rezanov-第31部分

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s　freckled　her　nose。　　The　flower　of　California　stood　on　the　corridor　of　the　Mission　and　before　the　church　await…　ing　the　guest　of　honor　and　his　escort。　　A　mass　was　to　be　said　in　behalf　of　the　departing　guests；　the　Juno　would　sail　with　the　turn　of　the　afternoon　tide。　Men　and　women　were　in　their　gayest　finery；　an　ex…　otic　mass　of　color　against　the　rough　white…washed　walls；　chattering　as　vivaciously　as　if　the　burden　of　their　conversation　were　not　regret　for　the　Chamber…　lain　and　his　gay　young　lieutenants。　　Concha；　alone；　wore　no　color；　her　frock　was　white；　her　mantilla　black。　　She　stood　somewhat　apart；　but　although　she　was　pale　she　commanded　her　eyes　to　dwell　absently　on　the　shifting　sand　far　down　the　valley；　her　haughty　Spanish　profile　betraying　nothing　of　the　despair　in　her　soul。

〃Yes；　Concha　has　always　been　too　fortunate；〃　re…　peated　Rafaella。　　〃Why　should　she　be　chosen　for　such　a　destinyto　go　to　the　Russian　court　and　wear　a　train　ten　yards　long　of　red　velvet　embroidered　with　gold；　a　white　veil　spangled　with　gold；　a　head…　dress　a　foot　high　set　so　thick　with　jewels　her　head　will　ache　for　a　weekMadre　de　Dios！　　And　we　stay　here　forever　with　white　walls；　horsehair　fur…　niture；　Baja　California　pearls　and　three　silk　dresses　a　year！〃

〃No　one　in　all　Russia　will　look　so　grand　in　court　dress　as　our　Conchita；〃　said　Elena　loyally。　　〃But　I　doubt　if　it　is　the　dress　and　the　state　she　thinks　of　losing　to…day。　　She　will　not　talk　even　to　me　of　him　　Ay　yi！　she　grows　more　reserved　every　day；　our　Concha！except　to　say　she　will　wed　him　when　he　returns；　and　that　I　know；　for　did　not　I　witness　the　betrothal？　　She　only　mocks　me　when　I　beg　her　to　tell　me　if　she　loves　him；　languishes；　or　sings　a　bar　of　some　one　of　our　beautiful　songs　with　ridiculous　words。　　But　she　does。　　She　did　not　sleep　last　night。　　Her　room　is　next　to　mine。　　No；　it　is　of　Rezanov　she　thinks；　and　always。　　Those　proud；　silent　girls；　who　jest　when　others　would　weep　and　use　many　words　and　must　die　without　sympathy　they　have　tragedy　in　their　souls；　ay　yi！　　And　you　think　she　is　fortunate？　　True　she　is　beautiful；　she　is　La　Favorita；　she　receives　many　boxes　from　Mex…　ico；　and　she　has　won　the　love　of　this　Russian。　　But　I　have　not　dared　to　remind　herI　remembered　it　only　yesterdayshe　came　into　this　world　on　the　thirteenth　of　a　month；　and　he　into　her　life　but　one　day　before　the　thirteenth　of　anothernew　style！　True　some　might　say　that　it　was　an　escape；　but　if　he　came　on　the　twelfth；　it　was　on　the　thirteenth　she　began　to　love　himon　the　night　of　the　ball；　of　that　I　am　sure。〃

Rafaella　shuddered　and　crossed　herself。　　〃Poor　Concha！　　Perhaps　in　the　end　she　will　always　stand　apart　like　that。　　Truly　she　is　not　as　others。　　I　have　always　said　it。　　Thanks　be　to　Mary　it　was　Luis　that　wooed　me；　not　the　Russian；　for　I　might　have　been　tempted。　　True　his　eyes　are　blue；　and　only　the　black　could　win　my　heart。　　But　the　court　of　St。　Petersburg！　　Dios　de　mi　vida！　　Did　I　lie　awake　at　night　and　think　of　Concha　Arguello　in　red　velvet　and　jewels　all　over；　I　should　hate　her。　　But　noto…dayI　cannot。　　Two　years！　　Have　I　not　waited　six？　　It　is　eternity　when　one　loves　and　is　young。〃

〃They　come；〃　said　Elena。

The　cavalcade　was　descending　the　sand　hills　on　the　left；　Rezanov　in　full　uniform　between　the　Com…　mandante　and　Luis　Arguello　and　followed　by　a　picked　escort　of　officers　from　Presidio　and　Fort。　The　Californians　wore　full…dress　uniform　of　white　and　scarlet；　Don　Jose　a　blue　velvet　serape；　embroid…　ered　in　gold　with　the　arms　of　Spain。

