moonlit air； sat at the feet of Joan on the lowest step。 Demorest；
uneasily observant of the influence of the giddy foreigner on his
wife； and conscious of certain confidences between them from which
he was excluded； leaned against a pillar of the porch in half
abstracted resignation； Joan； under the tutelage of Rosita； lit a
cigarette； Demorest gazed at her wonderingly； trying to recall； in
her fuller and more animated face； some memory of the pale； refined
profile of the Puritan girl he had first met in the Boston train；
the faint aurora of whose cheek in that northern clime seemed to
come and go with his words。 Becoming conscious at last of the eyes
of Dona Rosita watching him from below； with an effort he recalled
his duty as her host and gallantly reminded her that moonlight and
the hour seemed expressly fitted for her promised love story。
〃Do tell it；〃 said Joan； 〃I don't mind hearing it again。〃
〃Then you know it already？〃 said Demorest； surprised。
Joan took the cigarette from her lips； laughed complacently； and
exchanged a familiar glance with Rosita。 〃She told it me a year
ago； when we first knew each other；〃 she replied。 〃Go on； dear；〃
to Rosita。
Thus encouraged； Dona Rosita began； addressing herself first in
Spanish to Demorest； who understood the language better than his
wife； and lapsing into her characteristic English as she appealed
to them both。 It was really very little to interest Don Ricardo
this story of a silly muchacha like herself and a strange
caballero。 He would go to sleep while she was talking； and to…
night he would say to his wife； 〃Mother of God！ why have you
brought here this chattering parrot who speaks but of one thing？〃
But she would go on always like the windmill； whether there was
grain to grind or no。 〃It was four years ago。 Ah！ Don Ricardo did
not remember the country thenit was when the first Americans
camenow it is different。 Then there were no coachesin truth
one travelled very little； and always on horseback； only to see
one's neighbors。 And suddenly； as if in one day； it was changed；
there were strange men on the roads； and one was frightened； and
one shut the gates of the pateo and drove the horses into the
corral。 One did not know much of the Americans thenfor why？
They were always going； goingnever stopping； hurrying on to the
gold mines； hurrying away from the gold mines； hurrying to look for
other gold mines： but always going on foot； on horseback； in queer
wagonshurrying； pushing everywhere。 Ah； it took away the breath。
All； except one Americanhe did not hurry； he did not go with the
others； he came and stayed here at Buenaventura。 He was very
quiet； very civil； very sad； and very discreet。 He was not like
the others； and always kept aloof from them。 He came to see Don
Andreas Pico； and wanted to beg a piece of land and an old
vaquero's hut near the road for a trifle。 Don Andreas would have
given it； or a better house； to him； or have had him live at the
casa here； but he would not。 He was very proud and shy； so he took
the vaquero's hut； a mere adobe affair； and lived in it； though a
caballero like yourself； with white hands that knew not labor； and
small feet that had seldom walked。 In good time he learned to ride
like the best vaquero； and helped Don Andreas to find the lost
mustangs； and showed him how to improve the old mill。 And his
pride and his shyness wore off； and he would come to the casa
sometimes。 And Don Andreas got to love him very much； and his
daughter； Dona Rositaah； well； yes trulya leetle。
〃But he had strange moods and ways； this American； and at times
they would have thought him a lunatico had they not believed it to
be an American fashion。 He would be very kind and gentle like one
of the family； coming to the casa every day； playing with the
children； advising Don Andreas andyeshaving a devotionvery
discreet； very ceremonious； for Dona Rosita。 And then； all in a
moment； he would become as ill； without a word or gesture； until he
would stalk out of the house； gallop away furiously； and for a week
not be heard of。 The first time it happened； Dona Rosita was
piqued by his rudeness； Don Andreas was alarmed； for it was on an
evening like the present； and Dona Rosita was teaching him a little
song on the guitar when the fit came on him。 And he snapped the
guitar strings like thread and threw it down； and got up like a
bear and walked away without a word。〃
〃I see it all；〃 said Demorest； half seriously： 〃you were coquetting
with him； and he was jealous。〃
But Dona Rosita shook her head and turned impetuously； and said in
English to Joan：
〃No； it was astutciaa trick； a ruse。 Because when my father have
arrived at his house； he is agone。 And so every time。 When he
have the fit he goes not to his house。 No。 And it ees not until
after one time when he comes back never again； that we have
comprehend what he do at these times。 And what do you think？ I
shall tell to you。〃
She composed herself comfortably； with her plump elbows on her
