Miss Fairfax of Virginia: A Romance of Love and Adventure Under the Palmettos

by St. George Rathborne

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  JULIO DECLARES FOR WAR.

  In this fair city of the Conquistadors, where Ponce de Leon laid afoundation for the future Spanish colony, there may have been menwho for various causes felt the heat of anger surging through theirsouls on this August night in the year of our Lord 1898; but it isexceedingly problematical whether one among them experienced such aterrible volcano raging in their heart as did Roderic Owen when thefirst suspicion burst upon him that Julio's companion was the beautifulgirl who had after estrangement again promised to be his honored wife.

  The shock almost took his breath away, it was so keen, so cruel, andfound him so unprepared.

  Then came a revulsion of feeling--it could not be so--Georgiawas true, she was loving and faithful--this was only a wretchedcoincidence--surely there were women in San Juan who possessed figureson the same order as hers, and who even made those familiar littlegestures--women were pretty much alike with regard to such things, justas a dozen cats may all make the same graceful leaps, together with thepeculiar little motions so characteristic the world over.

  Still he followed Julio--for the life of him he could not help that,no matter how thoroughly convinced he might be that it was no affair ofhis--there was a terrible fascination in the game, as though he wereplaying with dynamite.

  And so the pendulum swung again, his eyes being still glued upon thegirl, once more he found himself the prey to suspicions.

  In vain he endeavored to throttle them, as his better nature arosein arms--like Banquo's ghost they would not down--every movement thegirl made that reminded him of Georgia was like a wicked stab in theregion of his heart, and when he saw the daring Julio pick up herkerchief which had fallen from her hand, and press it to his lips verycavalierly ere returning it, Roderic had a great desire to rush uponthe _bolero_ dancer and knock him down--indeed, just at that minute hethought he had good cause for hammering him in lusty Anglo Saxon style.

  But Roderic was not jealous--oh! no, he had cast that monster out ofhis heart for good, and meant to have no more of him--only he had avery queer sensation seize upon him, and felt as though it was onlyjust and right, both to Georgia and himself, that he should settle thismatter then and there.

  This could only be done in one way, by looking upon the girl's face.

  He was firmly resolved to do this, come what might--Julio woulddoubtless resent the impertinence, for Julio was a fighter, having oncebeen a _toreador_ in the bull ring--what of that, if only he coulddiscover the truth one way or the other?

  A fellow in his frame of mind thinks little of danger, the carelesssnap of his fingers perhaps.

  What fools Cupid does make of men--even those who would appear to bethe best balanced go quite off the handle when the little god findslodgment in their bosoms.

  At any rate Owen had now thrown away all other fancies and wasstudiously following this couple as might an Indian his intended prey.

  Given a little time and he recovered, at least in a fair measure, thecoolness that usually characterized his actions.

  He even lighted a cheroot, realizing that a Spaniard such as herepresented would appear singular without a weed of some sort danglingfrom his lip.

  Apparently Julio had lost all interest in the military strains thatthrobbed and pulsated upon the night air--when lovely women entered thegame the _bolero_ dancer threw other thoughts to the four winds--hemight be a lover of music but above all else he was a beau.

  The couple evidently intended quitting the plaza, and plunging downinto one of the streets that would lead them to that other section oftown, where fashion never troubled, and where the poorer element hadtheir quarters--a section that would especially appeal to the eye ofthe artist and the newspaperman seeking quaint scenes for the portrayalof Spanish characteristics.

  Roderic was quite ready to follow--indeed, in his present frame of mindit would not matter whither he went so long as that lithesome figuretantalized him like a will-o'-the-wisp.

  All he wanted was an opportunity to see her face, to satisfy himselfone way or the other, to quell this devilish spirit raging in hisbreast, or failing that to let the fury find an outlet.

  One way or the other, however fortune might decide it, he felt that aresult must be reached.

  Having taken the reins in his hands again and curbed the unruly teamthat would have carried him headlong to a speedy rupture of the peace,Roderic became outwardly cool.

  He aroused his old professional instincts to action, and endeavored toforget that the case was more to him than the usual run.

  Thus he noticed that while Julio could never be anything but agallant and a beau, he did not attempt any familiarities with hiscompanion--that there seemed to be a certain amount of respect on hispart such as he seldom showed toward those who had succumbed to thecharm of his fascinating presence.

  Score one point in favor of Julio.

  It might be of advantage when the curtain was rung up for the finalact, for should this desperate, jealousy-racked lover who followed athis heels be given an opportunity to get at that long throat of his,the Maccarena dancer would have ample need of every prayer his guardianangel could bring forth.

  When the plaza with its gay crowds and its dashing music had been leftbehind, Roderic knew his task had assumed new risks.

  The Spaniard is a suspicious mortal at his best, and Julio had beenembroiled in so many affairs with lovers, perhaps husbands also, thathe had to be constantly on the _qui vive_ lest one of these jealousminded gentry lie in wait around a lonely corner, or creep up frombehind, dagger in hand.

  When one plays such a game as that of this fascinating beau, one mustaccept the consequences, no matter what they entail--it is the price ofpopularity among the fair sex.

  Hence, it might be expected that after they had been traversing thesenarrow thoroughfares for some little time, Julio from frequent glancesthrown over his shoulder, would begin to notice how the shadow keptupon his trail.

