a man as he was--the heirs will probably crop upsome day."

  "PROBABLY! crop up some day," repeated Buchanan, aghast.

  "Yes. You must remember that WE don't take heirs quite as much intoaccount as you do in the old country. The loss of the MAN, and how toreplace HIM, is much more to us than the disposal of his property.Now, Doctor West was a power far beyond his actual possessions--and wewill know very soon how much those were dependent upon him."

  "What do you mean?" asked Buchanan, anxiously.

  "I mean that five minutes after the news of the Doctor's death wasconfirmed, your friend Mr. Stanton sent a messenger with a despatch tothe nearest telegraphic office, and that he himself drove over to catchAladdin before the news could reach him."

  Buchanan looked uneasy; so did one or two of the native Californianswho composed the group, and who had been listening attentively. "Andwhere is this same telegraphic office?" asked Buchanan, cautiously.

  "I'll drive you over there presently," responded Raymond, grimly."There'll be nothing doing here to-day. As Dr. West was a nearneighbor of the family, his death suspends our pleasure-seeking untilafter the funeral."

  Mr. Buchanan moved away. Captain Carroll and Garnier drew nearer thespeaker. "I trust it will not withdraw from us the society of MissSaltonstall," said Garnier, lightly--"at least, that she will not beinconsolable."

  "She did not seem to be particularly sympathetic with Dr. West theother day," said Captain Carroll, coloring slightly with therecollection of the morning in the summer-house, yet willing, in hishopeless passion, even to share that recollection with his rival. "Didyou not think so, Monsieur Garnier?"

  "Very possibly; and, as Miss Saltonstall is quite artless and childlikein the expression of her likes and dislikes," said Raymond, with thefaintest touch of irony, "you can judge as well as I can."

  Garnier parried the thrust lightly. "You are no kinder to our folliesthan you are to the grand passions of these gentlemen. Confess, youfrightened them horribly. You are---what is called--a bear--eh? Youdepreciate in the interests of business."

  Raymond did not at first appear to notice the sarcasm. "I onlystated," he said, gravely, "that which these gentlemen will find outfor themselves before they are many hours older. Dr. West was thebrain of the county, as Aladdin is its life-blood. It only remains tobe seen how far the loss of that brain affects the county. The StockExchange market in San Francisco will indicate that today in the sharesof the San Antonio and Soquel Railroad and the West Mills andManufacturing Co. It is a matter that may affect even our friendshere. Whatever West's social standing was in this house, lately he wasin confidential business relations with Mrs. Saltonstall." He raisedhis eyes for the first t
ime to Garnier as he added, slowly, "It is tobe hoped that if our hostess has no social reasons to deplore the lossof Dr. West, she at least will have no other."

  With a lover's instinct, conscious only of some annoyance to Maruja, inall this, Carroll anxiously looked for her appearance among the others.He was doomed to disappointment, however. His half-timid inquiriesonly resulted in the information that Maruja was closeted with hermother. The penetralia of the casa was only accessible to the family;yet, as he wandered uneasily about, he could not help passing once ortwice before the quaint low archway, with its grated door, that openedfrom the central hall. His surprise may be imagined when he suddenlyheard his name uttered in a low voice; and, looking up, he beheld thesoft eyes of Maruja at the grating.

  She held the door partly open with one little hand, and made a sign forhim to enter with the other. When he had done so, she said, "Come withme," and preceded him down the dim corridor. His heart beat thickly;the incense of this sacred inner life, with its faint suggestion ofdead rose-leaves, filled him with a voluptuous languor; his breath waslost, as if a soft kiss had taken it away; his senses swam in the lightmist that seemed to suffuse everything. His step trembled as shesuddenly turned aside, and, opening a door, ushered him into a smallvaulted chamber.

  In the first glance it seemed to be an oratory or chapel. A large goldand ebony crucifix hung on the wall. There was a prie-dieu of heavydark mahogany in the centre of the tiled floor; there was a low ottomanor couch, covered with a mantle of dark violet velvet, like a pall;there were two quaintly carved stiff chairs; a religious, almostascetic, air pervaded the apartment; but no dreamy eastern seragliocould have affected him with an intoxication so profoundly andmysteriously sensuous.

