CHAPTER IX.--_Clarence is the Bearer of Joyful News._
The Darrell family had been the happy dwellers of their fine house onthe Alamar rancho for nearly two months, and the three Misses Holman hadbeen the guests of the Alamar family for the same length of time, andnow the month of September, 1872, had arrived.
The awnings at the east and south side of the front veranda were down,and in that deliciously cool place, the favorite resort of the Alamarladies, they now sat with their guests--the Holmans--engaged indifferent kinds of fancy work, the greater portion of which was intendedto be wedding presents for Elvira and Lizzie Mechlin, who were to bemarried in a few months.
Mercedes was the only one not at work. She was reclining on a hammock,reading.
"Arn't you going to work anything for the girls, Mercedes?" Rosarioinquired.
"Which girls?" Mercedes asked, with her eyes fixed on her book.
"Lizzie and Elvira, of course," Rosario answered.
"I will when the wedding day is fixed."
"It will soon be, when George arrives," Dona Josefa said.
"That will be time enough for my work," said Mercedes, looking from herbook down the valley, towards the Darrell house, as if casuallyobserving from under the awning the green meadows below.
"What made you come here? The back veranda is entirely shaded, and muchcooler. I have been waiting for you there. Pshaw!" said Victoriano,coming forward and stretching open a hammock to throw himself into it.
"Had we known that, we would all have rushed there," said Corina Holman.
"In a perfect stampede," added Rosario.
"I thought you had gone with your father," Dona Josefa said.
"No, he said he might stay to lunch at aunt's. It is too hot a day to beriding about in the sun."
"Certainly, after having been in the moon for two months the change oftemperature might hurt you," said Amelia Holman.
"That's a fact; I have been in the moon ever since _you_ came," assentedVictoriano.
"Your moon stays in the valley, it doesn't rise to this level," saidAmelia.
"It is a lovely moon wherever it may shine. I say, Baby, won't you gowith me to the Darrells this evening?" asked he, addressing Mercedes,who had made no reply, for the reason that she had just seen Clarencecoming on horseback, and, as usual, when any one spoke of him, or sheunexpectedly saw him, she found it necessary to take a little time, inorder to steady her voice, which otherwise might betray her heart'stumult.
"Mercedes' French novel must be very interesting," Carlota said.
"It is not a novel--it is French History," said Madam Halier.
"Mercedes, Tano wants you to escort him this evening," said Rosario."Will you take him?"
"Where?" Mercedes asked, without moving.
"To the moon," said Corina.
"She means to the third heaven," rejoined Victoriano.
"I declare, the God of Love is truly miraculous. I think it could evenpoetize the Pittikin girls, or the Hughes, in Tano's opinion," saidCarlota.
"Talk of the angels, and you hear the clatter of their hoofs," saidRosario; "there he is at the gate."
"This awning is too low--we don't see people until they are upon us,"said Carlota.
"I am off. I suppose he will stay to lunch, that will give me all I wantof his charming society," said Rosario, rising to go as Clarencedismounted at the gate.
"Stay, he has seen us all; it would be discourteous to leave now," saidDona Josefa, and Rosario remained.
Victoriano jumped out of the hammock to meet Clarence.
"Hallo, yourself and welcome! Any news?"
"Yes, _big_ news," Clarence replied, blushing crimson,--not at the newshe brought, as one might have supposed,--but because he had just seentwo little feet, in a tiny pair of slippers, with blue rosettes, whichhe well knew. These little blue rosettes had set his heart to beating,sending more than the normal amount of blood to his head.
On leaving her hammock to take a chair Mercedes had shown thosetantalizing tip ends of her slippers, half hidden in a mass of laceruffles. That was all, and yet poor Clarence was disconcerted, andbecame more and more so, on perceiving that there were not less thannine ladies on that veranda; nine pairs of eyes which had undoubtedlyobserved his own, devouring the blue rosettes.
"What is the news, pray? Don't kill us with suspense," pleaded MissCorina Holman.
