Part 14 (2/2)
”Dolores, do I find you here at this hour?” I exclaiain ”Do you think it very strange, Richard?”
”Pardonyou,” I said; ”I came here to find out the time from your clock”
”It is two o'clock Is that all you caine I could retire to sleep without first knohat your otten everything?”
I ca ”No, Dolores,”
I said; ”had I forgotten, you would not have seen me here enlisted in a cause which I looked on only as your cause”
”Ah, then you have honoured the Casa Blanca with this visit not to speak to me--that you considered unnecessary--butby the extreme bitterness of her tone ”You are unjust to me,” I said ”Since that fatal mo of you, grieving that I had offended you No, I did not come to exhibit my sword, which is not worn for ornament; I came only to speak to you, Dolores, and you purposely avoided me”
”Not without reason,” she retorted quickly ”Did I not sit quietly by you after you had acted in that way towardsfor you to speak--to explain, and you were silent? Well, senor, I aain”
”This, then, is what I have to say,” I replied ”After what passed I considered myself bound in honour to join your cause, Dolores What iveness? Believe ot everything--forgot that I--forgot that your hand was already given to another”
”Given to another? What do you mean, Richard? Who told you that?”
”General Santa Coloht has he to occupy himself with my affairs? This is a matter that concerns myself only, and it is presumption on his part to interfere in it”
”Do you speak in that tone of your hero, Dolores? Reer out of pure friendshi+p But his warning was throay; ht of your loveliness, your own incautious words, were too much for my heart”
She dropped her face on her hands and remained silent
”I have suffered for ivemy hand
She took it, but continued silent
”Say, dearest friend, that you forgive me, that we part friends”
”Oh, Richard, must we part then?” she murmured
”Yes--now, Dolores; for, before you are up, I must be on horseback and on my way to join the troops The march to Montevideo will probably commence almost immediately”
”Oh, I cannot bear it!” she suddenly exclai ive ry with you, but I did not know the General had said such a thing
Believe ines more than he knows When you took ainst your breast it was a revelation to ivein the world to le in this cruel civil strife in which all my dearest friends and relations have perished”
She had had her revelation; I now had ly bitter one I tre my secret to her, nohen she had so unmistakably responded to the passion I had insanely revealed
Suddenly she raised her dark, lu for mastery on her pale face