按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
divorce was lost。
〃I need not tell you that the same friends who had opposed my
marriage now came forward to implore me to allow her to break our
chains。 I refused。 I swear to you it was from no lingering love
for her； for her presence drove me mad； it was from no instinct of
revenge or jealousy； for I should have welcomed the man who would
have taken her out of my life and memory。 But I could not bear the
idea of taking her first husband's place in her hideous comedy； I
could not purchase my freedom at that priceat any price。 I was
told that I could get a divorce against HER； and stand forth before
the world untrammeled and unstained。 But I could not stand before
MYSELF in such an attitude。 I knew that the shackles I had
deliberately forged could not be loosened except by death。 I knew
that the stains of her would cling to me and become a part of my
own sin； even as the sea I plunged into yesterday to escape her；
though it has dried upon me； has left its bitter salt behind。
〃When she knew my resolve； she took her revenge by dragging my name
through the successive levels to which she descended。 Under the
plea that the hardly…earned sum I gave to her maintenance apart
from me was not sufficient； she utilized her undoubted beauty and
more doubtful talent in amateur entertainmentsand； finally； on
the stage。 She was openly accompanied by her lover； who acted as
her agent； in the hope of goading me to a divorce。 Suddenly she
disappeared。 I thought she had forgotten me。 I obtained an
honorable position in New York。 One night I entered a theater
devoted to burlesque opera and the exhibition of a popular actress；
known as the Western Thalia； whose beautiful and audaciously draped
figure was the talk of the town。 I recognized my wife in this star
of nudity； more than that； she recognized me。 The next day； in
addition to the usual notice； the real name of the actress was
given in the morning papers； with a sympathizing account of her
romantic and unfortunate marriage。 I renounced my position； and；
taking advantage of an offer from an old friend in California；
resolved to join him secretly there。 My mother had died broken…
hearted； I was alone in the world。 But my wife discovered my
intention； and when I reached Callao； I heard that she had followed
me； by way of the Isthmus of Panama； and that probably she would
anticipate me in Mazatlan； where we were to stop。 The thought of
suicide haunted me during the rest of that horrible voyage； only my
belief that she would make it appear as a tacit confession of my
guilt saved me from that last act of weakness。〃
He stopped and shuddered。 Padre Esteban again laid his hand softly
upon him。
〃It was God who spared you that sacrifice of soul and body；〃 he
said gently。
〃I thought it was God that suggested to me to take the SIMULATION
of that act the means of separating myself from her forever。 When
we neared Mazatlan； I conceived the idea of hiding myself in the
hold of the Excelsior until she had left that port； in the hope
that it would be believed that I had fallen overboard。 I succeeded
in secreting myself； but was discovered at the same time that the
unexpected change in the ship's destination rendered concealment
unnecessary。 As we did not put in at Mazatlan； nobody suspected my
discovery in the hold to be anything but the accident that I gave
it out to be。 I felt myself saved the confrontation of the woman
at Mazatlan； but I knew she would pursue me to San Francisco。
〃The strange dispensation of Providence that brought us into this
unknown port gave me another hope of escape and oblivion。 While
you and the Commander were boarding the Excelsior； I slipped from
the cabin…window into the water； I was a good swimmer； and reached
the shore in safety。 I concealed myself in the ditch of the
Presidio until I saw the passengers' boats returning with them；
when I sought the safer shelter of this Mission。 I made my way
through a gap in the hedge and lay under your olive…trees； hearing
the voices of my companions； beyond the walls； till past midnight。
I then groped my way along the avenue of pear…trees till I came to
another wall； and a door that opened to my accidental touch。 I
entered； and found myself here。 You know the rest。〃
He had spoken with the rapid and unpent fluency of a man who cared
more to relieve himself of an oppressive burden than to impress his
auditor； yet the restriction of a foreign tongue had checked
repetition or verbosity。 Without imagination he had been eloquent；
without hopefulness he had been convincing。 Father Esteban rose；
holding both his hands。
〃My son； in the sanctuary which you have claimed there is no
divorce。 The woman who has ruined your life could not be your
wife。 As long as her first husband lives； she is forever his wife；
bound by a tie which no human law can sever！〃
CHAPTER IX。
AN OPEN…AIR PRISON。
An hour after mass Father Esteban had quietly installed Hurlstone
in a small cell…like apartment off the refectory。 The household of
the priest consisted of an old Indian woman of fabulous age and
miraculous propriety； two Indian boys who served at mass； a
gardener； and a muleteer。 The first three； who were immediately in
attendance upon the priest； were cognizant of a stranger's
presence； but； under instructions from the reverend Padre； were
loyally and superstitiously silent； the vocations of the gardener
and muleteer made any intrusion from them impossible。 A breakfast
of fruit； tortillas； chocolate； and red wine； of which Hurlstone
partook sparingly and only to please his entertainer； nevertheless
seemed to restore his strength； as it did the Padre's equanimity。
For the old man had been somewhat agitated during mass； and； except
that his early morning congregation was mainly composed of Indians；
muleteers； and small venders； his abstraction would have been
noticed。 With ready tact he had not attempted； by further
questioning； to break the taciturnity into which Hurlstone had
relapsed after his emotional confession and the priest's abrupt
half…absolution。 Was it possible he regretted his confidence； or
was it possible that his first free and untrammeled expression of
his wrongs had left him with a haunting doubt of their real
magnitude？
〃Lie down here； my son；〃 said the old ecclesiastic； pointing to a
small pallet in the corner； 〃and try to restore in the morning what
you have taken from the night。 Manuela will bring your clothes
when they are dried and mended； meantime； shift for yourself in
Pepito's serape and calzas。 I will betake me to the Comandante and
the Alcalde； to learn the dispositions of your party； when the ship
will sail； and if your absence is suspected。 Peace be with you；
son！ Manuela； attend to the caballero； and see you chatter not。〃
Without doubting the substantial truth of his guest's story； the
good Padre Esteban was not unw