  Maruja pointed to a chair, and then, with a peculiarly femininemovement, placed herself sideways upon the ottoman, half reclining onher elbow on a high cushion, her deep billowy flounces partly veilingthe funereal velvet below. Her oval face was pale and melancholy, hereyes moist as if with recent tears; an expression as of troubledpassion lurked in their depths and in the corners of her mouth.Scarcely knowing why, Carroll fancied that thus she might appear if shewere in love; and the daring thought made him tremble.

  "I wanted to speak with you alone," she said, gently, as if inexplanation; "but don't look at me so. I have had a bad night, and nowthis calamity"--she stopped and then added, softly, "I want you to do afavor for--my mother?"

  Captain Carroll, with an effort, at last found his voice. "But YOU arein trouble; YOU are suffering. I had no idea this unfortunate affaircame so near to you."

  "Nor did I," said Maruja, closing her fan with a slight snap. "I knewnothing of it until my mother told me this morning. To be frank withyou, it now appears that Dr. West was her most intimate businessadviser. All her affairs were in his hands. I cannot explain how, orwhy, or when; but it is so."

  "And is that all?" said Carroll, with boyish openness of relief. "Andyou have no other sorrow?"

  In spite of herself, a tender smile, such as she might have bestowed onan impulsive boy, broke on her lips. "And is that not enough? Whatwould you? No--sit where you are! We are here to talk seriously. Andyou do not ask what is this favor my mother wishes?"

  "No matter what it is, it shall be done," said Carroll, quickly. "I amyour mother's slave if she will but let me serve at your side. Only,"he paused, "I wish it was not business--I know nothing of business."

  "If it were only business, Captain Carroll," said Maruja, slowly, "Iwould have spoken to Raymond or the Senor Buchanan; if it were onlyconfidence, Pereo, our mayordomo, would have dragged himself from hissick-bed this morning to do my mother's bidding. But it is more thanthat--it is the functions of a gentleman--and my mother, CaptainCarroll, would like to say of--a friend."

  He seized her hand and covered it with kisses. She withdrew it gently.

  "What have I to do?" he asked, eagerly.

  She drew a note from her belt. "It is very simple. You must ride overto Aladdin with that note. You must give it to him ALONE--more thanthat, you must not let any one who may be there think you are makingany but a social call. If he keeps you to dine--you must stay--youwill bring back anything he may give you and deliver it to me secretlyfor her."

  "Is that all?" asked Carroll, with a slight touch of disappointment inhis tone.

  "No," said Maruja, rising impulsively. "No, Captain Carroll--it is NOTall! And you shall know all, if only to prove to you how we confide inyou--and to leave you free, after you have heard it, to do as youplease." She stood before him, quite white, opening and shutting herfan quickly, and tapping the tiled floor with her little foot. "I havetold you Dr. West was my mother's business adviser. She looked uponhim as more--as a friend. Do you know what a dangerous thing it is fora woman who has lost one protector to begin to rely upon another?Well, my mother is not yet old. Dr. West appreciated her--Dr. West didnot depreciate himself--two things that go far with a woman, CaptainCarroll, and my mother is a woman." She paused, and then, with a lighttoss of her fan, said: "Well, to make an end, but for this excellenthorse and this too ambitious rider, one knows not how far the old storyof my mother's first choice would have been repeated, and the curse ofKoorotora again fallen on the land."

  "And you tell me this--you, Maruja--you who warned me against myhopeless passion for you?"

  "Could I foresee this?" she said, passionately; "and are you mad enoughnot to see that this very act would have made YOUR suit intolerable tomy relations?"

  "Then you did think of my suit, Maruja," he said, grasping her hand.

  "Or any one's suit," she continued, hurriedly, turning away with aslight increase of color in her cheeks. After a moment's pause, sheadded, in a gentler and half-reproachful voice, "Do you think I haveconfided my mother's story to you for this purpose only? Is this thehelp you proffer?"

  "Forgive me, Maruja," said the young officer, earnestly. "I amselfish, I know--for I love you. But you have not told me yet how Icould help your mother by delivering this letter, which any one coulddo."