"The news is that Colonel Scott has arrived at San Francisco, and willbe in San Diego next week."
"Hurrah," shouted Victoriano, "now we'll all be rich."
"How do you make that out?" Rosario asked.
"Never mind how, we'll not go into particulars."
"No, better not," Rosario advised.
"Papa will be so glad to hear this news," said Mercedes, "and Mr.Holman, also. He'll come down now, will he not?"
"Yes, father will come down with Col. Scott, and may be build us a houseright away," said Amelia.
"There is papa now; I am so glad," Mercedes exclaimed.
"I must run with the news to him," said Victoriano, rushing madlythrough the hall, to the _patio_, or court, where Don Mariano had justdismounted.
The news was so gladdening to Don Mariano, that he came immediately topropose to the young ladies to have a dance that evening.
"But where are the gentlemen? There are plenty of ladies, but unless youinvite squatters"--Rosario began, but Dona Josefa stopped her with alook.
"Let us see," said Don Mariano, counting on his fingers, "there arethree or four Darrells, and six or eight Alamares, if my brothers andhalf of my nephews come. That ought to be enough, I think."
"Plenty. I'll send a vaquero to aunt's to call the boys, and you bringyour brothers and sisters, Clarence," said Victoriano.
"With pleasure," was Clarence's reply.
"There will surely be some fellows from town this evening, and we'llmake them stay," added Victoriano.
The dance took place and was followed by many others. The Alamar familywere very hospitable, and had many visitors, who were only too glad tospend their evenings, dancing with charming and refined young ladies,whose society was certainly most attractive.
There were several young gentlemen from the Eastern States stopping atthe principal hotel in San Diego, and they came to Alamar almost daily,to have a dance, or picnic, or musicale, or a card party.
These gayeties were not confined to the Alamar and Mechlin and Darrellfamilies, nor was the Alamar rancho only made happy because Tom Scottwas coming. The entire county of San Diego was buoyed up with hopes ofprosperity, which now seemed founded upon a solid basis.
As for the town of San Diego itself, the dwarfed and stunted littlecity, she went crazy with joy. Her joy, however, was not of theboisterous, uproarious kind, it was of a mild character, which smiles ateverybody, and takes all that comes in good part, ready always to joinin the laugh on herself, provided everybody enjoys it. She was happy,seeing a broad vista of coming prosperity in the near future. Why not?She had every reason and every right to expect that the Texas Pacificwould be built.
At last, Col. Scott arrived, and drove to the principal hotel, where adeputation of the most prominent citizens immediately waited on him topay their respects, and learn his wishes as to how his time should beoccupied during his stay in San Diego. The city desired to honor thedistinguished guest with liberal hospitality, but the business of therailroad was the main point in view. There were speeches to be made at"Armory Hall," with meetings and consultations to be had at nights,besides drives to examine the town site and surrounding country duringthe day. The ladies wished to give him a ball, but the business men saidTom Scott did not come to dance, he came to work. There was a banquetgiven to him, but no ladies were present, only men, and plenty ofrailroad speeches. The ladies could only meet him at private receptionsin the evening, when he was tired out with driving. Yet, this was thebest that could be done, as his time was limited. But he was amiable,the ladies were amiable, and the gentlemen were amiable. So the littlecity of San Diego
gave all she had to give; all the lands that hadbelonged to the old "San Diego & Gila R. R. Co.," all that had beentransferred to "The Memphis & El Paso R. R. Co.," all the town lands,water front and rights of way that could by any means be obtained, allwas most generously proffered, adding more lands than those originallygiven to the road under the old names of "The San Diego & Gila Railroad"or "The Memphis & El Paso Railroad."
Col. Scott left well satisfied with the people of San Diego, and thepeople were charmed with Col. Scott. Speculation then ran wild. Townlots were bought and sold at fancy prices, but in the madness of thehour folly seemed wisdom.
