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furtively around her； and even managed to dislodge the clumsy wax
without marring the pretty effigy of the crossed keys impressed
upon it。 Then she opened the letter and read。
Suddenly she stopped and put back her hair from her brown temples。
Then a succession of burning blushes followed each other in waves
from her neck up； and died in drops of moisture in her eyes。 This
continued until she was fairly crying； dropping the letter from her
hands and rocking to and fro。 In the midst of this she quickly
stopped again； the clouds broke； a sunshine of laughter started
from her eyes； she laughed shyly； she laughed loudly； she laughed
hysterically。 Then she stopped again as suddenly； knitted her
brows； swooped down once more upon the letter； and turned to fly。
But at the same moment the letter was quietly but firmly taken from
her hand； and Mr。 Jack Cranch stood beside her。
Juanita was crimson； but unconquered。 She mechanically held out
her hand for the letter； the American took her little fingers；
kissed them； and said：
〃How are you again？〃
〃The letter；〃 replied Juanita； with a strong disposition to stamp
her foot。
〃But；〃 said Cranch； with business directness； 〃you've read enough
to know it isn't for you。〃
〃Nor for you either；〃 responded Juanita。
〃True。 It is for the Reverend Father Superior of San Jose Mission。
I'll give it to him。〃
Juanita was becoming alarmed； first at this prospect； second at the
power the stranger seemed to be gaining over her。 She recalled
Francisco's description of him with something like superstitious
awe。
〃But it concerns Francisco。 It contains a secret he should know。〃
〃Then you can tell him it。 Perhaps it would come easier from you。〃
Juanita blushed again。 〃Why？〃 she asked； half dreading his reply。
〃Because；〃 said the American； quietly； 〃you are old playmates； you
are attached to each other。〃
Juanita bit her lips。 〃Why don't you read it yourself？〃 she asked
bluntly。
〃Because I don't read other people's letters； and if it concerns me
you'll tell me。〃
〃What if I don't？〃
〃Then the Father Superior will。〃
〃I believe you know Francisco's secret already；〃 said the girl；
boldly。
〃Perhaps。〃
〃Then； Mother of God！ Senor Crancho； what do you want？〃
〃I do not want to separate two such good friends as you and
Francisco。〃
〃Perhaps you'd like to claim us both；〃 said the girl； with a sneer
that was not devoid of coquetry。
〃I should be delighted。〃
〃Then here is your occasion； Senor； for here comes my adopted
father； Don Juan； and your friend； Senor Brrown； the American
alcalde。〃
Two men appeared in the garden path below them。 The stiff； glazed；
broad…brimmed black hat； surmounting a dark face of Quixotic
gravity and romantic rectitude； indicated Don Juan Briones。 His
companion； lazy； specious； and red…faced； was Senor Brown； the
American alcalde。
〃Well； I reckon we kin about call the thing fixed；〃 said Senor
Brown； with a large wave of the hand； suggesting a sweeping away of
all trivial details。 〃Ez I was saying to the Don yer； when two
high…toned gents like you and him come together in a delicate
matter of this kind； it ain't no hoss trade nor sharp practice。
The Don is that lofty in principle that he's willin' to sacrifice
his affections for the good of the gal； and you； on your hand；
kalkilate to see all he's done for her； and go your whole pile
better。 You'll make the legal formalities good。 I reckon that old
Injin woman who can swear to the finding of the baby on the shore
will set things all right yet。 For the matter o' that； if you want
anything in the way of a certificate； I'm on hand always。〃
〃Juanita and myself are at your disposition； caballeros；〃 said Don
Juan； with a grave exaltation。 〃Never let it be said that the
Mexican nation was outdone by the great Americanos in deeds of
courtesy and affection。 Let it rather stand that Juanita was a
sacred trust put into my hands years ago by the goddess of American
liberty； and nurtured in the Mexican eagle's nest。 Is it not so；
my soul？〃 he added； more humanly； to the girl； when he had quite
recovered from the intoxication of his own speech。 〃We love thee；
little one； but we keep our honor。〃
〃There's nothing mean about the old man；〃 said Brown； admiringly；
with a slight dropping of his left eyelid； 〃his head is level； and
he goes with his party。〃
〃Thou takest my daughter； Senor Cranch；〃 continued the old man；
carried away by his emotion； 〃but the American nation gives me a
son。〃
〃You know not what you say； father；〃 said the young girl； angrily；
exasperated by a slight twinkle in the American's eye。
〃Not so；〃 said Cranch。 〃Perhaps one of the American nation may
take him at his word。〃
〃Then； caballeros； you will； for the moment at least； possess
yourselves of the house and its poor hospitality；〃 said Don Juan；
with time…honored courtesy； producing the rustic key of the gate of
the patio。 〃It is at your disposition； caballeros；〃 he repeated；
leading the way as his guests passed into the corridor。
Two hours passed。 The hills were darkening on their eastern
slopes； the shadows of the few poplars that sparsedly dotted the
dusty highway were falling in long black lines that looked like
ditches on the dead level of the tawny fields； the shadows of
slowly moving cattle were mingling with their own silhouettes； and
becoming more and more grotesque。 A keen wind rising in the hills
was already creeping from the canada as from the mouth of a funnel；
and sweeping the plains。 Antonio had forgathered with the
servants； had pinched the ears of the maids； had partaken of
aguardiente； had saddled the mules；Antonio was becoming
impatient。
And then a singular commotion disturbed the peaceful monotony of
the patriarchal household of Don Juan Briones。 The stagnant
courtyard was suddenly alive with peons and servants； running
hither and thither。 The alleys and gardens were filled with
retainers。 A confusion of questions； orders； and outcrys rent the
air； the plains shook with the galloping of a dozen horsemen。 For
the acolyte Francisco； of the Mission San Carmel； had disappeared
and vanished； and from that day the hacienda of Don Juan Briones
knew him no more。
CHAPTER III
When Father Pedro saw the yellow mules vanish under the low
branches of the oaks beside the little graveyard； caught the last
glitter of the morning sun on Pinto's shining headstall； and heard
the last tinkle of Antonio's spurs； something very like a mundane
sigh escaped him。 To the simple wonder of the majority of early
worshipersthe half…breed converts who rigorously attended the
spiritual ministrations of the Mission； and ate the temporal
provisions of the reverend fathershe deputed the functions of the
first mass to a coadjutor； and； breviary in hand； sought the
orchard of venerable pe