: - H i THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURl AL, PORTLANt, $UNDAY MORNING, MARCH 21, 1915.' j: --wJ- K; V': f-Vf , ;
lf I T" IN l1 '"" I -v .California. Romance
jfiNNN A t- ljA I U Jb k3 1 1 By EDITH OGDEN HARRISON
a jfTZ 1 I Senor Sanchez I engaged?" once. Will you not help me no?"
"What At wtvn imoan iati vrum I "T .WOllld fiiadlv do HO If I PAnld h r A. I !
85 I I BarHmrtnn ntUrlv nnnrmanxi for oiled. "But I cannot Drevent tie marriaare. IClemenCla bore bis grandmother there had ments me daily.; 1
, ydit j I "en an outburst. She broke "out furiously I Neither can you keep a man who has ceased jbeen tiipes of late
Jf I 1 In k ItArm nt Harifal V&im h iWv? W.. I trt love Ton!" I ! I difficult itO aCQUlesC
f " . , .'ri'Sv I If ivutlhU tl..t !.h. hoi K. I W "Tt la mnro than th more Hint 'Intra I !Of her iwlshea. I M I "But I
' rt if i fore? ! -i I I I him'" she said In a low volcel "Helmust i
f ,A -Jr . .
MORRO, how-
atar 0-flTf Dim! DO OD
jpjrtnnlty to question
bkr. Work was pre
pared nd she Ift onca
delved nto It Xfter a
jCje w oodnutea had
passed Barringtdn in
terrupted boldly. He
k n e wj that Sanchei
w a a -J expected and
n bait
It. possible that
fore? j
I It la false, Senor Barrlngton, absolutely
false," she stornied, hei- ace cpnvuised with
- i
anger. ;
Appalled at the violence of her temper he
could scarcely find words to reply.! But he
realized the importance of calming ber.
"Miss Morro.'he saldj, "you must control
yourself. Remember, we may be Interrupted
at any minute.
He poured her out
she drank it eagerly
love
"He must
glass of water and
while she struggled
to regain her self-control.
"Pull yourself together," he said encour
agingly. "There must! be some way out of
this affair. Let toe help you If I can
"Senor." she said, and her voice fell al
most to a whisper In her distress, "who Is
the woman? I must know her name.
Miss
Sanchez
fls it possible
"not know that
cousin!"
lthln
them
an hour.
i "Miss Morro," he
id, "jplease
work wait a
let the
minute.
Since yesterday I feel
itbat I must ask you a
question. You owe me Ian explanation.
Of what. Senor Barrlngton?" the girl re-
plKid, with a lookj of surprise in her eyes and
a haughty toss of her headU j i, j -"Of
the scene I witnessed the first day 1
saw you. - i U -...4-, v l ,.
"You are extremely
li e said Slowly.;
mpertlnent, senor1
1 assure you that I do not
mean to be."
may be Inter-
out unmistak-
"Then your wofd do you an injustice, alrl'
Barrlngton leaded forward still watching
her narrowly. j
"Miss Morro." he said, "we
rupted at any moment iDo no.t bandy words.
I am quite serious in my demand that jou
tell me clearly the meaning of that scene.
At this her tetnper flashed
ably. j
"By what right do you question me?" she
demanded wrath fully, j '
Her flushed fa ;e and trlllla itly angry eyes
djd not disturb Barringfon's Imperturabllity
In the least. He regarded lier silently for
an instant and t ien replied:
"Yesterday I saw Senor Sanchez for tfie
second time." I " I
He thought he noticed her
but she sat up jstraighter in
then leaned toward him defiantly.
"Well ?" she voluntee red. "What of that ?"
"Until then I kad no idea l hat he was the
man I1 associated with you."
"And now thjat you asso;iate him with
;me," she said scornfully, "I reiterate, what
gives you the right "to question me?"
wince at this,
her chair and
he-said, "we are only wast-
know f ery well that I took
f e. What else could I Infer
me which you heard.
