Part 15 (1/2)
It had got to be noon, with the sun at fire heat; but for all the _forzados_ were kept on at work No rest for them until the task should be completed, and they taken back to their prison quarters at a late hour of the afternoon The cruel gaoler told the way
He seereeable to the his _quirt_, and giving grand exhibition of his ”brief authority”
A little after ht by unlooked-for circuather in the Calle de Plateros, swar stand upon the foot-walk Soon they lined it all along as far as the eye could reach Not _pelados_, butto a class respectable, attired in their holiday clothes, as on a _dia de fiesta_
Soers were presently told, though so any concern about it Two, however, who so--were only an to thicken These were Kearney and Rivas, who, knowing the language of the country, couldsaid around them that there was to be a _funcion_ The foundation-stone of a new church was to be laid in the suburb of San Cosistrate of the State himself to lay it--with all ceremony and a silver trowel The procession, forh the Calle de Plateros; hence the throng of the people in that street
_Funcions_ and _fiestas_ are of such frequent occurrence in the Mexican metropolis--as indeed everywhere else in that land of the _far niente_-- that this, an ordinary one and not much announced, excited no particular interest, save in the suburb of San Cosht be e number of people had put on their best apparel, and sallied forth to witness the procession
This did not delay long in showing itself It ca notes of a tru drum in a band of music--military A troop of cavalry--Lancers--formed the advance, to clear the way for as to follow; this being a couple of carriages, in which were seated the Bishop of Mexico and his ecclesiastical staff, all in grand, gaudy rai precedence, and the post of honour
Behind cauards in gorgeous uniform--himself in it Not alone, but with one seated by his side, whose presence there caused Florence Kearney surprise, great as he ever experienced in his life Despite the coat of diplonised his _ci-devant_ teacher of the Spanish tongue--Don Ignacio Valverde
But great as was his astonishe in it, or speculate how his old ”crame followed another, holding one who had yet hter!
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
SIGNIFICANT GLANCES
Yes; the lady in the carriage was Luisa Valverde Too surely she, thought Florence Kearney; for seeing her there was painful to him--a shock--as one who sees the woer And so he believed her to be, as a host of unpleasantinto his er real and present before his eyes at thatby the side of the carriage in which she sat--Carlos Santander He it was, in a gold-laced uniform, with a smile of proud satisfaction on his face What a contrast to the craven, crestfallen wretch who, under a coating of dull green ooze, crawled out of the ditch at Pontchartrain! And a still greater contrast in the circumstances of the tworeversed
The Hussar colonel appeared not to be one of the regular escorts attending upon the Dictator, but detached, and free to choose his place in the procession Well had he chosen it, any one would say; for there was a second lady in the carriage, young and beautiful, too; as uessed--the Condesa Almonte But he seemed to have no eyes for her, nor words; his looks and speech all bestowed upon Luisa Valverde For he was s with her, and she appeared to listen attentively, returning his s, but h his soul, dark as winter noept dire bitter s
”Are they married? No 'Tis not the behaviour of ed, no doubt Yes; he has won her heart, after all; likely had it then, when I believed it mine Such deception? O God!”
These unspoken questions and conjectures passed through his ht itself
They were interrupted by his seeing the ladies--the carriage being now nearly abreast--turn their faces towards hiative way The movement, abrupt and sudden, seemed prompted; and so had it been by him on horseback Florence Kearney saw hi, but the distance was too great to hear what he said
”_Mira! Los Tejanos_!” were Santander's words, indicating the group of which they formed part ”One of them is, if I mistake not, an old acquaintance of yours, Don Luisa? And how strange!” he added, feigning surprise ”Chained to a criminal--no, let me not call him that--an individual in whom the Condesa Almonte takes an interest, if rumour's to be believed Is it so, Condesa?”
Neither of the to hirossed all her attention, one fixedly gazing at Florence Kearney, the other at Ruperto Rivas For, by the grace, or rather negligence, of their guards, the latter was now up on the pavelances between the pairs thus brought face to face! What a variety of expression upon their features! For varied and strong were their enation, and, aed, ever-confiding love!
He who had brought about this odd interview--for it had been pre-arranged--was riding on the left and near side of the carriage, the sewer being on the right and off; which, of course, placed him behind the backs of the ladies as they noere, and hindered his observing their faces Could he have seen theht have doubted the success of his scheme, and certainly could not have accounted it a triuly upon hi Florence Kearney with earnest, syiven, was trying his best to interpret it He saw that she turned pale as her eyes first fell upon hi hiuilt Or was it pity? If so, he would have spurned it All the tortures the Acordada could inflict upon hiradation would be easier to bear than that But no It could not be pity alone The sudden start and paling cheek; the look of interest in those eyes, beautiful as ever, and so well remembered; a flash in them that recalled the old ti more thanslowly on, had carried her out of his sight, the jealous fancies so late harrowing his soul, see in his ear, ”She loves you--still loves you!”
Needless to say, he was toothe expression on Luisa Valverde's face to give even a look to the other beautiful one beside it And alike was he forgetful of the lected individuals, glances were being exchanged also in earnest, and watchful glances, which told of their being as much interested in one another as he in Luisa Valverde, or she in hino the play of their features
The first expression on those of the Condesa was surprise, quick changing to indignation, this as suddenly disappearing or becoiven by her ”dear, noble Ruperto” As evinced by the fond, yet proud, sparkle of her eyes, he was no less dear now, no less noble in that degrading garb, than when she knew hiold-laced uniform, splendid as that worn by Santander, and he, in her eyes, ten ti it If he had turned bandit, she did not believe it; though, believing it, she would have loved him all the same Nor in this would she have so much differed from the rest of her sex Blameable as it may be, love--even that of a lady--has but little to do with the moralities; and of a Mexican lady perhaps less than any other Certain, that Ruperto Rivas, robber or no, in that crossing of glances with the Condesa Aln of jealousy; instead, full confidence of being beloved by her