CHAPTER XV.--_Journeying Overland._
The crashing and thundering of Yosemite's falls plunging from dizzyheights, in splendor of furious avalanches, had been left behind.
George and his three companions had given the last lingering looktowards the glorious rainbows and myriads of dazzling gems glittering inthe sun's rays, which pierced the vertical streams and played throughthe spray and mist enveloping them.
The memory of the mirror lakes, with their gorgeous borders of green,their rich bouquets of fragrant azaleas and pond lilies, as well as thetowering cliffs, the overpowering heights of that wonderful valley, allmade a picture to remain forevermore a cherished souvenir.
But alas, for the fatality of human joys, all is evanescent in thisworld of ours; the moment of parting at last came for the lovers.
The west-bound train would pass the station first, so Clarence must bethe one to leave his friends.
"Write to us soon, won't you?" George said.
"Certainly, as soon as I get to San Diego."
"Write before, and let us know what you are doing."
"All right, I will do so," said he, and looked at Mercedes, who withdown-cast eyes, felt his gaze but dared not look up.
"Don't fail to write the long letter you promised, after you have yourtalk with papa, and he has explained to mamma your position," Elvirasaid.
"That is my all-absorbing thought. There is no danger of my failing tosee Don Mariano the first minute I can do so. I will write immediately.To whom shall I direct my letter?"
"To me, of course," Elvira replied, "and you will write to Mercita also,after matters have been explained to mamma."
The distant rumbling as if of coming earthquake, and a far off shriekwere now heard. In another minute the round-eyed monster was there, andsnorting maliciously, rushed off with Clarence, leaving Mercedes leaningon George's arm, scarcely able to stand, and hardly realizing thatClarence had left them.
She was still very pale, and her hands yet trembled, when the thunderingof the east-bound train was heard in the distance. Two shrieks piercedthe air simultaneously, as the two trains passed each other. Her heartgave accelerated throbs when she heard those shrieks, because she knewthat one of them came from the train which bore Clarence away, and itseemed to her as if expressive of his pain at being torn from her. Yes,that magician, the locomotive, understood it all, and shrieked to say hedid so, because he knew she, too, wished to shriek like that.
What would you, my reader? She was so young--only seventeen--and inlove. The poor child was naturally indulging in all sorts of foolishfancies while looking at the woods through which he had disappeared.
But there was now the east-bound train, and George taking her towardsit.
He laughed loudly as they walked to the cars, and Elvira asked why helaughed.
"I declare, Mercedes, you must have fascinated those two fellows morethan is good for them--for there they are as large as life."
"Who, George?" Elvira asked.
"Why, who should it be but Selden and Bob Gunther."
"Oh!" ejaculated Mercedes. "Please George get a compartment where we canbe by ourselves," implored she.
"I will; you shall have it if money or influence or anything short ofmurder can get it," said he, helping them up the car steps. "But in themeantime I am going to locate you here, while I go to interview theconductor and porter. This is the last car--you will be here unobserved.Those fellows did not see us get in." So saying, George went off,laughing heartily.
Neither conductor nor porter were to be found in the next car, or thenext to that, and George made his way through them as quickly as theirjolting and swinging permitted.
At the further end of the fourth car he spied a porter talking with twoforeign-looking gentlemen, who were none other than Messrs. Gunther andSelden. Their backs were turned toward him, so he had time to approachthem unobserved, near enough to hear Selden say, in his anglicisedaccents:
"But my good fellah, we were told positively that travelers going fromthe Yosemite east must get on the train here."
"And so they do," George said, laying his hand on Selden's shoulder.
"By Jove! we've got 'em!" ejaculated Gunther.
"Here they are," Selden said, with radiant face, seizing hold ofGeorge's hands, which he shook emphatically.
"Look here! let me have one of his hands, won't you?" said Gunther;"what an all-absorbing fellow you continue to be, I am sure."
While George gave a hand to each, he told the porter he wanted acompartment, if such was to be had.
"There are none disengaged, sir, except some of those little ones at theend of the car, which no one wants; but you can have a section if youlike," the porter replied.
"I have that already; but the ladies with me want a good, largecompartment."
"We have one which we will be most happy to place at your service,"Gunther said.
"And rob you of it. That wouldn't be fair."
"Yes it would, as we don't care for it. And it is very nice and private,and the ladies should have it," Selden said, warmly.
As the section which George's tickets assigned to him was the very nextto the apartment in question, it was very clear to Mr. Selden that noarrangement could have been more fortunate, and he said so.
The three then went to bring the ladies to their room.
Mercedes pleaded a headache, and George knew that she wished to bealone, to have a cry all to herself, as most girls would, when theirsweethearts have just left them. So he said to Elvira:
"Mercedes had better lie down for a while. If she sleeps she will feelbetter."
