IN WHICH SOME OLD FRIENDS REAPPEAR.
Dolores and Ashby had experienced none ofthat inner conflict that had
disturbed the souls of Brooke and Talbot, for Ashby had been prompt in
decision, and had taken all responsibility from Dolores. She meekly
acquiesced in his decision, was all the happier for it, and prepared with
the briskness of a bird to carry out their purpose of flight. She led
Ashby down by the same way through which she had formerly conducted "His
Majesty," starting from that lower room in which Ashby had been confined.
Had she gone from one of the upper rooms, they might, perhaps, have
encountered the lurking Rita, and thus have rescued the unhappy Russell
from his vengeful captor and from his coming woe. But such was not to be
their lot. It was from the lower room that they started; and on they went,
to the no small amazement of Ashby, through all those intricate ways,
until at length they emerged from the interior, and found themselves in
the chasm. Here the moon was shining, as it had been during all the
eventful days in which all these wonderful and authentic adventures had
been taking place, and gave them ample light by which to find the path.
Their way lay along the lower part of the chasm, where the brook was
foaming and bubbling and dashing on its way. Before long they reached the
place where the path ascended toward the tower. Up this they proceeded.
As they went up they heard voices. Thus far they had been talking with one
another quite merrily and carelessly, but these sounds at once arrested
them. They stopped for a moment and listened in deep anxiety.
The sound of the voices seemed to draw nearer, and to come up from some
point in the pathway behind them, as though others were advancing in the
same direction.
"We are pursued," said Dolores.
"Who would pursue us?" said Ashby.
"Mr. Brooke," said Dolores, in a tone of alarm. "It must be Mr. Brooke. He
has been looking for me. He has seen us, and is pursuing us."
Ashby muttered a curse.
"Confound him!" said he. "Let him keep his distance! We must hurry on
faster."
They hurried on.
In a few moments they had reached the tower. Inside that tower were Brooke
and Talbot, who had reached it some time before, and now heard the sounds
made by these new-comers, though the darkness of the interior prevented
them from seeing who they were. On entering, Dolores drew Ashby carefully
on one side. Brooke and Talbot waited in breathless suspense.
But now other sounds startled the occupants of the tower--the sounds as of
an advancing crowd. Dolores clung in terror to Ashby, and drew him still
farther on one side.
They were caught--that was plain. They could neither advance nor retreat;
for now already they heard new-comers at the opening through which they
had just passed. They shrank back still farther, and Dolores clung more
closely to Ashby.
These new-comers, however, were not very formidable. They were merely
Harry and Katie.
Harry had waited for some time in expectation of being joined by Russell.
To his surprise, that worthy person did not put in an appearance. He could
not account for this, and finally concluded that Russell must have gone
ahead, so as to take his time about it and save himself by daylight. In
this belief Harry resolved to delay no longer, and, congratulating himself
that he knew the way so well, he started off with Katie.
He went with all the caution in the world, first reconnoitring to see that
no one was within view, and then, on reaching the side door which gave
entrance to the cellars, he cautioned Katie to keep silence. In this way
they went on silently enough until they emerged from the opening. Then
they began to descend the chasm, and here Harry felt safe. On their way
down and up they talked and laughed quite freely, and these were the
voices which had startled their predecessors.
At length they reached the tower and clambered in. The moment they found
themselves inside they were startled by those noises which had already
terrified the others, and which had now drawn much nearer.
Katie gave a low cry of terror, and stood trembling in every limb.
Harry was quite bewildered at this sudden and unexpected shock. For a
moment he thought of flight; but that was impossible, for Katie, in her
terror, was almost fainting, and he had to support her while she clung
breathlessly to him. And so they stood, unable to move.
The noises were now just outside--voices, cries, songs, and wild
laughter--all the indications of a lawless crowd.
Suddenly some one burst inside.
"Ha!" he cried, in Spanish, "here it is, but it's all dark. Bring lights,
some one. We must wait here till the others come round to the front; but
there's no reason why we shouldn't have lights. We can't be seen from the
castle: the walls here are too thick to be transparent. It's just the
place for a little supper."
A number of others now came forward and entered. The fugitives stood
clinging to one another as before, expecting the worst, and awaiting with
intense anxiety the moment when lights would be introduced.
There was now the flash of sudden flames--some of them were striking
matches. The flames leaped forth, and soon half a dozen torches were
kindled, and then, blazing and smoking, they were held aloft, throwing a
bright light upon the whole interior; while those who held them looked
around without any other purpose, just then, than to find some convenient
place where they might place them, so as to save themselves the trouble of
holding them.