Why dont you ask aim
best explain his own words?"
"Miss Morro,'
jing time. You
you to be his w!
' "this woman is mine!"
She laughed,
then?"
"I want the truth from you
She narrowed her j lids until her eyes
scarceJyfhiiwed at alU ! j
"Couid he not
, she said. j
"He would lie to me if I asked him.'
v "And wjll I not Ue ajsor
"Senorita, I have seen you here every day
for a week. I am sure you will tell me the
truth." , -i j - ' .
"You insult me and
in the same breath, senor.
ness of man!" j ' j " r .
"Miss Morroy he persisted earnestly,
"please believej me when I; tell you that I
have no desire to learn your secret, if there
- is one.' But tbi happiness of a lady in whom
1 take a great! interest is involved in this
matter. Only esterdy I learned that this
Is so. Otherwise, 1 should never have in
terfered."
! "And you reklly think I will tell you the
truth r s
pay me a compliment
Oh, the strange-
i
"Need we go further into that? I have
! studied you more closeay than you are aware,
; but that was utnnecesiary. Instinct told me
at once that yott were
The girl moved restlessly. "Yon said a
f woman was involved, 6he said at last
May I be permitted to ask -what woman?"
truthful.
Morro, that you do
Is to marry his
Absolute horrbr" was depicted on her face
OB BJJC fUpCU.
"You cannot mean Miss Castellanos?"
The girl's face was ashen.
fSenor Barrlngton," she said slowly,
can never marryj
Barrlngton hoped she spoke
Aloud he asked ; I
Why?"
"There are some
broken."
Then you are
Miss
I L
Sjl6rro!
See no
"Senor, you came unbidden
once. Will you not help me now?'
"I :would gladly do so if I could,'
plied. "But I cannot prevent the marriage.
Neither can you keep a man who has ceased
to love you!"
"It is more than the mere fact that
him," she said In a low voice.
make me an honest woman. Hie has sworn
.to marry me. Oh, senor, help me to win him
back!
"Would to God that I could.
But if you have no claim upon him I
way." ; -
"They will never marry. I mWe told; you
that often. But If he continues to love! her
I will kill her."
"Hush!" he said sternly, seizing her arm,
"Do not talk so wildly. If I thought
you would injure a hair on her head I
well, you must not speak of her like that
you understand!"
. "Ah, I see. You love her, too
"Leave Miss Castellanos out of the
tion," he replied roughly, "if ybu wlsn me
to help you."
, "Senor," she said very softly!,
the better. I will not hate her if yotji love
her. Only help me to win Sanchez back.
But if I cannot do that there is jstlll another
way. I have not been his confidential I secre
tary for nothing," and her face darkened.
. "What do you mean?"
"That I will not tell you. I suspected long
ago that he might wish some day to! leave
that
would
dues-
r
much
i
occupied with her own thoughts, conscious
that a combat of will. If such ensued, would
be ' violent With all thf respect which
Clemencia bore her grandmother there had
times
difficult
jof her
A Id
senora
stood
'It
to acquiesce unquestionably to many
Clemencia to a chair.
into
jother
learned
school
in the!
wishes.
w flre burned
a study andi a
beside an open
when she had found
on the hearth in the
bright reading lamp
book. She inotloned
grandmamma," the girl
packing is not quite fin
is quite late,
protested, "and my
lished. Wilj yoii keep me long?"
"Not longer than is necessary.
Clemencia shivered a little as she Sank back
thi if t cuihiions. She recalled that
evening maIiy, years ago- when she
that she was to go! to an American
Tonight the determination written
isenora s eyes was inaraiy less pro-
nounceq than then, j ! -
Clemencia," the! old woman began again
n a caustic, tone. "I should never have con
sented, to this trip to the Coronado had I
In his heirt Hteilovs you tenderly." j
He is I too seiflsli to love kbyone tenderly.