knees； and her fan crossed on the palm of her hand before her； and
began again：
〃It is a year he has gone； and the stagecoach is attack of
brigands。 Tiburcio； our vaquero； have that night made himself a
pasear on the road； and he have seen HIM。 He have seen； one； two；
three men came from the wood with something on the face； and HE is
of them。 He has nothing on his face； and Tiburcio have recognize
him。 We have laugh at Tiburcio。 We believe him not。 It is
improbable that this Senor Huanson〃
〃Senor who？〃 said Demorest。
〃Huansoneet is the name of him。 Ah； Carr！posiblemente it is
nothinga Don Fulanoor an apodoHuanson。〃
〃Oh； I see； JOHNSON； very likely。〃
〃We have said it is not possible that this good man； who have come
to the house and ride on his back the children； is a thief and a
brigand。 And one night my father have come from the Monterey in
the coach； and it was stopped。 And the brigands have take from the
passengers the money； the rings from the finger； and the watch
and my father was of the same。 And my father； he have great
dissatisfaction and anguish； for his watch is given to him of an
old friend； and it is not like the other watch。 But the watch he
go all the same。 And then when the robbers have made a finish
comes to the window of the coach a mascara and have say； 'Who is
the Don Andreas Pico？' And my father have say； 'It is I who am Don
Andreas Pico。' And the mask have say； 'Behold； your watch is
restore！' and he gif it to him。 And my father say； 'To whom have I
the distinguished honor to thank？' And the mask say〃
〃Johnson；〃 interrupted Demorest。
〃No；〃 said Dona Rosita in grave triumph； 〃he say Essmith。 For this
Essmith is like Huansonan apodonothing。〃
〃Then you really think this man was your old friend？〃 asked
Demorest。
〃I think。〃
〃And that he was a robber even when living hereand that it was
not your cruelty that really drove him to take the road？〃
Dona Rosita shrugged her plump shoulders。 〃You will not
comprehend。 It was because of his being a brigand that he stayed
not with us。 My father would not have object if he have present
himself to me for marriage in these times。 I would not have
object； for I was young； and we have knew nothing。 It was he who
have object。 For why？ Inside of his heart he have feel he was a
brigand。〃
〃But you might have reformed him in time；〃 said Demorest。
She again shrugged her shoulders。 〃Quien sabe。〃 After a pause she
added with infinite gravity： 〃And before he have reform； it is bad
for the menage。 I should invite to my house some friend。 They
arrive； and one say； 'I have not the watch of my pocket；' and
another； 'The ring of my finger； he is gone；' and another； 'My
earrings； she is loss。' And I am obliged to say； 'They reside now
in the pocket of my hoosband； patience！ a little whileperhaps to…
morrowhe will restore。' No；〃 she continued； with an air of
infinite conviction； 〃it is not good for the menagethe necessity
of those explanation。〃
〃You told me he was handsome；〃 said Joan； passing her arm
carelessly around Dona Rosita's comfortable waist。 〃How did he
look？〃
〃As an angel！ He have long curls to his back。 His moustache was
as silk； for he have had never a barber to his face。 And his eyes
Santa Maria！so soft and soso melankoly。 When he smile it is
like the moonlight。 But；〃 she added； rising to her feet and
tossing the end of her lace mantilla over her shoulder with a
little laugh〃it is finishAdelante！ Dr…rrive on！〃
〃I don't want to destroy your belief in the connection of your
friend with the road agents；〃 said Demorest grimly； 〃but if he
belongs to their band it is in an inferior capacity。 Most of them
are known to the authorities； and I have heard it even said that
their leader or organizer is a very unromantic speculator in San
Francisco。〃
But this suggestion was received coldly by the ladies； who
superciliously turned their backs upon it and the suggester。 Joan
dropped her voice to a lower tone and turned to Dona Rosita。 〃And
you have never seen him since？〃
〃Never。〃
〃I shouldat least； I wouldn't have let it end in THAT way；〃 said
Joan in a positive whisper。
〃Eh？〃 said Dona Rosita； laughing。 〃So eet is YOU； Juanita； that
have the romanceeh？ Ah； bueno！ 'you have the houseso I gif to
you the lover also。' I place him at your disposition。〃 She made a
mock gesture of elaborate and complete abnegation。 〃But；〃 she
added in Joan's ear； with a quick glance at Demorest； 〃do not let
our hoosband eat him。 Even now he have the look to strangle ME。
Make to him a little lof； quickly； when I shall walk in the
garden。〃 She turned away with a pretty wave of her fan to
Demorest； and calling out； 〃I go to make an assignation with my
memory；〃 laughed again； and lazily passed into the shadow。 An
ominous silence on the veranda followed； broken finally by Mrs。
Demorest。
〃I don't think it was necessary for you to show your dislike to
Dona Rosita quite so plainly；〃 she said； coldly； slightly accenting
the Puritan stiffness； which any conjugal tete…a…tete lately
revived in her manner。
〃I show dislike of Dona Rosita？〃 stammered Demor