Part 27 (2/2)
In truth the rough conclusions voiced by the angry sectary merely confirmed my own fear I had marked within the eyes of Naladi--drea lashes--no promise of tenderness of heart I believed it was seldom she inclined to mercy, seldoe I acknowledge freely I felt to soic influence of her soft, sinuous beauty, which I doubt if any nized her from the first, even as she stood wrapped in the sun's rays on the rock summit, as one who, by instinct and nature, was scarce less a savage than her ift ofsmile of a woman not entirely unacquainted with the courtesies of refinereatly who she could be, thus sporting the polite graces of a reception-rooe life-story? How ever carace of ed leader over such a people? It was not so odd that a clever, resourceful woman, driven perhaps by necessity, should have made unscrupulous use of their dohter of the Sun,” have obtained supre of such an assumed character would not prove difficult to her, while their servile worshi+p of the protesting Puritan, whose red hair alone had elevated hiht be deceived, and led slaves by subtle ic Yet as the woman? Whence came she? Why should she ever have chosen such a life?
And Eloise! Through what uised dislike of this Amazon? To what fate would this un to remain chained and helpless at such a ti visited upon another, upon one you know and love, and yet be unable to uplift hand or voice in warning I arievously when held in leash, co of the unknown
All I could do that day was to pace the hard earthen floor, vainly endeavoring to quiet the wild throbbing of ht conjure up, now and then approaching the unguarded entrance of the lodge to search anxiously for so afternoon wore away, until the deepening shadows of sun-setting rested heavily along the western cliffs, and the workers in the fields began trooping through the village, their shouts of greeting shrill and discordant, while the grim priests found place before the draped entrance to their dread altar-house, with blazing fagots signalling their distant brethren on the dizzy suing frolance to note the subtile change the afternoon had wrought in his personal appearance, yet at the tireatly marvel at it The stains of battle and exposure, that had so decidedly disfigured hiic of new raiment, which had about it the color and cut of French fashi+on; so it was now a fair and prosperous gallant of the court, powdered of hair, waxen of s
”What said I, Master Benteen?” he questioned cheerily to my stare of surprise ”Did I not boldly contend that this would yet prove a pleasant resting-place to relieve the tediuer doubting the verity of my dreams?
But no happiness finds reflection in your face; 'tis gloomy as a day of rain Prithie, the afternoon must have been passed by you far less pleasantly than its hours sped with ood Master Cairnes,” I responded gravely
”I found hiht”
”_Parbleu_! I warrant not froayly ”'T is told rim-faced old hypocrite sits in worshi+pful state, a veritable God, trussed like a bronze idol or so on his sole to his words withal”
”'T is an unhappy experience for a Christian”
”Ay! a pity; yet it should do the canting preacher good to play heathen God a while She pictured tohich to hed so heartily since leaving New Orleans”
”She?” I exclaimed in new interest ”Have you been with your wife?”
He stroked hisat me in apparent surprise
”Nay, friend Benteen; you uess I rested beneath the same roof with her, so I was inforht of the Puritan chanced to be the fair Queen, Naladi”
”Naladi? But you speak no Spanish,--how could you hold converse with her?”
”There are alays, if the lady be fair The hands, eyes, lips can all be ht forth a black boy--a ed to convey her words in ue Still it was difficult to do justice in such a way to so char a woh the medium of that interpreter”
I looked at him in speechless amazement at this revelation of his supreme conceit, his reckless vanity Anxiety alone pro thus to obtain information
”But your wife, Madame de Noyan? You say she was beneath the same roof, and yet you saw her not? Do you mean you made no effort to obtain speech with her?”
He leaned back against the wall of the hut, crossing his long li from his pocket a small mirror
”Ay, I mentioned it; but _la reine Naladi_ appeared not overly well pleased with the suggestion, so I concluded not to press the allant at such a time Besides, there is no doubt Eloise is well attended; the Queen referred to her most kindly”
”The preacher told nantly, determined to test him to the full, ”that this sa Madas Perchance this tender-spoken Queen has little of the angel beneath her fairness of skin”
”_Sacre_! I hope not I opine an angel would prove weariso My own taste inclines toward flesh and blood
You say Master Cairnes told you this sad tale?”