He knows that I despise him. Yet be tor
ments me daily .f
You ajre unjust and wrong. His is
voted affection." 1
always .Manuel
you believe.
Never for a moment do you judge me except
through his eyes.f
I repeat that! his Influence has nothing
h
whateven
The sehora'a
surance
times with the
have been seen
and be it
company
at least am trutnfuL Manuel
quiet
to do with my views this time.'
manner
defensive with; you.
and calm as-
unconsciously impressed Clemencia
ana ner own voice was lessi aggressive.
i i . . .
Why do yott doubt me then, grand
mamma ?
i nave a great reason to do so.
i i i i ; . s
'What possible reason could you have?"?
i ! i t--i.w
You shall hear! Listen. This Is my sec
ond reason. You have ridden too many
American naval officer. I You
for hours with this stranger.
Is instead of Manjuel who is to ac-
to: coronado Beach. Is that
you
ii.-. . i -
the truth. I , ' ill ' ' Vfc
vows too holy to be . V '"' , V ' " v ''" ' "i ij ?S "Jll- ' V- I I
"I cannot answer," cried the girl In dis- : ff?J XX ' " " A W ' 'D'
rK ZfS&S?--" r& ll &
.iiV, - f-
Coursing Along in the Fleet-Klyitig Automobile, the Bright Spangled Ltght Falling About
a word of the episode under the great pepper
tree in the lower valley. It seemed like
sacrilege to mention that experience to
others. ' He felt he had stumbled accidentally
upon a tragedy, and the proximity of the
scene recalled vividly that picture of a worn-
an's misery.
Mrs. Helton"s ' gay voice Interrupted his
revery and he looked up to see both women
watching him. But in the eyes of Miss Cas
tellanos there was not the surprise Or amuse
ment he detected in those of Mrs! Helton.
She seemed, by ber Intense look, to ask a.
question, and while her face betrayed anxi
ety! he was aware that It prompted In him a
curious sensation
In th
of, pleasure.. Mrs. Helton
o yoii know that you broke off abruptly
The Little Party Did Not Lack Enthusiasm.
They Seemed to Be Floating Through an Enchanted World.
tress, "but a curse will surely come upon
him It he marrifes her." r j
Why will yjlu not tell me what I want
to! know?" he idemanded sternly.! "If you
are his wife, sy so. If not what claim
have you upon bim ?"
'I will not ajnswer ! your question. The
affair is mine, aid his. But this much I will
tell you. He shjall never marry another, that
I swear!" '
Barrlngton found no time to question her
He heard the outer door close.
coming- Miss Morro went
to her desk, and bent over
further.
Some one wasj
back trembling
her papers, saying as she did so in a low
voice: ; . '
"Meet me tonight senor, under; the euca
lyptus trees. Ii must talk with you."
!a moment later when Sanchez entered her
face was perfectly composed, and she was ap
parently absorbed in her duties.
I -t- -:-
CHAPTER XIX.
THAT ; night under the eucalyptus
trees, Joanita Morro sobbed out her
t story to 1 be naval officer. Standing in
the shadow 01' the great trees ! she said
tragically: j .' : . j
"He shall lever !leave me. No other
woman shall ever have him. Senor Barrlng
ton, my love for Sanchez has made me
wicked. I am reckless without It. - No mat
ter what I fel. no matter how I strive
against bim, once in bis arms I am helpless.
What you sa,w that flst day out on the edge
of the town is proof of what I say. He has
often struck ma, yet I love him more than my
life., Help me. I am! in despair.") t
"You have i poken to him,, then!?" "
j "Alas, yes. And he has dared to tell me he
will marry hln cousin In spite of me. But
I know be cannot marry her. .That is but an
idle threat to frighten me." ;
"Then wny are you so miserable 7"
"Because he loves her and no longer loves
me. ( Even winout cue marriage 1 am lost"
was heipfess In the presence
s grief . There was n6 sym
pathy he could offer. ! Then, tooJ though he
Barrlngton
of. the woman
was genuinely
sand times no.
sorry for the girl,; her misery
was literally nothing before the greater con
sequences wnlcb might befall Clemencia.
