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incoherent and unfinished。 The unknown correspondent had written
〃dear Mary；〃 and then 〃Mrs。 Mary Slinn；〃 with an unintelligible
scrawl following for the direction。 If Don Caesar's mind had not
been lately preoccupied with the name of the editor； he would
hardly have guessed the superscription。
In his cruel disappointment and fully aroused indignation； he at
once began to suspect a connection of circumstances which at any
other moment he would have thought purely accidental； or perhaps
not have considered at all。 The cavity in the tree had evidently
been used as a secret receptacle for letters before； did Mamie know
it at the time； and how did she know it？ The apparent age of the
letter made it preposterous to suppose that it pointed to any
secret correspondence of hers with young Mr。 Slinn； and the address
was not in her handwriting。 Was there any secret previous intimacy
between the families？ There was but one way in which he could
connect this letter with Mamie's faithlessness。 It was an
infamous； a grotesquely horrible idea； a thought which sprang as
much from his inexperience of the world and his habitual
suspiciousness of all humor as anything else！ It was that the
letter was a brutal joke of Slinn'sa joke perhaps concocted by
Mamie and himselfa parting insult that should at the last moment
proclaim their treachery and his own credulity。 Doubtless it
contained a declaration of their shame； and the reason why she had
fled from him without a word of explanation。 And the enclosure； of
course； was some significant and degrading illustration。 Those
Americans are full of those low conceits； it was their national
vulgarity。
He had the letter in his angry hand。 He could break it open if he
wished and satisfy himself； but it was not addressed to HIM； and
the instinct of honor； strong even in his rage； was the instinct of
an adversary as well。 No； Slinn should open the letter before him。
Slinn should explain everything； and answer for it。 If it was
nothinga mere accidentit would lead to some general
explanation； and perhaps even news of Mamie。 But he would arraign
Slinn； and at once。 He put the letter in his pocket； quickly
retraced his steps to his horse； and； putting spurs to the animal；
followed the high road to the gate of Mulrady's pioneer cabin。
He remembered it well enough。 To a cultivated taste； it was
superior to the more pretentious 〃new house。〃 During the first
year of Mulrady's tenancy； the plain square log…cabin had received
those additions and attractions which only a tenant can conceive
and actual experience suggest； and in this way the hideous right
angles were broken with sheds； 〃lean…to〃 extensions； until a
certain picturesqueness was given to the irregularity of outline；
and a home…like security and companionship to the congregated
buildings。 It typified the former life of the great capitalist； as
the tall new house illustrated the loneliness and isolation that
wealth had given him。 But the real points of vantage were the
years of cultivation and habitation that had warmed and enriched
the soil； and evoked the climbing vines and roses that already hid
its unpainted boards； rounded its hard outlines； and gave
projection and shadow from the pitiless glare of a summer's long
sun； or broke the steady beating of the winter rains。 It was true
that pea and bean poles surrounded it on one side； and the only
access to the house was through the cabbage rows that once were the
pride and sustenance of the Mulradys。 It was this fact； more than
any other； that had impelled Mrs。 Mulrady to abandon its site； she
did not like to read the history of their humble origin reflected
in the faces of their visitors as they entered。
Don Caesar tied his horse to the fence； and hurriedly approached
the house。 The door； however； hospitably opened when he was a few
paces from it； and when he reached the threshold he found himself
unexpectedly in the presence of two pretty girls。 They were
evidently Slinn's sisters； whom he had neither thought of nor
included in the meeting he had prepared。 In spite of his
preoccupation； he felt himself suddenly embarrassed； not only by
the actual distinction of their beauty； but by a kind of likeness
that they seemed to bear to Mamie。
〃We saw you coming；〃 said the elder； unaffectedly。 〃You are Don
Caesar Alvarado。 My brother has spoken of you。〃
The words recalled Don Caesar to himself and a sense of courtesy。
He was not here to quarrel with these fair strangers at their first
meeting； he must seek Slinn elsewhere； and at another time。 The
frankness of his reception and the allusion to their brother made
it appear impossible that they should be either a party to his
disappointment； or even aware of it。 His excitement melted away
before a certain lazy ease； which the consciousness of their beauty
seemed to give them。 He was able to put a few courteous inquiries；
and； thanks to the paragraph in the 〃Record；〃 to congratulate them
upon their father's improvement。
〃Oh； pa is a great deal better in his health； and has picked up
even in the last few days； so that he is able to walk round with
crutches；〃 said the elder sister。 〃The air here seems to
invigorate him wonderfully。〃
〃And you know； Esther；〃 said the younger； 〃I think he begins to
take more notice of things； especially when he is out…of…doors。 He
looks around on the scenery； and his eye brightens； as if he knew
all about it； and sometimes he knits his brows； and looks down so；
as if he was trying to remember。〃
〃You know； I suppose；〃 exclaimed Esther； 〃that since his seizure
his memory has been a blankthat is； three or four years of his
life seem to have been dropped out of his recollection。〃
〃It might be a mercy sometimes； Senora；〃 said Don Caesar； with a
grave sigh； as he looked at the delicate features before him； which
recalled the face of the absent Mamie。
〃That's not very complimentary；〃 said the younger girl； laughingly；
〃for pa didn't recognize us； and only remembered us as little
girls。〃
〃Vashti！〃 interrupted Esther； rebukingly； then； turning to Don
Caesar； she added； 〃My sister； Vashti； means that father remembers
more what happened before he came to California； when we were quite
young； than he does of the interval that elapsed。 Dr。 Duchesne
says it's a singular case。 He thinks that； with his present
progress； he will recover the perfect use of his limbs； though his
memory may never come back again。〃
〃Unless You forget what the doctor told us this morning；〃
interrupted Vashti again； briskly。
〃I was going to say it；〃 said Esther； a little curtly。 〃UNLESS he
has another stroke。 Then he will either die or recover his mind
entirely。〃
Don Caesar glanced at the bright faces； a trifle heightened in
color by their eager recital and the slight rivalry of narration；
and looked grave。 He was a little shocked at a certain lack of
sympathy and tenderness towards their unhappy parent。 They seemed
to him not only to have caught that dry； curious toleration of
helplessness which characterizes even relationship in its
attendance upon chronic suffering and weakness； but to have
acquire