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！
house； and made his way to the stables。 Saddling his horse； and
mounting； he paced forth into the crisp morning air。 The sun； just
risen； was everywhere bringing out the fresh color of the flower…
strewn terraces； as the last night's shadows； which had hidden them；
were slowly beaten back。 He cast a last look at the brown adobe
quadrangle of the quiet house； just touched with the bronzing of the
sun； and then turned his face towards the highway。 As he passed the
angle of the old garden he hesitated； but； strong in his resolution；
he put the recollection of last night behind him； and rode by
without raising his eyes。
〃Clarence！〃
It was HER voice。 He wheeled his horse。 She was standing behind
the grille in the old wall as he had seen her standing on the day he
had ridden to his rendezvous with Susy。 A Spanish manta was thrown
over her head and shoulders； as if she had dressed hastily； and had
run out to intercept him while he was still in the stable。 Her
beautiful face was pale in its black…hooded recess； and there were
faint circles around her lovely eyes。
〃You were going without saying 'goodby'！〃 she said softly。
She passed her slim white hand between the grating。 Clarence leaped
to the ground； caught it； and pressed it to his lips。 But he did
not let it go。
〃No！ no！〃 she said； struggling to withdraw it。 〃It is better as it
isasas you have decided it to be。 Only I could not let you go
thus；without a word。 There now；go； Clarence； go。 Please！
Don't you see I am behind these bars？ Think of them as the years
that separate us； my poor； dear； foolish boy。 Think of them as
standing between us； growing closer； heavier； and more cruel and
hopeless as the years go on。〃
Ah； well！ they had been good bars a hundred and fifty years ago；
when it was thought as necessary to repress the innocence that was
behind them as the wickedness that was without。 They had done duty
in the convent at Santa Inez； and the monastery of Santa Barbara；
and had been brought hither in Governor Micheltorrenas' time to keep
the daughters of Robles from the insidious contact of the outer
world； when they took the air in their cloistered pleasance。
Guitars had tinkled against them in vain； and they had withstood the
stress and storm of love tokens。 But； like many other things which
have had their day and time； they had retained their semblance of
power； even while rattling loosely in their sockets； only because no
one had ever thought of putting them to the test； and； in the strong
hand of Clarence； assisted； perhaps； by the leaning figure of Mrs。
Peyton； I grieve to say that the whole grille suddenly collapsed；
became a frame of tinkling iron； and then clanked； bar by bar； into
the road。 Mrs。 Peyton uttered a little cry and drew back； and
Clarence； leaping the ruins； caught her in his arms。
For a moment only； for she quickly withdrew from them； and although
the morning sunlight was quite rosy on her cheeks； she said gravely；
pointing to the dismantled opening：
〃I suppose you MUST stay now； for you never could leave me here
alone and defenseless。〃
He stayed。 And with this fulfillment of his youthful dreams the
romance of his young manhood seemed to be completed； and so closed
the second volume of this trilogy。 But what effect that fulfillment
of youth had upon his maturer years； or the fortunes of those who
were nearly concerned in it； may be told in a later and final
chronicle。
End