Was a woman of ber exquisite personality
to be sacrificed to such as Sanchez? A thou-
Yet how could ne prevent it?
Leaving the Pass They
to
me and I determined to have a weapon
fight him with If he did."
"And you have such a weapon?"
"I have, and If I can hold him no other
way I can do so by means of this."
Barrlngton regarded her curiously. What
a mixture of love and revenge nhe cbtsrished
in that pretty head of hers! Perhaps, how
ever, it was just as well, be t hought that
she could feel as she did. Aloud be said:
!"Miss Morro, if there is any earthly rea
son why Senor Sanchez is not Ht to wed his
cousin the sin will be on youi head it .you
do not expose him."
"Well, perhaps I shall never use what I
know. Did I not tell you I was but as wax
in his hands? But I am still be mtiful, Senor
Barrlngton. I will not allow myself to be
lieve that I have lost him yet ' I
She was a girl of spirit Hov in the! world
could such a man as Sanchez have won her
so completely? She was" loyaljty itself, and
with all his perfidy staring her in the face
she still wanted him.
"Senor Barrington,"j she continued, n two
days Senorita Castellanos accompanies Mrs.
Helton to the Coronado and you are doubt
less included in the party. Well, I will try
my beauty on Sanchez in her absence. He
loved me once. I will bide my time In silence!
till you return. If I win ydu will never
know the weapon I hold against him. If I
lose, perhaps I may have more to tell."
I
CHAITER XX. j
T WAS the night before Clemencia was
to accompany the Heltons; to Cojronadaf
Beach. Her packing was almost finished
and she stood eyeing the last bag thought
fully. Had she or her maid forgotten any-J
tning : as sne stooa musing trie deep-toned
voice of the senora called to her: j
"Clemencia, I desire a word With yon.
"Certainly, grandmamma." the girl replied.
somewnat surprised, ror the hour was lat
and she had supposed her grandmother bad
retired. "Shall I come to you study I?
NO. it is not necessary, iian say what
I have to say here. Yet" she hesitated
moment "on second tnougbt perhaps the
study Kould be best- Your maid may inter
rupt us; any moment here, and," she added
gravely, "I want your Individual attention.'
: Clemencia bowed obediently and followed
ber grandmother from the i room They
traversed the long corridor, which separate4
their apartments, without a word. ..Each was
Descended Rapidly, Soon Reaching
Sanchez was not to be of the
an-
known that
partyff f;
"Suely you cannot hold me responsible for
that! excliimed the girl.
"Not responsible, perhaps, but you should
have declined to accept an! invitation which
did not include hlm"
"I do not carepto discuBS that;" she
swereq., rising irom nercnair. ,
.. "I jthinkj you Were partly to blame, but
keep your eat aijd your temper," her grand
mother added dryjljy, "for I have bt no means
finished wat 1 wish to. say." I
Cleniencja settled back. "You have never
liked Agatha," sbB said hotly, and her voice
held aj suspicion of tears. .,
"Foif tba,t very reason you should be more
erateful that I permit yoju to visit her so
often.!
i
It was not eas
for in a measure
to answer that statement
t was true.. . Yet Clemencia
recalled with resentment the fact that each
one o her visits to her friend invariably en
tailed some disagreeable scene i with the
senora. ; ! ; . j
The latter's keen eyes wiere now watching
her cljoseiy arid. It must bie admitted, disap
proylngly. She a,llowed fop the heat of youth
and the !isparit of years between them.
But i th agitation of the younrer woman
the snon thought she dfetectedj more than
the mere r jsentment of youth. Her tone had
a touh bfj asperity when sbe spdke again.
