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and remained for a few moments abstractedly gazing into the dark
garden。 The strange and mystic shapes which had impressed even the
practical Ezekiel； had become even more weird and ghost…like in the
faint radiance of a rising moon。
What memories evoked by his rude guest seemed to take form and
outline in that dreamy and unreal expanse！
He saw his wife again； standing as she had stood that night in her
mother's house； with the white muffler around her head； and white
face； imploring him to fly； he saw himself again hurrying through
the driving storm to Warensboro； and reaching the train that bore
him swiftly and safely miles awaythat same night when her husband
was perishing in the swollen river。 He remembered with what
strangely mingled sensations he had read the account of Blandford's
death in the newspapers； and how the loss of his old friend was
forgotten in the associations conjured up by his singular meeting
that very night with the mysterious woman he had loved。 He
remembered that he had never dreamed how near and fateful were
these associations； and how he had kept his promise not to seek her
without her permission； until six months after； when she appointed
a meeting； and revealed to him the whole truth。 He could see her
now； as he had seen her then； more beautiful and fascinating than
ever in her black dress； and the pensive grace of refined suffering
and restrained passion in her delicate face。 He remembered； too；
how the shock of her disclosurethe knowledge that she had been
his old friend's wifeseemed only to accent her purity and
suffering and his own wilful recklessness； and how it had stirred
all the chivalry； generosity； and affection of his easy nature to
take the whole responsibility of this innocent but compromising
intrigue on his own shoulders。 He had had no self…accusing sense
of disloyalty to Blandford in his practical nature； he had never
suspected the shy； proper girl of being his wife； he was willing to
believe now； that had he known it； even that night； he would never
have seen her again； he had been very foolish； he had made this
poor woman participate in his folly； but he had never been
dishonest or treacherous in thought or action。 If Blandford had
lived； even he would have admitted it。 Yet he was guiltily
conscious of a material satisfaction in Blandford's death； without
his wife's religious conviction of the saving graces of
predestination。
They had been married quietly when the two years of her widowhood
had expired； his former relations with her husband and the
straitened circumstances in which Blandford's death had left her
having been deemed sufficient excuse in the eyes of North Liberty
for her more worldly union。 They had come to California at her
suggestion 〃to begin life anew；〃 for she had not hesitated to make
this dislocation of all her antecedent surroundings as a reason as
well as a condition of this marriage。 She wished to see the world
of which he had been a passing glimpse； to expand under his
protection beyond the limits of her fettered youth。 He had bought
this old Spanish estate； with its near vineyard and its outlying
leagues covered with wild cattle； partly from that strange
contradictory predilection for peaceful husbandry common to men who
have led a roving life； and partly as a check to her growing and
feverish desire for change and excitement。 He had at first enjoyed
with an almost parental affection her childish unsophisticated
delight in that world he had already wearied of； and which he had
been prepared to gladly resign for her。 But as the months and even
years had passed without any apparent diminution in her zest for
these pleasures； he tried uneasily to resume his old interest in
them； and spent ten months with her in the chaotic freedom of San
Francisco hotel life。 But to his discomfiture he found that they
no longer diverted him； to his horror he discovered that those easy
gallantries in which he had spent his youth； and in which he had
seen no harm； were intolerable when exhibited to his wife； and he
trembled between inquietude and indignation at the copies of his
former self； whom he met in hotel parlors； at theatres； and in
public conveyances。 The next time she visited some friends in San
Francisco he did not accompany her。 Though he fondly cherished his
experience of her power to resist even stronger temptation； he was
too practical to subject himself to the annoyance of witnessing it。
In her absence he trusted her completely； his scant imagination
conjured up no disturbing picture of possibilities beyond what he
actually knew。 In his recent questions of Ezekiel he did not
expect to learn anything more。 Even his guest's uncomfortable
comments added no sting that he had not already felt。
With these thoughts called up by the unlooked…for advent of Ezekiel
under his roof； he continued to gaze moodily into the garden。 Near
the house were scattered several uncouth varieties of cacti which
seemed to have lost all semblance of vegetable growth； and had
taken rude likeness to beasts and human figures。 One high…
shouldered specimen； partly hidden in the shadow； had the
appearance of a man with a cloak or serape thrown over his left
shoulder。 As Demorest's wandering eyes at last became fixed upon
it； he fancied he could trace the faint outlines of a pale face；
the lower part of which was hidden by the folds of the serape。
There certainly was the forehead； the curve of the dark eyebrows；
the shadow of a nose； and even as he looked more steadily； a
glistening of the eyes upturned to the moonlight。 A sudden chill
seized him。 It was a horrible fancy； but it looked as might have
looked the dead face of Edward Blandford！ He started and ran
quickly down the steps of the veranda。 A slight wind at the same
moment moved the long leaves and tendrils of a vine nearest him and
sent a faint wave through the garden。 He reached the cactus； its
fantastic bulk stood plainly before him； but nothing more。
〃Whar are ye runnin' to？〃 said the inquiring voice of Ezekiel from
the veranda。
〃I thought I saw some one in the garden；〃 returned Demorest；
quietly； satisfied of the illusion of his senses； 〃but it was a
mistake。〃
〃It mout and it moutn't；〃 said Ezekiel； dryly。 〃Thar's nothin' to
keep any one out。 It's only a wonder that you ain't overrun with
thieves and sich like。〃
〃There are usually servants about the place；〃 said Demorest；
carelessly。
〃Ef they're the same breed ez that Manuel； I reckon I'd almost as
leave take my chances in the road。 Ef it's all the same to you I
kalkilate to put a paytent fastener to my door and winder to…night。
I allus travel with them。〃 Seeing that Demorest only shrugged his
shoulders without replying； he continued； 〃Et ain't far from here
that some folks allow is the headquarters of that cattle…stealing
gang。 The driver of the coach went ez far ez to say that some of
these high and mighty Dons hereabouts knows more of it than they
keer to tell。〃
〃That's simply a yarn for greenhorns；〃 said Demorest； contemptuously。
〃I know all the ranch proprietors for twenty leagues around； and
they've lost as many cattle and horses as I have。〃
〃I wanter know；〃 said Ezekiel； with grim interest。 〃Then you've
already had consid'ble losses； eh？ I kalkilate them cattle are
vally'bleabout wot figger do you reckon yer out and injured？〃
〃Three or four thousand dollars； I suppose； altogether；〃 replied
Demorest； shortly。
〃Then you don't take any stock in them yer yarns about the gang
being run and protected by some first…class men in Frisco？〃 said
Ezekiel； regretfully。
〃Not much；〃 responded Demorest； dryly； 〃but if people choose to
believe this bluff gotten up by the petty thieves themselves to
increase their importance and secure their immunitythey can。 But
here's Manuel to tell us supper is ready。〃
He led the way to the corridor and courtyard which Ezekiel had not
penetrated on account of its obscurity and solitude； but which now
seemed to be peopled with peons and household servants of both
sexes。 At the end of a long low…ceilinged room a table was spread
with omelettes； chupa； cakes； chocolate； gra