As　they　dismounted　Rezanov　bowed　ceremoni…　ously　to　the　party　on　the　corridor；　and　they　returned　his　salutation　gravely；　suddenly　silent。　　He　walked　directly　over　to　Concha。

〃We　will　go　in　together；〃　he　said。　　〃It　matters　nothing　what　they　think。　　I　kneel　beside　no　one　else。〃

And　Concha；　with　the　air　of　leading　an　honored　guest　to　the　banquet；　turned　and　walked　with　him　into　the　dark　little　church。

〃Why　did　you　not　wear　a　white　mantilla？〃　he　whispered。　　〃I　do　not　like　that　black　thing。〃

〃I　am　not　a　bride。　　I　knew　we　should　kneel　to…　getherit　would　have　been　ridiculous。　　And　I　could　not　wear　a　colored　reboso　to…day。〃

〃I　should　have　liked　to　fancy　we　were　here　for　our　nuptials。　　Delusions　pass　but　are　none　the　less　sweet　for　that。〃

They　knelt　before　the　altar；　the　Commandante；　Dona　Ignacia；　Luis；　Santiago；　Rafaella　Sal　and　Elena　Castro　just　behind；　the　rest　of　the　party；　their　bright　garments　shimmering　vaguely　in　the　gloom；　as　they　listened；　and　enough　fervent　prayers　went　up　to　insure　the　health　and　safety　of　the　de…　parting　guests　for　all　their　lives。

Rezanov；　who　had　much　on　his　mind；　stared　moodily　at　the　altar　until　Concha；　who　had　bowed　her　head　almost　to　her　knees；　finished　her　suppli…　cation；　then　their　eyes　turned　and　met　simultane…　ously。　　For　a　moment　their　brains　did　swim　in　the　delusion　that　the　priest　with　his　uplifted　hands　pro…　nounced　benediction　upon　their　nuptials；　that　proba…　tion　was　over　and　union　nigh。　　But　Father　Abella　dismissed　all　with　the　same　blessing；　and　they　shiv…　ered　as　they　rose　and　walked　slowly　down　the　church。

Dona　Ignacia　took　her　husband's　arm；　and　mut…　tering　that　she　feared　a　chill；　hurried　the　others　before　her。　　The　priests　had　gone　to　the　sacristy。　Before　they　reached　the　door　Rezanov　and　Concha　were　alone。

His　hands　fell　heavily　on　her　shoulders。

〃Concha；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　come　back　if　I　live。　　I　make　no　foolish　vows；　so　idle　between　us。　　There　is　only　one　power　that　can　prevent　our　marriage　in　this　church　not　later　than　two　years　from　to…day。　And　although　I　am　in　the　very　fulness　of　my　health　and　strength；　with　my　work　but　begun；　and　all　my　happiness　in　the　future；　and　even　to　a　less　sanguine　man　it　would　seem　that　his　course　had　many　years　to　run；　still　have　I　seen　as　much　as　any　man　of　the　inconsequence　of　life；　of　the　insignificance　of　the　individual；　his　hopes；　ambitions；　happiness；　and　even　usefulness；　in　the　complicated　machinery　of　natural　laws。　　It　may　be　that　I　shall　not　come　back。　　But　I　wish　to　take　with　me　your　promise　that　if　I　have　not　returned　at　the　end　of　two　years　or　you　have　received　no　reason　for　my　detention；　you　will　be…　lieve　that　I　am　dead。　　There　would　be　but　one　in…　supportable　drop　in　the　bitterness　of　death；　the　doubt　of　your　faith　in　my　word　and　my　love。　　Are　you　too　much　of　a　woman　to　curb　your　imagination　in　a　long　unbroken　silence？〃

〃I　have　learned　so　much　that　one　lesson　more　is　no　tax　on　my　faith。　　And　I　no　longer　live　in　a　world　of　little　things。　　I　promise　you　that　I　shall　never　falter　nor　doubt。〃

He　bent　his　head　and　kissed　her　for　the　first　time　without　passion；　but　solemnly；　as　had　their　nuptials　indeed　been　accomplished；　and　the　greater　mystery　of　spiritual　union　isolated　them　for　a　moment　in　that　twilight　region　where　the　mortal　part　did　not　enter。