"My objection today is f not a- question of
my dlsllkci for Mrs. Helton- The basis of. it
is of vastly more importance j than that'
frivolous little woman could inspire."
"I Ido not undjerstand what you mean,
grandmamma," she said in a low voice. ;
"Ate yoju quite; suje thit you do not Cle-
mencja?" j
Red and white warred In the
but she spoke firmly. "I cannot
unless it
is as you say, that you
turbed thAt Manuel is not jgolng. Is that it?"
The senora's voice rang bard and
'No. That is not tue real reason."
jtr
stern
Then trhat Is
girl's face
even guess
are dif
Thie old woman leaned forward and her
wordis came coldl and inclusive, t
' "I will give tvfo reasons. First I learned
today tha t you were hesitating upon the step
you ha ve sworn to take nerore ipe aiiar.
Clemencia sprang to her feetf "It is not
truef she cried. I "Sanchez lied fben he told
you that
"On the contrary, he told me vith sorrow
Her
"Theri
"And
'It is
Them,
. .
Ventura and the Open Sea.
and her eyes glittered with
! i
:ooa Tjaii, straignt and very
Mad wias uplifted in haughty
For a moment she could not reply
when she found her voice it trem-
"You should not pi
is no
f I do
nre.
not enoiigh?"
rage.
Clemencia
white.
defiance.
and even
bled
Well? Why should I not ride with him?"
Do ybu consider it right?"
Was It not plainly stipulated that for six
months I should be free?"
.'There might, be should ybu continue."
ay with fire."
hair tenderly,
When I think
tremble for you-
not choose to stop?" I
then as I feared!" the older woman
cried out desparingty. . Suddenly she turned
white and holding her hand to her heart as if
pain she sank limply Into her chair.
In a moment Cjemenda was at her side cry
ing remorsefully. !
e! Forglvb me, I really did
not mean what I said!" 1 '
My dhlld," said the senbra, struggling to
regain her composure and itroldng the glrl'a
'beware of the American,
of your unhappy mother I
Itjis my love which makes
me want to keep you from them all."
Clemencia sailed jp warmly Into her face.
"Do t ot feair for me. grandmamma." she
cried. ' I am bound foreveif by my oath.T-
CHAPTER 3 XI.
r HE strilije made travfel by railroad un
I cirtain, fco Mrs. Helton determined to
irinkp thift
Instead of in
vate car.
In the lovely
tie danier froth storms, and then there was
ning over the mountains
the delight ofi
and across the
one's mood.
trip to Coronado by ; motor
her husband's luxurious pri
spriijg weajher there was lit-
run
valleys at ai
speed that suited
husband with Cle-
She aod her
mencia and Lieutenant Barrlngton formed
the party. ,
Tbey left Santa Barbara one 'brilliant
r ! - i
morning shortjly after sunrise and skirting
gardent. vineyards and ranjebes. began climb
ing th Casitas Pass. They
the trip whicbj Barrlngton
across that glorious
were. reversing
mad made on foot
to theoi
them the spo where h
tained his first gllnjipse of
bad stood and ob-
Santa Barbara.
'Although he talked much of his never to be
forgotten tramp over the Casitas, he said not
summit. He pointed out
the vfay hie had taken and. showed
he description! of your'walk and have not
spoken a word for five minutes?"
Barrlngton apologized for bis abstraction
and : though temporarily embarrassed was
soon at his ease.' jBut he found himself won
dering why Clemencia had given Wtn that
quick, frightened jlook. ,'v ; j ' .: r ,
"There," he said, to relieve the strain, "1
stood watching ! the widespread beauty be
fore me. There la-y Santa Barbara bathed
In jhe pure riches' of tbe sun."