In that one instant the whole scene stood revealed.
There stood Brooke, with Talbot clinging to him; there Harry, with his
arms round Katie; and there Ashby, supporting Dolores. And as Ashby and
Harry stared at these noisy new-comers, they saw the familiar face of no
less a person than "His Majesty."
At this sight they were filled with amazement and consternation. Yet their
amazement, great though it may have been, was not greater than that of
"His Majesty." For an instant he stood like one transfixed, and then
exclaimed, in that peculiar English which he spoke,
"Howly Moses! but this bates the worruld!" and then stood staring at each
of them.
At this exclamation Katie started. She recognized the voice at once; and,
strange to say, all her terror fled. From that man she felt as if there
was nothing to fear. She looked up, and showed her sweet face all smiles,
with all its anxiety and all its terror vanished. Dolores also heard the
English words, and looked up in surprise, recognizing at the first glance
that familiar face. Harry and Ashby made the same discovery.
But there were other discoveries to be made. Their eyes, as the lights
shone around, took in the whole scene; and it was with the deepest dismay
and confusion that, on looking around, each one caught sight of his, or
her, old lover; and, what was more, the feeling of each one was, that the
other had come in pursuit, to claim that vow which each was breaking.
Harry saw Talbot, and felt sure that she had come after him to demand a
new explanation, and to reproach him for this new perfidy. She had
suffered, he felt, wrongs that were intolerable at his hands, and his
heart sank within him at this new meeting. He seemed to himself base
beyond all expression, and no words could be found with which he might
excuse himself.
Brooke saw Dolores, and his only thought was that she had suspected him,
had watched him, had tracked him, and had now come to overwhelm him with
dishonor; and he felt that he must be dumb before her.
Ashby saw Katie, and thought that she had surely come in pursuit of him;
that perhaps his suspicions had been unfounded; that she loved him; that
she had only been trifling with Harry, and had come to tear him from
Dolores.
Talbot saw Harry with guilty terror. She had fled from him, and
intentionally. He had pursued; he had come to claim her hand--her promised
hand!
Dolores saw Brooke with the same feelings. She knew him as the chivalrous
American who had saved her life, and that of her mother, in their direst
need; who had won her heart and the promise of her hand. She had broken
her word--she had fled. What now? With what eyes could she look at him?
With what words could she speak to him?
Katie's face had lightened up with joy at the sight of "His Majesty," but
the moment afterward it clouded over with fear and apprehension at the
sight of Ashby. "'Tis conscience doth make cowards of us all," and
conscience told her that she had treated Ashby very, very badly, and that
he had followed her to make her keep her plighted word. And so she only
clung to Harry more closely than ever.
And so, in fact, did the other couples. They all clung to one another more
closely than ever. There was a moment of embarrassment--intense, awful,
tremendous.
The deep silence was broken by the voice of "His Majesty."
"Hersilf!" he cried, with his eyes fixed on Katie--"hersilf! begorra, it's
hersilf! Shure an' it is! an' oh, but it's mesilf that's the lucky man
this day! An' shure, an' may I dhrop dead if I iver saw sich a mayting as
this! Shure, ye've forgotten all about my offer av the crown av Spain, an'
the sceptre, an' the throne. Begorra, ye've given up all that same for
that bit av a boy that's a howldin' av ye. An' shure, we're all together
again, so we are. Here's welcome to yez all--Messrs. Rivers, an' Ashby,
an' the ladies, one an' all! Niver fear, I'll take good care av yez this
toime! Only, what's become av Lord Russell? Begorra, it's mesilf that 'ud
loike to have another look at that same!"
Talking in this way, with frequent pauses, "His Majesty" succeeded in
expressing his feelings, which had at first seemed quite too strong for
utterance.
Meanwhile, the soldiers who had been inspecting the interior had found
convenient places for fixing the torches, which now flared up, throwing a
bright light around, and filling the tower with smoke.
During all this time the prisoners had been agitated by various feelings.
Harry and Ashby saw in "His Majesty" a remorseless brigand, whose only
idea was plunder, and who would now hold them to ransom as before. They
despaired of escape. This new capture seemed far worse than the former
one, yet each one thought less of himself than of that dear one whom he
had tried to save. Thus Harry clung to Katie, and Ashby clung to Dolores,
more closely than ever. Brooke and Talbot, on the contrary, had less fear,
yet they had anxiety. Brooke recognized in "His Majesty" the unscrupulous
Carlist whom he had visited, and was somewhat uneasy about a recognition;
while Talbot, seeing his uneasiness, felt something like fear herself.
