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！
Mexican liberty； and whom they are desirous of hanging。 I regret
to say that the list is illogical； and the request inopportune。
Our friend Mr。 Banks is put down as an ally of the Government and
an objectionable business rival of that eminent patriot and well…
known drover； Senor Martinez； who just called upon me。 Mr。
Crosby's humor is considered subversive of a proper respect for all
patriotism； but I cannot understand why they have added YOUR name
as especially 'dangerous。'〃
Hurlstone made a gesture of contempt。
〃I suppose they pay me the respect of considering me a friend of
the old priest。 So be it！ I hope they will let the responsibility
fall on me alone。〃
〃The Padre is already proscribed as one of the Council；〃 said Senor
Perkins quietly。
〃Do you mean to say；〃 said Hurlstone impetuously； 〃that you will
permit a hair of that innocent old man's head to be harmed by those
wretches？〃
〃You are generous but hasty； my friend；〃 said Senor Perkins； in
gentle deprecation。 〃Allow me to put your question in another way。
Ask me if I intend to perpetuate the Catholic Church in Todos
Santos by adding another martyr to its roll； and I will tell you
No！ I need not say that I am equally opposed to any proceedings
against Banks； Crosby； and yourself； for diplomatic reasons； apart
from the kindly memories of our old associations on this ship。 I
have therefore been obliged to return to the excellent Martinez his
little list； with the remark that I should hold HIM personally
responsible if any of you are molested。 There is； however； no
danger。 Messrs。 Banks and Crosby are with the other Americans；
whom we have guaranteed to protect； at the Mission； in the care of
your friend the Padre。 You are surprised！ Equally so was the
Padre。 Had you delayed your departure an hour you would have met
them； and I should have been debarred the pleasure of your company。
〃By to…morrow；〃 continued Perkins； placing the tips of his fingers
together reflectively； 〃the Government of Todos Santos will have
changed hands； and without bloodshed。 You look incredulous！ My
dear young friend； it has been a part of my professional pride to
show the world that these revolutions can be accomplished as
peacefully as our own changes of administration。 But for a few
infelicitous accidents； this would have been the case of the late
liberation of Quinquinambo。 The only risk run is to myselfthe
leader； and that is as it should be。 But all this personal
explanation is； doubtless； uninteresting to you； my young friend。
I meant only to say that； if you prefer not to remain here； you can
accompany me when I leave the ship at nine o'clock with a small
reconnoitring party； and I will give you safe escort back to your
friends at the Mission。〃
This amicable proposition produced a sudden revulsion of feeling in
Hurlstone。 To return to those people from whom he was fleeing； in
what was scarcely yet a serious emergency； was not to be thought
of！ Yet； where could he go？ How could he be near enough to assist
HER without again openly casting his lot among them？ And would
they not consider his return an act of cowardice？ He could not
restrain a gesture of irritation as he rose impatiently to his
feet。
〃You are agitated； my dear fellow。 It is not unworthy of your
youth； but； believe me； it is unnecessary；〃 said Perkins； in his
most soothing manner。 〃Sit down。 You have an hour yet to make
your decision。 If you prefer to remain； you will accompany the
ship to Todos Santos and join me。〃
〃I don't comprehend you；〃 interrupted Hurlstone suspiciously。
〃I forgot；〃 said Perkins； with a bland smile； 〃that you are unaware
of our plan of campaign。 After communicating with the insurgents；
I land here with a small force to assist them。 I do this to
anticipate any action and prevent the interference of the Mexican
coaster； now due； which always touches here through ignorance of
the channel leading to the Bay of Todos Santos and the Presidio。 I
then send the Excelsior； that does know the channel； to Todos
Santos； to appear before the Presidio； take the enemy in flank； and
cooperate with us。 The arrival of the Excelsior there is the last
move of this little game； if I may so call it： it is 'checkmate to
the King；' the clerical Government of Todos Santos。〃
A little impressed； in spite of himself； with the calm forethought