Among the heaviest investors, Don Mariano Alamar, Mr. James Mechlin, andMr. Alfred Holman were the most prominent. They bought block after blockof building lots, and only stopped when their money was all invested.Clarence also bought a few blocks, and George and Gabriel risked allthey dared. Many other people followed this (which proved to bedisastrous) example, and then all sat down to wait for the railroad tobring population and prosperity.
----
The day of the double wedding which was to tie together (with a doubleloop) the Alamar and Mechlin families, was set for the 24th of May,1873. On that day Gabriel and George would lead to the altar theirrespective sisters, Lizzie and Elvira.
Don Mariano wished to celebrate that double wedding in the sameold-fashioned way in which his own had been solemnized. He wanted atleast three days of good eating and drinking, and dancing; to have noiseand boat racing; to have a day's sailing on the bay, and a day's picnicin the woods, to which picnic even the stubborn, hostile squattersshould be invited. But with the sole exception of Victoriano, no one ofhis family approved this programme.
"I'm afraid my dear husband that we are too closely surrounded byAmericans for us to indulge in our old-fashioned rejoicings," DonaJosefa said.
"We would be laughed at," Carlota added.
"Who cares for that?" Victoriano asked, scornfully.
"I don't believe that the right thinking and kind-hearted Americanswould say anything, except that such is customary among us. But ifGeorge and Gabriel desire to run off in the steamer, as though they wereashamed of matrimony, I say let them have their way. But they will havea wedding that will look like a funeral," said the disappointed DonMariano.
"George and Gabriel are willing to have their wedding celebrated as youpropose, but it is the girls that object; they wished to run off andhide for a month in a fashionable hotel in San Francisco; afterward theycame to the conclusion that they didn't want to go to a hotel, soGabriel proposed that they will take the steamer that goes to Mazatlanand Guaymas and La Paz, thus to visit all of those places on theirwedding tour," Victoriano said. "As George had been wishing to see theMexican coast, this plan suited all very well, and George has written tohave the steamer stop for them on her way south," Victoriano explained,half apologetically, half resentfully.
"That is all right; if they are satisfied I am," said Don Mariano,philosophically, with characteristic amiability.
The steamer running between San Francisco and the Mexican ports on theGulf of California stopped at San Diego to take the newly marriedcouples; a large party of friends escorted them on board.
Don Mariano was kind and affable to all, but many days passed before hebecame reconciled to the fact that the marriage of his two children wasnot celebrated as his own had been, in the good old times of yore.
The brides and grooms had been gone for some time, and might now becoming back in a few days.
"I am glad we three are alone, for there is something of which I wish tospeak with you two when no one of the family is with us," said DonaJosefa to Carlota and Rosario, as they sat in their favorite frontveranda, sewing.
The girls looked up, and casting a quick glance to see whether any onewas approaching, waited to hear what their mother had to say. Theawnings being only half down no one could come from the outsideunobserved.
"What is it, mamma?" Carlota asked, seeing that her mother seemed tohesitate; "anything unpleasant?"
"Well, no--yes. That is to say, to me it is, very. Have you noticedMercedes' manner lately? She seems absorbed, silent, thoughtful, sad,and--and--you know what I fear. She says she is not sick, then it issome mental trouble, I am sure. So, then, I have been thinking that shehad better go with Elvira and visit New York for a while, the changewill do her good. I do not approve of young girls going from home onvisits, but as she will go with her married sister, and--and--I hope itwill be for her good."
"And yet it may not," said Carlota.
"Perhaps, if it is as you--as we three--fear, absence might be worse forher," added Rosario; "Mercedes is very gentle, but she is very lovingand constant, so it might do more harm than good to send her away now.Remember what the poet says about it:
'La ausencia es para el amor Lo que el aire para el fuego; Si es poco, lo apaga luego, Si es grande, lo hace mayor.'
and I fear that Mercedes is too deeply interested already."
"That is so. Have you spoken to papa about it?" Carlota asked.