Yet, in the midst of all this, they all alike made one discovery. It was
this: each one saw that his or her old love had become strangely
indifferent.
Harry saw that Talbot was clinging to that strange man whom he had never
seen before, but who now, as he thought, seemed uncommonly sweet on her.
Brooke saw that Dolores was clinging for support to another strange man.
She had evidently no thought for him.
Ashby saw at once that Katie thought of no one but Harry Rivers.
Talbot saw that Harry was devoted to that lady whom he was so assiduously
supporting and consoling. She was utterly amazed at the discovery, yet
inexpressibly glad.
Dolores, in her delight, saw that Brooke took no notice of herself, but
devoted himself to the lady with him, and in such a fervent manner that
she understood it all without being told.
Katie also saw that Ashby had forgotten all about her, and thought of
nothing but Dolores.
And at this discovery, which flashed almost simultaneously upon them, each
one felt the most inexpressible joy. At the same time the whole truth came
upon them. Each one, instead of pursuing the other, had been trying to
fly. Each lover had found a new and more congenial friend, and with this
dear friend had left the castle. Each one felt equally guilty, yet equally
glad; but then as to guilt, there was Brooke, who didn't feel guilty at
all--oh, bless you, no!--he had only come with Talbot _as far as the
tower_!
In the midst of all this, Harry and Ashby and Brooke were amazed at the
Irish brogue of the Carlist chief, who had formerly spoken to them in
Spanish.
And now, while they were thus wondering, who should come in but a certain
female in a very peculiar dress; for this female wore what looked like a
military cloak, and she wore, also, an officer's "kepi," which was perched
upon the top of her chignon; which female took a glance around, and then
exclaimed,
"Well, goodness gracious me! I never! Did I ever! No, never!"
"Auntie!" screamed Katie, and with this she rushed toward the aforesaid
female, who was no other than Mrs. Russell. She flung her arms around that
lady, and almost smothered her with kisses.
"Dear child," said Mrs. Russell, "how impetuous you are! but it's
natural--it's touching--it's grateful--we deserve it, dear. We came to
seek and to save. Bless you, my child, and may you be happy! "His Majesty"
has a tender heart, and often talks of you. We also cherish for you a fond
affection, child; but in future try to be a little less boisterous, and
respect the majesty of Spain."
At this reception Katie was quite bewildered. It was only by a strong
effort that she could comprehend it. She then recalled that old nonsense
with which she had amused herself when she had suggested that Mrs. Russell
should marry "His Majesty;" but now a great terror seized her: was it
possible that Mrs. Russell had done such a thing?
"Oh, Auntie!" she said; "oh, Auntie! you haven't--you haven't--done--done
it?"
"Done it!" said Mrs. Russell, who seemed at once to understand her; "no,
child--not yet; but as soon as the affairs of State will allow, "His
Majesty" says that the ceremony shall be performed; after which comes the
coronation, you know,
and then, dear, I shall be Queen, and you may be princess, and may marry
the proudest of all the Spanish chivalry."
At this Katie was so terrified that she did not know what to say. The only
thought she had was that "Auntie" had gone raving mad. She knew that Mr.
Russell was alive and well, for she had seen him only a short time before.
The old joke about marrying "His Majesty" had been almost forgotten by
her; and to find "Auntie" now as full as ever of that nonsensical piece of
ambition was inexpressibly shocking to her. Yet she did not know what to
say. To disabuse her seemed impossible. She did not dare to tell her that
Mr. Russell was alive; it might be dangerous. "Auntie" had so set her mind
upon this insane project that any attempt to thwart her would certainly
draw down vengeance upon the head of the one who should dare to attempt
it. That one certainly was not Katie. She liked, as far as possible, to
have things move on smoothly around her; and so the only thought she now
had was to chime in with "Auntie's" fancy; to humor her, as one would
humor an insane person, and to hope that something might turn up in time
to prevent anything "dreadful."
In this state of mind Katie went on talking with "Auntie." But "Auntie"
was hard to humor; she was altogether too grand and lofty for little
Katie. In fancy she already wore a crown, and talked of the throne, the
sceptre, and the majesty of Spain as though they had always been her
private property.
"I've been two or three days," said she, "with 'His Majesty.' He has been
most kind. His royal will is that I should wear this hat. Do you think it
is becoming? Under other circumstances I should be talked about, I know;
but where the welfare of Spain is concerned, I don't care for public
opinion. When I am seated on the throne all will be explained."
At such a torrent as this poor Katie could only take refuge in silence.