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have been acceptable to the Divine omniscience for its predestined
result。
He left the road at a point where the marsh encroached upon the
meadow； familiar to him already as near the spot where he had
embarked from the Chinaman's boat the day before。 He remembered
that the walls of the hacienda were distinctly visible from the
tules where he had hidden all day； and he now knew that the figures
he had observed near the building； which had deterred his first
attempts at landing； must have been his wife and his friend。 He
knew that a long tongue of the slough filled by the rising tide
followed the marsh； and lay between him and the hacienda。 The
sinking of his horse's hoofs in the spongy soil determined its
proximity； and he made a detour to the right to avoid it。 In doing
so； a light suddenly rose above the distant horizon ahead of him；
trembled faintly； and then burned with a steady lustre。 It was a
light at the hacienda。 Guiding his horse half abstractedly in this
direction； his progress was presently checked by the splashing of
the animal's hoofs in the water。 But the turf below was firm； and
a salt drop that had spattered to his lips told him that it was
only the encroaching of the tide in the meadow。 With his eyes on
the light； he again urged his horse forward。 The rain lulled； the
clouds began to break； the landscape alternately lightened and grew
dark； the outlines of the crumbling hacienda walls that enshrined
the light grew more visible。 A strange and dreamy resemblance to
the long blue…grass plain before his wife's paternal house； as seen
by him during his evening rides to courtship； pressed itself upon
him。 He remembered； too； that she used to put a light in the
window to indicate her presence。 Following this retrospect； the
moon came boldly out； sparkled upon the overflow of silver at his
feet； seemed to show the dark； opaque meadow beyond for a moment；
and then disappeared。 It was dark now； but the lesser earthly star
still shone before him as a guide； and pushing towards it； he
passed in the all…embracing shadow。
CHAPTER IV
As Mrs。 Tucker； erect； white； and rigid； drove away from the
tienda； it seemed to her to sink again into the monotonous plain；
with all its horrible realities。 Except that there was now a new
and heart…breaking significance to the solitude and loneliness of
the landscape； all that had passed might have been a dream。 But as
the blood came back to her cheek； and little by little her tingling
consciousness returned； it seemed as if her life had been the
dream； and this last scene the awakening reality。 With eyes
smarting with the moisture of shame； the scarlet blood at times
dyeing her very neck and temples； she muffled her lowered crest in
her shawl and bent over the reins。 Bit by bit she recalled； in
Poindexter's mysterious caution and strange allusions； the
corroboration of her husband's shame and her own disgrace。 This
was why she was brought hitherthe deserted wife； and abandoned
confederate！ The mocking glitter of the concave vault above her；
scoured by the incessant wind； the cold stare of the shining pools
beyond； the hard outlines of the Coast Range； and the jarring
accompaniment of her horse's hoofs and rattling buggy wheels
alternately goaded and distracted her。 She found herself repeating
〃No！ no！ no！〃 with the dogged reiteration of fever。 She scarcely
knew when or how she reached the hacienda。 She was only conscious
that as she entered the patio the dusty solitude that had before
filled her with unrest now came to her like balm。 A benumbing
peace seemed to fall from the crumbling walls； the peace of utter
seclusion； isolation； oblivion； death！ Nevertheless； an hour
later； when the jingle of spurs and bridle were again heard in the
road； she started to her feet with bent brows and a kindling eye；
and confronted Captain Poindexter in the corridor。
〃I would not have intruded upon you so soon again；〃 he said
gravely； 〃but I thought I might perhaps spare you a repetition of
the scene of this morning。 Hear me out； please；〃 he added； with a
gentle； half…deprecating gesture； as she lifted the beautiful scorn
of her eyes to his。 〃I have just heard that your neighbor； Don
Jose Santierra； of Los Gatos； is on his way to this house。 He once
claimed this land； and hated your husband； who bought of the rival
claimant； whose grant was confirmed。 I tell you this；〃 he added；
slightly flushing as Mrs。 Tucker turned impatiently away； 〃only to
show you that legally he has no rights； and you need not see him
unless you choose。 I could not stop his coming without perhaps
doing you more harm than good； but when he does come； my presence
under this roof as your legal counsel will enable you to refer him
to me。〃 He stopped。 She was pacing the corridor with short；
impatient steps； her arms dropped； and her hands clasped rigidly
before her。 〃Have I your permission to stay？〃
She suddenly stopped in her walk； approached him rapidly； and
fixing her eyes on his； said；
〃Do I know ALL； noweverything？〃
He could only reply that she had not yet told him what she had
heard。
〃Well；〃 she said scornfully； 〃that my husband has been cruelly
imposed uponimposed upon by some wretched woman； who has made him
sacrifice his property； his friends； his honoreverything but me？〃
〃Everything but whom？〃 gasped Poindexter。
〃But ME！〃
Poindexter gazed at the sky； the air； the deserted corridor； the
stones of the patio itself； and then at the inexplicable woman
before him。 Then he said gravely； 〃I think you know everything。〃
〃Then if my husband has left me all he couldthis property；〃 she
went on rapidly； twisting her handkerchief between her fingers； 〃I
can do with it what I like； can't I？〃
〃You certainly can。〃
〃Then sell it；〃 she said； with passionate vehemence。 〃Sell it
all！ everything！ And sell these。〃 She darted into her bedroom；
and returned with the diamond rings she had torn from her fingers
and ears when she entered the house。 〃Sell them for anything
they'll bring； only sell them at once。〃
〃But for what？〃 asked Poindexter； with demure lips but twinkling
eyes。
〃To pay the debts that thisthiswoman has led him into； to
return the money she has stolen！〃 she went on rapidly； 〃to keep him
from sharing her infamy！ Can't you understand？〃
〃But； my dear madam；〃 began Poindexter； 〃even if this could be
done〃
〃Don't tell me 'if it could'it MUST be done。 Do you think I
could sleep under this roof； propped up by the timbers of that
ruined tienda？ Do you think I could wear those diamonds again；
while that termagant shop…woman can say that her money bought them？
No。 If you are my husband's friend you will do thisforfor his
sake。〃 She stopped； locked and interlocked her cold fingers before
her； and said； hesitating and mechanically； 〃You meant well；
Captain Poindexter； in bringing me here； I know！