As　they　left　the　church　they　saw　that　all　the　In…　dians　of　the　Mission　and　neighborhood；　in　a　gala　of　color；　had　gathered　to　cheer　the　Russians　as　they　rode　away。　　Concha　was　to　return　as　she　had　come；　beside　the　carreta　of　her　mother；　and　as　Rezanov　mounted　his　horse　she　stood　staring　with　unseeing　eyes　on　the　brilliant；　animated　scene。　　Suddenly　she　heard　a　suppressed　sob；　and　felt　a　touch　on　her　skirt。　　She　looked　round　and　saw　Rosa；　kneeling　close　to　the　church。　　For　a　moment　she　continued　to　stare；　hardly　comprehending；　in　the　intense　con…　centration　of　her　faculties；　that　tangible　beings；　other　than　herself　and　Rezanov；　still　moved　on　the　earth。　　Then　her　mind　relaxed。　　She　was　normal　in　a　normal　world　once　more。　　She　stooped　and　patted　the　hands　clasping　her　skirts。

〃Poor　Rosa！〃　she　said。　　〃Poor　Rosa！〃


Over　the　intense　green　of　islands　and　hills　were　long　banners　of　yellow　and　purple　mist；　where　the　wild　flowers　were　lifting　their　heads。　　The　whole　quivering　bay　was　as　green　as　the　land；　but　far　away　the　mountains　of　the　east　were　pink。　　Where　there　was　a　patch　of　verdure　on　the　sand　hills　the　warm　golden　red　of　the　poppy　flaunted　in　the　sun…　shine。　　All　nature　was　in　gala　attire　like　the　Cali…　fornians　themselves；　as　the　Juno　under　full　sail　sped　through　〃The　Mouth　of　the　Gulf　of　the　Faral…　lones。〃　　Fort　San　Joaquin　saluted　with　seven　guns；　the　Juno　returned　the　compliment　with　nine。　　The　Commandante；　his　family　and　guests；　stood　on　the　hill　above　the　fort；　cheering；　waving　sombreros　and　handkerchiefs。　　Wind　and　tide　carried　the　ship　rapidly　out　the　straits。　　Rezanov　dropped　the　cocked　hat　he　had　been　waving　and　raised　his　field…　glass。　　Concha；　as　ever；　stood　a　little　apart。　　As　the　ship　grew　smaller　and　the　company　turned　toward　the　Presidio；　she　advanced　to　the　edge　of　the　bluff。　　The　wind　lifted　her　loosened　mantilla；　billowing　it　out　on　one　side；　and　as　she　stood　with　her　hands　pressed　against　her　heart；　she　might；　save　for　her　empty　arms；　have　been　the　eidolon　of　the　Madonna　di　San　Sisto。　　In　her　eyes　was　the　same　expression　of　vague　arrested　horror　as　she　looked　out　on　that　world　of　menacing　imperfections　the　blind　forces　of　nature　and　man　had　created；　her　body　was　instinct　with　the　same　nervous　leashed　im…　potent　energy。



XXV

The　white　rain　clouds；　rolling　as　ever　like　a　nervous　intruder　over　the　great　snow　peaks　behind　the　steep　hills　black　with　forest　that　rose　like　a　wall　back　of　the　little　settlement　of　Sitka；　parted　for　a　moment；　and　the　sun；　a　coy　disdainful　guest；　flung　a　glitter…　ing　mist　over　what　Nature　had　intended　to　be　one　of　the　most　enchanting　spots　on　earth；　until；　in　a　fit　of　ill…temperwith　one　of　the　gods；　no　doubt　she　gave　it　to　Niobe　as　a　permanent　outlet　for　her　discontent。　　When　it　does　not　rain　at　Sitka　it　pours；　and　when　once　in　a　way　she　draws　a　deep　breath　of　respite　and　lifts　her　grand　and　glorious　face　to　the　sun；　in　pathetic　gratitude　for　dear　infrequent　favor；　comes　a　wild　flurry　of　snow　or　a　close　white　fog　from　the　inland　waters；　and；　like　a　great　beauty　condemned　to　wear　a　veil　through　life；　she　can　but　stare　in　dumb　resentment　through　the　folds；　consol…　ing　herself　with　the　knowledge　that　could　the　world　but　see　it　must　surely　worship。　　Perhaps；　who　knows？　she　really　is　a　frozen　goddess；　condemned　to　the　veil　for　infidelity　to　him　imprisoned　in　the　great　volcano　across　the　soundwho　sends　up　a　column　of　light　once　in　a　way　to　dazzle　her　shrouded　eyes；　and　failing