THE OREGON SUNDAY ; JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 14, 4915.
CHS
A California, Romance
By EDITH OGDEN HARRISON
CHAPTER XIV.
FEW, mornings
later on the
streets of Santa
Barbara Lieuten
ant. Bar rington al
most collided with
woman who
came suddenly out
of a store. He
found himself face
to face with a pretty Spanish girl whom he
had met on the outskirts, of the town on the
day of his arrival. " She"was dressed M the
height of fashion and was about to step Into a
carriage. He recognized. her at once and In
stinctively put .hia hand to Tils hat. . But the
girl regarded him haughtily, giving no sign of
recognition. With head held high and the
coolest of stares she said as plainly as if she
had spoken the words: "I do not know ydu
at alL I never saw you before."
Harrington could scarcely suppress his
mi!lh. She was certainly a cool one. The
girl was even prettier In street clothes than
n her riding habit. He wondered vaguely
iiill 11C l UAU1C WBB UUU WUOi -vuv
been her quarrel with that good-looking
Spanish husband. In a little while, how
ever, when the carriage had passed from
his sight, he put her out of his mind.
The third time he met her, though, he
could not get her out of his thoughts quite
so easily. In fact, he pondered a good while
abo it her and found himself feeling a de
gree of responsibility which he did not relish.
Even after many days of consideration he
wns no nearer a solution. j
His next view of her was in the library of
Senora Castellanos home. She was seated
In front of a typewriter taking dictation
from the older woman. The officer had called
by appointment In regard to detailed ar
rangements for the reception of the fleet
"Lieutenant Barrington," said the sen or a,
"Miss Morro, the secretary from my business
office in Santa Barbara. I thought Miss
Morro could be of assistance to 5, us this
morning. She is an expert typist."'
Barrington bowed, eyeing the girl steadily.
The young woman Inclined her head quietly
In return. She gave no sign of recognition,
but he fancied he saw a faint rise of color
in her cheeks.
The officer was certainly a bit disturbed
over the senora's introduction of her secre
ts rr The vounor woman vhitm ha hod an
valiantly defended was not married then!
Yet what other construction could he put
upon, the Spaniard's words, This woman Is
miie" 4 : : j
"I wonder," he mused, "whether I did not
dream that scene on the roadway, also."
CHAPTER XV. j
A DAY or two later Barrington received
a note from Mrs. Helton saying, "Will
you come to nay house party?"
He went, hoping that he would meet Cle
mencia, but the girl was not there. Guess
ing his disappointment, his hostess whis
pered: "Clemencia comes tomorrow, but alas! the
man wh6 dominates her comes also."
"What man?" Inquired the young officer,
paling a little at the announcement.
4" Her cousin, Senor Sanches. I dared not
sa u TYJiwwut nun, ocuun vaaieiianos
might have refused to let her come."
"From various hints you have dropped,
Mrs. Helton, it is easy to guess that Senor
Sanchez Is the happy man." j
"Happy man? asked Mrs. Helton in sur
prise. ; . . :-4-, . . ; I
"The fiancethe loyer," answered Barring
ton with a lightness he was far from feeling.
She stared at him a moment with a puzzled
look. i
"Oh!; Do you always jump at conclusions
so quickly?"
"Well, am I wrong In guessing that Senor
Sanchez Is a bit jealous, loves her desper
ately and fears to give the attractive Miss
Castellanos too much freedom?"
"He loves her desperately, of course. The
Spaniards always do. But Senor Sanchez is
too relfisb to low anybody but himself very
thoroughly." ;
"Evidently he is not in your good graces.
"Indeed, he is not. He always gives me
the creeps. But cheer up! Though I have
asked him here. for two days," she laughed
merrily, "I was very careful not to include
him in the invitation' to motor to Coronado
for the arrival of the fleet."
.'IHe will not be one of. the party, then?"
"He would spoil Clemencia's pleasure, and
bes'des," mockingly, "I have asked you. j You
are not afraid to go, are you, even though
Clemencia is; pledged? , v'r
He flushed, for her insinuation was plain.
He knew that she was aware of his morning
rides with Miss Castellanos.
i am not afraid,' he 5 answered; giving
back her , smile, "but," he added, "tell me
more of Miss Castellanos and her engage
ment."