  "Let me finish then," said Maruja. "It is for you to judge what may bedone. Letters have passed between my mother and Dr. West. My mother isimprudent; I know not what she may have written, or what she might notwrite, in confidence. But you understand, they are not letters to bemade public nor to pass into any hands but hers. They are not to beleft to be bandied about by his American friends; to be commented uponby strangers; to reach the ears of the Guitierrez. They belong to thatgrave which lies between the Past and my mother; they must not risefrom it to haunt her."

  "I understand," said the young officer, quietly. "This letter, then,is my authority to recover them?"

  "Partly, though it refers to other matters. This Mr. Prince, whom youAmericans call Aladdin, was a friend of Dr. West; they were associatedin business, and he will probably have access to his papers. The restwe must leave to you."

  "I think you may," said Carroll, simply.

  Maruja stretched out her hand. The young man bent over it respectfullyand moved towards the door.

  She had expected him to make some protestation--perhaps even to claimsome reward. But the instinct which made him forbear even in thoughtto take advantage of the duty laid upon him, which dominated even hismiserable passion for her, and made it subservient to his exaltation ofhonor; this epaulet of the officer, and blood of the gentleman, thissimple possession of knighthood not laid on by perfunctory steel, butspringing from within--all this, I grieve to say, was partlyunintelligible to Maruja, and not entirely satisfactory. Since he hadentered the room they seemed to have changed their situations; he wasno longer the pleading lover that trembled at her feet. For one basemoment she thought it was the result of his knowledge of her mother'sweakness; but the next instant, meeting his clear glance, she coloredwith shame. Yet she detained him vaguely a moment before the grateddoor in the secure shadow of the arch. He might have kissed her there!He did not.

  In the gloomy stagnation of the g
reat house, it was natural that heshould escape from it for a while, and the saddling of his horse for asolitary ride attracted no attention. But it might have been noticedthat his manner had lost much of that nervous susceptibility andanxiety which indicates a lover; and it was with a return of hisprofessional coolness and precision that he rode out of the patio as ifon parade. Erect, observant, and self-possessed, he felt himself "onduty," and, putting spurs to his horse, cantered along the high-road,finding an inexpressible relief in motion. He was doing something inthe interest of helplessness and of HER. He had no doubt of his rightto interfere. He did not bother himself with the rights of others.Like all self-contained men, he had no plan of action, except what theoccasion might suggest.

  He was more than two miles from La Mision Perdida, when his quick eyewas attracted by a saddle-blanket lying in the roadside ditch. Arecollection of the calamity of the previous night made him rein in hishorse and examine it. It was without doubt the saddle-blanket of Dr.West's horse, lost when the saddle came off, after the Doctor's bodyhad been dragged by the runaway beast. But a second fact forced itselfequally upon the young officer. It was lying nearly a mile from thespot where the body had been picked up. This certainly did not agreewith the accepted theory that the accident had taken place further on,and that the body had been dragged until the saddle came off where itwas found. His professional knowledge of equitation and the techniqueof accoutrements exploded the idea that the saddle could have slippedhere, the saddle-blanket fallen and the horse have run nearly a milehampered by the saddle hanging under him. Consequently, the saddle,blanket, and unfortunate rider must have been precipitated together,and at the same moment, on or near this very spot. Captain Carroll wasnot a detective; he had no theory to establish, no motive to discover,only as an officer, he would have simply rejected any excuse offered onthose terms by one of his troopers to account for a similar accident.He troubled himself with no further deduction. Without dismounting, hegave a closer attention to the marks of struggling hoofs near the edgeof the ditch, which had not yet been obliterated by the daily travel.In doing so, his horse's hoof struck a small object partly hidden inthe thick dust of the highway. It seemed to be a leather letter ormemorandum case adapted for the breast pocket. Carroll instantlydismounted and picked it up. The name and address of Dr. West werelegibly written on the inside. It contained a few papers and notes,but nothing more. The possibility that it might disclose the lettershe was seeking was a hope quickly past. It was only a corroborativefact that the accident had taken place on the spot where he wasstanding. He was losing time; he hurriedly put the book in his pocket,and once more spurred forward on his road.