"It speaks well 'for us that you could have
any admiration )ef t . for our little town,"
laughed! Mrs. Helton. "I should think that
your eyes would j have been surfeited "wit n ,
the beauties of the pass;" ,
"I must admlt.'j he answered, "that while,
crownedi peaks and foaming waterfalls are
enchanting. But jlook! Those green trees
which gleam like emeralds in tbe sunshine
tell me, are they not wonderful, too?"
f ! i ...
"I think I love the deep canyons of the
Sierras better than any. other view," Clemen-
da. volunteered
t?
But the lower passes have also a great
charm. Where vlll you find a lovelier view
than this" asked Mrs. Helton. "See, ridge
and valley below, us, stretching out in mar
velous beauty of roughened ground or cul
tivated land to the blue waters of niie
Pacific" : j . r;
"I grant ail .that" the girl answered, "but
the Slerrt.s hold a solemn. Ineffable beauty.
Tie deep silences, the strange tones found
in the he irt of j the mountains cause one to
fcrget-.the worjc and fill oue with an ex
hllaratlng gladness." ; '
What a fine iwilderness
they crossed the
was revealed an
range! The Casitas is not
even were one; possessed of
the coldest nature he could scarcely fail to
high pass, but
fall under Its spell. ! It elves bewildering
ifcapressioks of long curves, high peaks and
bHoomlng junderbrush and it stirs the soul to
a sense of its beauty. .
The little, party did not lack enthusiasm.'
Coursing along 3h the fleet-flying automobile,
tbe brighji spauirled light falling about theny
they seemed tt be flouting through an en
chanted world. Leaving the pass they de
scended rapidly, soon reaching Ventura and
tbe open tea. '
. Here the mission and the whole country
around ic were :'ull of reminiscences of Ra
mona and her sheep-shearing ranch.
j Again ihere was a long stretch of gardens,
streams and glimpses of misty mountains.
Then -once more a picturesque mission and
San Fernando.. :! -"
Once as they neared a desert tract Mr.
Helton called out from his seat beside tbe
chauffeur: . .
"Look,
palms!"
I Glancing
Barrlngton, look at those two
In
the direction Indicated the
young man saw two date palms, .erect as
sentinels guarding the entrance to that vast
stretch of golden sands. Their size was un
usual even in' this country of large palms,
and their trunks, looking like huge pine
apples held aloft the colossal leaves curving
and swaying like ostrich feathers.
"Are they not wonderful ?" said Clemencia.
"I3alwas ttilrj1c of the fairies when I, see
them. Their bendibg green branches, hide
all aorta of beautiful things I am sure."
"It e sms marvelous to me," responded
Barrlngton, "that here on the edge of the
desert, where nothing endures, such a thing
of beauty Is' born. Your thought . of the
fairies must be correct for these palms seem
enchanted princesses in their glittering emer--aid-green
dresses."
( "Men- talk of the solitude and the desola
tion of the - desert,"; said Clemencia, "but
there is a strange fascination about Its lone
liness and it Is always a splendid sea of
coloh The greens, gold and blues of the
mountains, the pale topaz sands, the white
ClOUUS OTCCUCHU OJI me I'OBV ijnivn.
comes that Midas touch of
Then at noon
eolden haze over It all.'
T "Clemencia ases wonders In the desert al
ways, Lleutent nt Barrlngton." Interi)olated
Mrs. Helton. . "To me It means only a waver
ing beat of mirage and sand, not the least
pit wonderful."
j "You are always so exact Agatha," smiled
her companion "Do you never see In that
sea of sand the golden fire blazing? And
have you neverj noticed at sunset tbe strange,
opalescent llgbts which,, flutter over moun
tain and plalnf" V
Indeed I have tried earnestly to see these;
marvelst Clemencia. dear, but the fairies are
not generous to me. Tbe best I can do Is to
acknowledge that the desert possesses no su
pernatural charms and that I am always
glad to leave it" - .- .. .
(To be continued next week.)
(Copyripht, 19t5, by Edith Ogden Harriton.),
1
1 ' -