"Not a word," she retorted. "Not a word.
The subject is taboo with me. Clemencia
knows that I do not approve of it, but I
will not discuss It. If you are to hear more
on that subject she herself must be your In
formant. I reiterate my warning, however.
Save your heart. . Do not care too much.
The step she Is about to take is Inevitable."
"It will be soon, then?" j
Y
SYNOPSIS
ARSLAN BARRINGTON, a young United States naval lieutenant, is sent to Santa
Barbara to make arrangements for the reception of the American fleet on its
tour around the world. In a beautiful pass in San" Rafael Mountains he encounters
two nuns and a young- novice who is left silently weeping. Her face is hidden by
her wealth of wonderful hair. He touches her hands Inf his effort to comfort her,
but she fleas. Barrington feels a strong conviction that they shall meet again. In
Santa Barbara the next day he is enjoying: a siesta when he has a vision of a
beautiful Spanish girl, who comes to him asking for aid. The following day the
young lieutenant meets in the flesh the beautiful girl of his dream. - She is Cle
mencia Castellanos, a young heiress, He visits the home of her grandmother, a
rich old Spanish woman whose aid he requires for the entertainment of x the fleet
There he meets . Clemencia again. In the course of a brief conversation Barrington
learned that Clemencia went to early morning mass dally and followed np the dis
covery by becoming equally pious himself. Later their rides together became part of
his daily life. In a discussion of the subject of love during one of these outings
the officer learned that Clemencia had hardened her heart against the world. He
tried to convince her that love even among those unsulted to one another by na
ture was possible.
Suddenly tjhe stillness of the place was
broken by the angry tones of a man speak
ing Spanish: "Unless you wish to be held
among that light class of women whom the
world condemns for fickleness of purpose
you must keep faith."
Unconsciously Barrington stopped and
as. he did so there came in lower tones the
sound of a woman's voice seemingly in gentle
remonstrance. He could not distinguish the
words, but when she had finished the man
spoke again irritably: i
"Just like a woman. For a whim you
seek excuse to change your mind. A vow
had not misled him in his first dislike of the
man. Clemencia must have noticed the con
sternation In bis face, but she said calmly:
"Lieutenant Barrington, my cousin, Senor
Sanchez." ' -
For a moment Barrington was speechless.
He acknowledged the Spaniard's greetings
with a bow and then recovering himself said
curtly:
"We have met before.
Both men were irritated and the. attitude
of the one to the ether was decidedly an
tagonistic. That much was - apparent to
Clemencia and she could not help exclalm-
who sat next to her and said:
"I propose that we all tell a story,"
"Good!" came the answer. "But of what
kind?"
"Oh, anything. A personal experience.
sudden Impression really, any criticism or
complaint will pass," she finished laugh
ingly.
"Well, as the instigator of the conspiracy
you must begin," her neighbor replied.
Anecdotes nd short stories followed each
other In quick succession, but when it came
Barring-ton's turn he found himself unpre
pared. The depression which had followed
his experience of the afternoon was still
strong upon him. "
"May I just pay a compliment?" he asked.
"Yes, If It Is a very nice one," answered
his hostess.
"You haye the finest country club I ever
saw.". i i :
A ripple of pleasure went round the table.
Their country club was their delight.
"Thank you, lieutenant, and may I hope
you do not condemn us as always drinking
cocktails and playing bridge as so many
visitors do," said Mrs. Helton.
"Oh. no; your country club Is not only for
the rich who enjoy it because of the' cool
oysters. Iced champagne and black coffee to
be had there. I admired especially the ath
letic youths and maidens I saw there with
their golf, tennis and horseback riding."
"Evidently Lieutenant Barrington likes
only the hatless amazon?" interposed Senor
Sanchez, leaning forward. There was a
veiled contempt In his tone as If he would
belittle the admiration Arslan had expressed.
'My Story," Said Sanchez, "Is of a Different Type of Woman One Yon Cannot Fan to Admire."
1 :
"In less than six months." , ,
' As she finished, half laughingly, half seri
ous, the gave the signal to rise and 'left him
to ponder over her words. She was well
aware of the officer's growing Interest In her
friend, but she challenged It. She said to
herself: "ft does not concern me and, ' ap
parent as it is, I have warned him. .Now the
matter rests in Clemencia's own hands."
