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in harmony； she sought the dignified seclusion of her castle。 But
her respected parents； whose triumphant relief at the stranger's
departure had emboldened them to await her return in their porch
with bended bows of invective and lifted javelins of aggression；
recoiled before the resistless helm of this cold…browed Minerva；
who galloped contemptuously past them。
Nevertheless； she sat late that night at her desk。 The cold moon
looked down upon her window； and lit up the empty porch where her
silent guest had mutely watched her。 For a moment she regretted
that he had recovered his reason； excusing herself on the practical
ground that he would never have known his dependence； and he would
have been better cared for by her。 She felt restless and uneasy。
This slight divergence from the practical groove in which her life
had been set had disturbed her in many other things； and given her
the first views of the narrowness of it。
Suddenly she heard a step in the porch。 The lateness of the hour；
perhaps some other reason； seemed to startle her； and she half
rose。 The next moment the figure of Miguel appeared at the
doorway； and with a quick； hurried look around him； and at the open
window； he approached her。 He was evidently under great excitement；
his hollow shaven cheek looked like a waxen effigy in the mission
church； his yellow； tobacco…stained eye glittered like phosphorescent
amber； his lank gray hair was damp and perspiring； but more striking
than this was the evident restraint he had put upon himself；
pressing his broad…brimmed sombrero with both of his trembling
yellow hands against his breast。 The young girl cast a hurried
glance at the open window and at the gun which stood in the corner；
and then confronted him with clear and steady eyes； but a paler
cheek。
Ah； he began in Spanish； which he himself had taught her as a
child； it was a strange thing； his coming there to…night； but；
then； mother of God！ it was a strange； a terrible thing that she
had done to himold Miguel； her uncle's servant： he that had known
her as a muchacha； he that had lived all his life at the ranchay；
and whose fathers before him had lived there all THEIR lives and
driven the cattle over the very spot where she now stood； before
the thieving Americans came here！ But he would be calm； yes； the
senora should find him calm； even as she was when she told him to
go。 He would not speak。 No； heMiguelwould contain himself；
yes； he HAD mastered himself； but could he restrain others？ Ah；
yes； OTHERSthat was it。 Could he keep Manuel and Pepe and
Dominguez from talking to the milkmanthat leaking sieve； that
gabbling brute of a Shipley； for whose sake she had cast off her
old servant that very day？
She looked at him with cold astonishment； but without fear。 Was he
drunk with aguardiente； or had his jealousy turned his brain？ He
continued gasping； but still pressing his hat against his breast。
Ah； he saw it all！ Yes； it was to…day； the day he left。 Yes； she
had thought it safe to cast Miguel off nownow that HE was gone！
Without in the least understanding him； the color had leaped to her
cheek； and the consciousness of it made her furious。
〃How dare you？〃 she said； passionately。 〃What has that stranger to
do with my affairs or your insolence？〃
He stopped and gazed at her with a certain admiring loyalty。 〃Ah！
so；〃 he said； with a deep breath； 〃the senora is the niece of her
uncle。 She does well not to fear HIMa dog；〃with a slight
shrug；〃who is more than repaid by the senora's condescension。 HE
dare not speak！〃
〃Who dare not speak？ Are you mad？〃 She stopped with a sudden
terrible instinct of apprehension。 〃Miguel；〃 she said in her
deepest voice； 〃answer me； I command you！ Do you know anything of
this man？〃
It was Miguel's turn to recoil from his mistress。 〃Ah； my God！ is
it possible the senora has not suspect？〃
〃Suspect！〃 said Josephine； haughtily； albeit her proud heart was
beating quickly。 〃I SUSPECT nothing。 I command you to tell me
what you KNOW。〃
Miguel turned with a rapid gesture and closed the door。 Then；
drawing her away from the window； he said in a hurried whisper；
〃I know that that man has not the name of Baxter！ I know that he
has the name of Randolph； a young gambler； who have won a large sum
at Sacramento； and； fearing to be robbed by those he won of； have
walk to himself through the road in disguise of a miner。 I know
that your brother Esteban have decoyed him here； and have fallen on
him。〃
〃Stop！〃 said the young girl； her eyes； which had been fixed with
the agony of conviction； suddenly flashing with the energy of
despair。 〃And you call yourself the servant of my uncle； and dare
say this of his nephew？〃
〃Yes； senora；〃 broke out the old man； passionately。 〃It is because
I am the servant of your uncle that I； and I ALONE； dare say it to
you！ It is because I perjured my soul； and have perjured my soul
to deny it elsewhere； that I now dare to say it！ It is because I；
your servant； knew it from one of my countrymen； who was of the
gang；because I； Miguel； knew that your brother was not far away
that night； and because I； whom you would dismiss； have picked up
this pocket…book of Randolph's and your brother's ring which he
have dropped； and I have found beneath the body of the man you sent
me to fetch。〃
He drew a packet from his bosom； and tossed it on the desk before
her。
〃And why have you not told me this before？〃 said Josephine；
passionately。
Miguel shrugged his shoulders。
〃What good？ Possibly this dog Randolph would die。 Possibly he
would liveas a lunatic。 Possibly would happen what has happened！
The senora is beautiful。 The American has eyes。 If the Dona
Josephine's beauty shall finish what the silly Don Esteban's arm
have begunwhat matter？〃
〃Stop！〃 cried Josephine； pressing her hands across her shuddering
eyes。 Then； uncovering her white and set face； she said rapidly；
〃Saddle my horse and your own at once。 Then take your choice！
Come with me and repeat all that you have said in the presence of
that man； or leave this ranch forever。 For if I live I shall go to
him tonight； and tell the whole story。〃
The old man cast a single glance at his mistress； shrugged his
shoulders； and； without a word； left the room。 But in ten minutes
they were on their way to the county town。
Day was breaking over the distant Burnt Ridgea faint； ghostly
level； like a funeral pall； in the dim horizonas they drew up
before the gaunt； white…painted pile of the hospital building。
Josephine uttered a cry。 Dr。 Duchesne's buggy was before the door。
On its very threshold they met the doctor； dark and irritated。
〃Then you heard the news？〃 he said； quickly。
Josephine turned her white face to the doctor's。 〃What news？〃 she
asked； in a voice that seemed strangely deep and resonant。
〃The poor fellow had another attack last night； and died of
exhaustion about an hour ago。 I was too late to save him。〃
〃Did he say anything？ Was he conscious？〃 asked the girl； hoarsely。
〃No； incoherent！ Now I think of it； he harped on the same string
as he did the night of the operation。 What was it he said？ you
remember。〃
〃'You'll have to kill me first；'〃 repeated Josephine； in a choking
voice。
〃Yes； something about his dying before he'd tell。 Well； he came
back to it before he went offthey often do。 You seem a little
hoarse with your morning ride。 You should take care of that voice
of yours。 By the way； it's a good deal like your brother's。〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
The Chatelaine of Burnt Ridge never married。
THROUGH THE SANTA CLARA WHEAT
CHAPTER I
It was an enormous wheat…field in the Santa Clara valley；
stretching to the horizon line unbroken。 The meridian sun shone
upon it without glint