"I mentioned it only once, knowing his partiality to Clarence," DonaJosefa replied.
"He might be partial, but when it comes to the danger of his daughter'smarrying a _squatter_ I should think there would be a limit topartiality," Carlota said, warmly.
"I fear your father views the matter differently. The one time Imentioned to him that Clarence seemed to be more and more in love withMercedes, and my fear that she also liked him more than I care tobelieve. He said, 'Has he made love or proposed to her?' I told him Ihoped he had not been so audacious as that. 'Audacious!' said he, andlaughed. 'I tell you, wife, if all that is necessary for Clarence topropose be courage, neither you nor I can stop him, for the boy is nocoward. I reckon that it is Mercedes herself who gives him noencouragement; that is what deters him, but none of our _sangre azul_,'and he laughed again. I said to him, you take very coolly a matter thatmight be a question of our child's fate for life, but he only appearedamused at my anxiety. He said: 'Don't borrow trouble; Clarence is a mostexcellent young fellow--bright, energetic and honorable. Don't botherthem or yourself; if they feel true love they have a right to it. Trusthim, he is all right.'"
"But a squatter! The idea of an Alamar marrying a squatter! Forsquatters they are, though we dance with them," Carlota said. "I amshocked at papa's partiality. I must say yes, mamma, send poor Mercitaaway."
"Yes; with all due respect to papa, I fear I will not be reconciled tothe idea of Mercedes being a daughter-in-law of old Darrell," Rosariosaid, with a shudder.
"Neither could I," added Carlota.
And thus felt and thus reasoned these proud ladies _in those days_. Foralthough the shadows of black clouds were falling all around, they hadnot observed them, or suspected their proximity; they held up theirheads proudly.
"And has Clarence the means of supporting a wife?" Rosario asked. "Thatis another question to be considered."
"I don't know. I heard he had made money in stocks, but I don't know howmuch," Dona Josefa replied.
"I have no faith in stocks," said Carlota.
"Let us not mention this to Mercedes yet. When Elvira returns we willconsult with her," Dona Josefa said.
Nothing was said to Mercedes about her journey, but she was neverallowed to see Clarence alone.
Elvira returned, and the project mentioned to her. She, as a matter ofcourse, was delighted at the prospect of having her favorite sister withher. The pain of leaving her home would be lessened in her company.
A day or two after, when Elvira was alone in her room, Mercedes came in,looking rather pale, and letting herself drop into the first chair shecame to, said:
"What is this unexpected news about my going to New York with you?"
"Good news, I think. Don't you like it?"
"Certainly. But it is too sudden. Why hadn't mamma thought of itbefore?"
"Because she did not think your health required any change."
"I tell you what, mamma alarms herself unnecessarily, and puts but poorreliance on me. I understand it all, but as a trip to New York is a mostdelightful medicine, I am willing to take it, and that she shouldconsider my health in a precarious state."
"But you _do_ look pale and thin, Mercita."
"Nonsense!" Mercedes exclaimed. "I have been keeping late hours, anddancing too much. If I go to bed early I shall get back my good colorand flesh again. However, I am glad to play the invalid until I get onboard the cars."
"Very well. I'll be alarmed for you, too, until we get off."
Mercedes laughed, and went to her room singing, but once there hergayety vanished. She locked her door, and threw herself on the bed,burying her face in her pillow to stifle her sobs.
"Can anything tear his image from my heart? No. Nothing! nothing! Theymay send me away to the other end of the world, they shall not part us,for you will still fill my heart, my own darling, holding my very soulforever in full possession."
Mercedes, being not quite seventeen, her grief at parting from Clarencewas wild, vehement and all-absorbing. But she had been trained toobedience, and her battles with the spirit always took place after shecarefully locked her bedroom door. Then Clarence was wildlyapostrophized, and a torrent of tears relieved the overcharged, achingheart.
The day of departure arrived, and she had not had one minute'sconversation alone with Clarence.