CHAPTER XVL
HE ancients looked upon nature with
charming error. They were dazzled by
the presence of Imaginary gods. ! But
It is strange that with all our mature con
viction we are still subtly Impressed by the
mysterious. 4 j
The young officer had been restless all day
and late In the afternoon-was returning from
a vigorous walk in the canyon back of the San
Isidro Inn. j Immersed in thought, be strode
rapidly forward, scarcely conscious of the
beautiful surroundings, which perhaps was
just what could be expected of a young man
whose mental vision was bounded by the face
of a girl with an appeal In her lovely eyes
and whose hair shone like gold.
I
such as you have solemnly given cannot be
broken lightly. ' It would be apostasy save
for one reason I have given you."
"I have not said that I desired to break
it," interrupted the other hastily. "I spoke
only of conscientious qualms that perhaps
after all I was unsulted."
They were coming toward him, and with
a thrill Barrington recognized Clemencia's
voice.
"Then," pleaded the man In a milder tone,
"think well of all I have sald Clemencia.
Marry me at once. That would 'solve the
difficulty. Your grandmother would soon
"Say no more," the girl answered nerv
ously. "I will keep my word I will hold
to my pledge, but I wyi speak no more on this
subject for six months."
. The lieutenant moved forward and a turn
in the path revealed Miss Castellanos and' a
man. . ,
Clemencia's face showed her agitation and
distress, but he hardly noticed her In his hor
rified recognition of her companion. It was
the Spaniard who had treated Miss Morro
so brutally!
. This, then, was the lover! His Instinct
ing: "You have met before where?"
With an ugly laugh her cousin said:
"Do not Insist upon an answer. Lieuten
ant Barrington and I are doomed to have In
opportune encounters."
Barrington's eyes flamed at the rudeness of
the remark, but he kept his temper.
"I quite agree with Senor Sanchez, senor-
ita," he responded. "This meeting seems
even more unpleasant than the last."
Bowing gravely to Clemencia as he passed
he then lifted his hat to the man. For the
fraction of a second their glances met and
held. In the brilliant black eyes of the
Spaniard flashed Insolence and a gleam of
something like hatred. In the steel-gray-blue
orbs of the young officer contempt was plainly
visible. In cutting tones he said:
"Senor Sanchez, I desire even more ear
nestly, than before the fulfillment of the wish
I made when last we parted."
At dinner that night Clemencia was un
usually silent. Over the whole party, In fact,
there seemed to fall a kind of restraint. Mrs.
Helton, excellent hostess that she was, recog
nized It and with her woman's wit deter
mined to offset it. She turned to the man
"I like the independence of the life,"
calmly answered Barrington. "The Gibson
girl with her high-bred air expressive of
character and disdain is more to my taste
than the maidens of our grandmothers' days."
"And you believe the country club- re
sponsible for the change?" asked Sanchez.
"I believe the country, club Is helping .our
youth, and that by Its aid we are building a
nobility for America to be proud of the no
bility of robust health." . j
"Beautiful sentiments, undoubtedly,"
laughed the Spaniard. "But to . my mind
there are higher aspirations. ' j
"My story," said Sanchez, when it came his
turn, "is of a different type of woman one
you cannot fall to admire. It is of the un
selfish woman who believes It better to have
ideals, and to live up to them T i " . 4
He had turned to his hostess and was now
speaking directly to her. She grew restless
under his gaze and answered nervously:
"I hate the woman who is always making
sacrifices. It does not seem fair." " I
"But she, after all, Is the woman whom
the world glorifies, Is she not?", queried
Sanchez. . I r-.
"Perhaps. But one thing is certain. She
never gets any happiness out of It herself.
The white teeth of Sanches gleamed' In
amusement as he said:
"As happiness Is only relative, madarae,
who will say that she does not?"
' -i -:-
CHAPTER XVII.
SANCHEZ swept a ' challenging glance
around the table, but as no one was
disposed to debate the question of what
constitutes happiness with him he com
menced his story.