and masterful security of the Senor； Hurlstone thanked him with a
greater show of respect than he had hitherto evinced。 The Senor
looked gratified； but unfortunately placed that respect the next
moment in peril。
〃You were possibly glancing over these verses；〃 he said； with a
hesitating and almost awkward diffidence； indicating the manuscript
Hurlstone had just thrown aside。 〃It is merely the first rough
draft of a little tribute I had begun to a charming friend。 I
sometimes；〃 he interpolated； with an apologetic smile； 〃trifle with
the Muse。 Perhaps I ought not to use the word 'trifle' in
connection with a composition of a threnodial and dirge…like
character；〃 he continued deprecatingly。 〃Certainly not in the
presence of a gentleman as accomplished and educated as yourself；
to whom recreation of this kind is undoubtedly familiar。 My
occupations have been； unfortunately； of a nature not favorable to
the indulgence of verse。 As a college man yourself； my dear sir；
you will probably forgive the lucubrations of an old graduate of
William and Mary's； who has forgotten his 'ars poetica。' The
verses you have possibly glanced at are crude； I am aware； and
perhaps show the difficulty of expressing at once the dictates of
the heart and the brain。 They refer to a dear friend now at peace。
You have perhaps； in happier and more careless hours； heard me
speak of Mrs。 Euphemia M'Corkle； of Illinois？〃
Hurlstone remembered indistinctly to have heard； even in his
reserved exclusiveness on the Excelsior； the current badinage of
the passengers concerning Senor Perkins' extravagant adulation of
this unknown poetess。 As a part of the staple monotonous humor of
the voyage； it had only disgusted him。 With a feeling that he was
unconsciously sharing the burlesque relief of the passengers； he
said； with a polite attempt at interest；
〃Then the lady isno more？〃
〃If that term can be applied to one whose work is immortal；〃
corrected Senor Perkins gently。 〃All that was finite of this
gifted woman was lately forwarded by Adams's Express Company from
San Juan； to receive sepulture among her kindred at Keokuk； Iowa。〃
〃Did she say she was from that place？〃 asked Hurlstone； with half
automatic interest。
〃The Consul says she gave that request to the priest。〃
〃Then you were not with her when she died？〃 said Hurlstone
absently。
〃I was NEVER with her； neither then nor before；〃 returned Senor
Perkins gravely。 Seeing Hurlstone's momentary surprise； he went
on； 〃The late Mrs。 M'Corkle and I never metwe were personally
unknown to each other。 You may have observed the epithet 'unmet'
in the first line of the first stanza； you will then understand
that the privation of actual contact with this magnetic soul would
naturally impart more difficulty into elegiac expression。〃
〃Then you never really saw the lady you admire？〃 said Hurlstone
vacantly。
〃Never。 The story is a romantic one；〃 said Perkins； with a smile
that was half complacent and yet half embarrassed。 〃May I tell it
to you？ Thanks。 Some three years ago I contributed some verses to
the columns of a Western paper edited by a friend of mine。 The
subject chosen was my favorite one； 'The Liberation of Mankind；' in
which I may possibly have expressed myself with some poetic fervor
on a theme so dear to my heart。 I may remark without vanity； that
it received high encomiumsperhaps at some more opportune moment
you may be induced to cast your eyes over a copy I still retain
but no praise touched me as deeply as a tribute in verse in another
journal from a gifted unknown； who signed herself 'Euphemia。' The
subject of the poem； which was dedicated to myself； was on the
liberation of womenfromerI may say certain domestic shackles；
treated perhaps vaguely； but with grace and vigor。 I replied a
week later in a larger poem； recording more fully my theories and
aspirations regarding a struggling Central American confederacy；
addressed to 'Euphemia。' She rejoined with equal elaboration and
detail； referring to a more definite form of tyranny in the
relations of marriage； and alluding with some feeling to
uncongenial experiences of her own。 An instinct of natural
delicacy； veiled under the hyperbole of 'want of space；' prevented
my editorial friend from encouraging the repetition of this
charming interchange of thought and feeling。 But I procured the
fair stranger's address； we began a correspondence； at once
imaginative and sympathetic in expression；