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Updated: April 30, 2025
He threw his arms about her, kissing and caressing her. "My sister! My sister! Thou wilt! Say that thou wilt!" But she flung him off as if he were a snake. "Wilt thou go?" she asked. "Ay! I go. But he shall suffer. I swear it! I swear it!" And he rushed from the room. Chonita sat there, staring more fixedly at the floor than when Estenega had left her. Reinaldo did not go to his Prudencia.
The bridesmaids stood in a group apart, a large bouquet: each wore a gown of a different color. Valencia blazed forth in yellow, and flashed triumphant glances at Estenega, now and again one of irrepressible envy and resentment at Reinaldo. Chonita looked like a water-witch in pale green covered with lace that stirred with every breath of air; her mantilla was as delicate as sea-spray.
Doña Trinidad smiled with the pride of the Californian housewife. "It is ready, my son. Come to the dining-room, no?" She led the way, followed by the family, Reinaldo and Prudencia lingering. As the others crossed the threshold he drew her back. "A lump of tallow, dost thou hear, my Prudencia?" he whispered, hurriedly. "Put it under the green bench. I must have it to-night." "Ay! Reinaldo "
Neither saw a man walking rapidly up the trail. Suddenly the man gave a bound and ran toward them. It was Reinaldo. "Ah, I have found thee," he cried. "Listen, Don Diego Estenega, lord of the North, American, and would-be dictator of the Californias.
"I always liked Diego," said the old man, somewhat confusedly. "And he is the friend of Alvarado. How can I avoid to ask him, when he is of the party?" "Let him come," cried Reinaldo. "God of my life! I am glad that he comes, this lord of redwood forests and fog-bound cliffs.
Estenega watched the vessel sail the next morning, and battled with the impulse to leap from the window, hire a boat, and overtake it. The delay of a month might mean the death of his hopes. For all he knew, the bark carried the letters of his undoing; Reinaldo himself might be on it.
It was a careless question, and he looked at her reproachfully. "I have been well, Chonita," he said. At this moment our attention was startled by a sharp exclamation from Valencia. Prudencia had announced her engagement. Valencia had refused many suitors, but she had intended to marry Reinaldo Iturbi y Moncada. Not that she loved him: he was the most brilliant match in three hundred leagues.
It would prolong the term of his submission to order him to appear before the Junta and make it an apology with due humility. "Now for Carillo and Reinaldo Iturbi y Moncada." He paused a moment and glanced at Chonita's grating. He had the proofs of her brother's rascality in his pocket; no one but himself had seen them. He hesitated the fraction of another moment, then smiled grimly.
And I knew that she was beginning to fear Estenega; the time was almost come when she would fear herself more. Estenega had several talks apart with her. He managed it without any apparent maneuvering; but he always had the devil's methods. Valencia avenged herself by flirting desperately with Reinaldo, and Prudencia's honeymoon was seasoned with gall.
Prudencia, alone, curled up in a far corner of her bed, the clothes over her head, was bemoaning many things incidental to matrimony. As she heard the sound of heavy steps she gave a little shriek. "It is I, Prudencia," said her uncle. "Where is Reinaldo?" "I do not know." "Did he not come from the ball-room with thee?" "N-o-o-o-o." "Dost thou know where he has gone?" "N-o-o-o, señor."
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