."In New Orleans, that city of sunshine and
magnolias, there lived a charming French
girl beautiful Mathilda Gourlet She was
the. only daughter among six sons and from
her childhood she had set her heart upon
being a nun.; Her parents, though devout
Catholics, did not approve of her wish, and
so being an affectionate and dutiful daugh
ter she deferred to them. When she was
about 26, however, her parents died and then
she faced her brothers with her desire".
- Seeing that her mind was fully made up to
take the tep they consented provided that
she would wait two years. Then she began
a strange novitiate. With her brothers she
traveled the world over. ,'" They sought 'the
secrets of the Chinese shrines, entered into
the spirit of the desert and whispered to the
Sphynx and the Pyramids. They lingered la
Europe and by every Joy that mortal mind
could devise the brothers tried to win, her
back to the world."
Mrs. Helton grew nervous and moved un
easily in her chair. Calling a servant, she or-'
dered another window -opened. The smooth
tones of the Spaniard continued :
MAt last, however, they returned home.
A little later her brothers invited the youth
and beauty of the Crescent City to the most
brilliant ball of the season. Mathilde's love
liness was' supreme that night Her . soft
Ivory tinted skin bad no suspicion of pale
ness. Her abundant hair was crowned with
diamonds and her bare arms glittered, with
the same costly gems. In her white gown
she looked like a bride save for the absence
of a veil. Every one who looked at her was
thrilled.' The next morning she entered the
convent It was the wish of her -brothers -that
she should leave the world in this dra
matic setting."
, Silence filled the room when Sanchez had
finished his story. At last some one said:
1t Is dramatic, but Is it true?"
"Absolutely true, senorlta. And Is not
Mathilda Gourlet a type of spiritual purity
worthy of the middle ages?"
"For the love of heaven don't say yes,"
broke In Mrs! Helton. "To my mind she was
a fanatic. . - Her story gives me the creeps."
"But she had the courage of her convic
tion, persisted Sanchez. "She allowed no
worldly consideration to tempt her from it."
"She was narrow-minded," retorted Mrs.
Helton, hotly. "Think of what the world
held for her and how heedlessly she aban
doned it. 1 But come," she said, rising, "let's
go Into the patio. The air is stifling here."
The men. remained in the dining-room over -their
wine and cigars, with the exception of
Sanchez, who, as Clemencia passed, ad
dressed a few words to her and then ac
companied her from the room. Barrington
noticed that she drew back slightly and
seemed to shiver. However, he was helpless
and could not Interfere.
Clemencia bad said but little during the
dinner. Of this Barrington was quite sure,
for he had not been able to get her out of his
thoughts at all and had sent many a furtive
glance in her direction. When he daw "the
Spaniard accompanying Clemencia from the
table he had a moody feeling of discontent
But he reasoned with himself: "They are
engaged. I will not allow my mind to dwell
upon her so continually. She is nothing to
me." Yet In some way, even as be said this,
he felt strangely out of tune with everything.
He became quite oblivious to his surround
ings, but was suddenly aware tbatMr.
Helton was speaking:
"The man Is a cad. I have long been sus
picious of bis morals. But he certainly has
an unholy Influence over Clemencia . and
Senora Castellanos. I have never liked him
and Clemencia knows it But to tell that
story! Well, I have no words to express my
contempt Yet he was my guest What
could I say?" .
Then becoming aware that Barrington was
gazing at him curiously he said apologetic-
ally: 4v 4' 4 ' f ;
"Excuse me, Barringtonfor'crltlcIsing a
man, under Tmy own roof, but our Spanish
friend always seems to get upon my nerves."
Everybody laughed and the subject was
dismissed.
CHAPTER XVIII.
BARRINGTON found himself the next
day decided on a course that he had
never followed before In his life the ,
prying into affairs of others when they bad
no direct concern with bis own.
Matters pertaining to. the reception of the
fleet made it necessary for Barrington to call
on the Senora Castellanos that morning, so
he decided to . begin his investigations at
once.
. Chance favored . him, for when he was
ushered into the library of the senora's home
he found Miss Morro there1 alone. She arose
as he came In and apologized for her em
ployer's absence, who was 111 with a head
ache. ; -:- " !" '--4' . .
. . ITo B Continued Next Week.
(Copyright, 1915, By Edith Ogden Harrison)