"I think so; I will join you presently," Elvira answered. And hearingthis the gentlemen retired.
Mercedes took her hat and gloves and cloak off, and sat at the window_to enjoy_ her misery in a thorough womanly fashion. She fixed her eyeson the far-off, flying wall of verdure, seeing nothing, not even thetall trees which, close by, indulged in such grotesque antics, as ifforgetting their stately dignity only to amuse her--making dancingdervishes of themselves, and converting that portion of the Pacificslope into a flying gymnasium to perform athletic exercises, rushing onmadly, or even turning somersaults for her recreation.
Elvira left her alone with her thoughts, and silently devoted herself tounpacking their satchels, arranging their toilet things, travelingshawls and night-dresses and comfortable slippers all in their properplaces. She then took her hat off, and tying a large black veil over herhead (Spanish fashion), told her sister to sleep if she could, and notto cry, for, after all, Clarence would soon be in New York.
"Do you really think so?" said Mercedes' sad voice.
"Of course, I do. Clarence is too energetic and too much in love to bekept away."
"But mamma--you know mamma's feelings."
"Which will be entirely changed when she hears that Clarence is nosquatter. Leave all that to papa. Come, give me a kiss, and if you can'tsleep, put a veil over your head and come out. I am going to join thegentlemen."
"Yes, darling, you go; but at present I'd rather sit here by thewindow."
And she sat there, but the sad blue orbs saw nothing--for her mentalgaze was fixed on that other flying train, that was rushing away,carrying her beloved with such frightful rapidity. She felt, she _knew_,Clarence was sitting by a car window, thinking of her, gazing blankly athis misery.
And so he was.
It is to be feared that his misery would have been greatly intensifiedhad he caught a glimpse of Messrs. Gunther and Selden, as they rushedpast him on their eastward journey. This aggravation, however, wasspared him. And, as when he arrived at San Francisco, Charles Guntherand his three companions had already left for Oregon, Clarence remained,for the present, in blissful ignorance of the whereabouts of those twopersistent young gentlemen, traveling so near Mercedes.
But could magician of old have shown to him in enchanted mirror theimage of his beloved, he would have read in those expressive eyes howsadly she felt his absence.
&nb
sp; When she had sat there, motionless, for two hours, Elvira came to tellher to get ready for dinner, which she declined doing, saying that shewas not a bit hungry. And so the day passed--the night came--and she didnot gladden the hearts of their traveling companions, by letting themsee her that day. Next day the morning hours also passed. She had herbreakfast in her room.
Mr. Selden began to feel piqued and Mr. Gunther nervous. They and Elvirawere playing a three-handed game of casino; George was elsewhere,talking to an acquaintance he had met on the train.
Presently, softly and unexpectedly, the sliding-door of the compartmentmoved, and Mercedes stood beside Mr. Selden, sweet as a rosebud, smilingin her most bewitching way. The blood mounted to Mr. Selden's temples,and those of Mr. Gunther's assumed the same hue. Then she, of course,blushed also--for she could never see any one blush without doing thevery same thing herself.
Elvira alone kept her composure, and said: "Why, Baby! I am so glad youfeel better. Come, take a hand, for these gentlemen will cut yoursister's throat, or she theirs. We are having a fierce battle."
"All right. Will you have me for a partner, Mr. Gunther? I warn you thatI am a very poor player," said Mercedes.
"I'll have you for a partner, Miss Mercedes, on any terms, and be mosthappy to do so," said Mr. Gunther, with more emphasis than the occasionrequired.
"That being the case, I am ready," said she, sitting by her sister,thereby being diagonally opposite to Mr. Gunther.
From that time the five travelers were constantly together, and the dayspassed delightfully for all during the entire journey, especially so toGunther and Selden. They had no occasion to complain of Mercedes forstaying away. She most amiably took part in all their games and otheramusements, their walks while waiting at stations, their conversationsduring the sentimental and delightful twilight hours. She had found thatboth young gentlemen were a most excellent protection against oneanother, as neither one was ever willing to go leaving her alone withthe other. As for ardent loving looks, she knew that the best way ofeluding them was by having recourse to her little trick of dropping hergaze, as if she must look down for something missing near by. Thatlittle trick came to her from sheer timidity and bashfulness long ago.In fact, she was unconscious of it, until Corina Holman had told herthat whenever Clarence Darrell was present she became sly, and did notdare to look at people squarely in the face--that she was the veriesthypocrite. Thus she learned that her bashful timidity had been entirelymisunderstood, but she was also made aware that she had accidentallydiscovered how to avoid looks which were best not to meet--best to avoidby simply dropping her gaze. As her long, curly lashes veiled her eyeswith a silken fringe, they could hide under that cover like two littlecherubs crouching under their own wings.