  This would arouse suspicion, and he might either vanish suddenly fromsight or else employ his popularity among a certain class of men tobring Roderic into hot water.

  So far as this latter contingency was concerned, Roderic cared littlewhether he were thrown up against a dozen of the unwashed of San Juan,if he could only previously have the blessed knowledge that his fearsregarding Julio's veiled companion were groundless.

  In other words, such an assurance was of so great a value in his eyesthat he stood ready to accept the gravest of danger with a smile on hisface if only Georgia were true.

  He employed his usual tactics to prevent the other from suspectinghim, and being an adept at the business was able to be out of sight onnearly every occasion when Julio twisted that long neck of his for aglance toward the rear.

  This was all very well, but so far he had not advanced a single steptoward the elucidation of the mystery.

  Well, patience--everything comes to him who waits.

  Under ordinary conditions he could have applied this time-worn butnevertheless true axiom to his own case, just as he had done on manya previous occasion; but it was a different matter when his eyes wereeagerly watching each movement of the girl, and in his heart he prayedthat the bitter cup might pass from him.

  But something must be done.

  At any moment Julio and his modest companion might pass into one of thehouses in this quarter, and the door of which would consequently beshut and barred in his face.

  It would serve of little avail then for him to suddenly be electrifiedinto action--he could pound upon the panels of the sturdy door anddemand admittance in the most lusty of tones, but the only answerhe might expect would be in a shower of dirty water from the upperwindows, a favorite method in vogue among the lower classes of Spainwhen the tax gatherers or some other unwelcome visitor is knocking foradmission.

  Desperation often hurries a man to action--the need of results one wayor another spurs even a laggard in the chase.

  Having now determined to assume all the risks
with the expectation ofplacing them upon a single die, Roderic changed his tactics.

  It was his desire to overtake the dancer and by a bold movement snatchthe veil from the head of his companion.

  Of course this would be the signal for war, since Julio always hada chip upon his shoulder; but Roderic was willing to accept theconsequences, so long as the terrible suspense was ended.

  He began to slip up on the Spaniard, and with all his faculties arousedRoderic was able to carry this part of his programme out to perfection.

  The streets were far from deserted--in places even crowds could beseen, doubtless eagerly discussing the great events overhanging SanJuan, with an American army landed on Porto Rico soil--for by this timethe dreadful news had come of Santiago's fall and the total destructionof Cervera's fleet, so that Spanish respect for Yankee valor was risingfast--first Dewey, then Sampson and last of all Shafter, to be followedby Miles.

  Owen was now but three paces behind the couple, and could almost hearwhat they said, though their voices were exceedingly low.

  His former diagnosis of the case was strengthened by a closersurvey--in height, and figure Julio's companion was exactly acounterpart of Georgia--add to this the peculiar little individualitiessuch as usually mark a woman's personality and the fact that this manhad once before come between them, what fault could be found withRoderic for suspecting?

  Well, the time had come for action.

  That miserable gauze had baffled him long enough, and he was determinedto know the worst, Julio to the contrary.

  Before the Spaniard could guess what was in the wind Roderic had dartedto the side of the girl, while his eager hand reached out and seizedupon her veil in a ruthless grasp.

  He heard her give a little scream as though terrorized at his boorishact.

  For this Owen, being chivalrous by nature of the blood that haddescended from Irish kings, hated himself most earnestly--neverthelessthis feeling did not prevent him from following out the design thatactuated his movements, even as it had become a very part of hisexistence.

  Though the fate of nations hung in the balance, yes, even should hisown life pay the penalty for his rashness--and this is by all odds thehighest stake a man can play--he was resolved to settle this questiononce for all.

  So he snatched away the veil.

  He no longer breathed--in that dread moment when his hopes of a wholefuture hung in the balance he seemed actually to have been changed intostone.

  So Lot's wife must have been petrified as she turned to look back atthe burning city.

  When Roderic's eyes fell upon the face that had been concealed bythe veil they discovered rare beauty that was now stamped with alarm,although some show of spirit flashed from the great midnight eyes asindignation struggled with maidenly fear.

  But, praise be to Heaven, the girl though so beautiful as to vie withhis Georgia, was a stranger!

  His demon was laid!

  For that at least, thanks.

  And now the consequences of his daring act must be boldly met.

  Apologies, however profuse, do not count for much with hot bloodedSpaniards, with whom an insult demands a blow.

  Knowing this Roderic fully counted on prompt action on the part of theex _toreador_.

  Julio had met the rush of many a maddened bull in the arena, and couldhimself do a little of that same when the occasion arose.

  He was naturally a trifle confused by the unexpected move on Roderic'spart, and this delay, short though it was, gave the other a chance topull himself together, to put the girl out of his mind altogether andface Julio.

  The latter was trembling with fury, and thus far weakened his causejust when he needed all coolness and a clear vision.

  He rattled out a shower of expletives, each one of which was as hot asa live coal; but even this did not appear to annihilate his enemy.

  Julio had not been entirely idle while thus giving vent to hisspleen--the glint of steel in his hand told Owen that he had snatchedout a ready dagger, possibly concealed in his voluminous scarlet sash,and was ready to sheathe it in the bosom of the unknown who had throwndown the gauntlet.

  Roderic saw the point, and had already gone him one better, since heheld a blade more than a match for Julio's dagger, and moreover, knewhow to handle it like a juggler of India.

  "Senor, it was a mistake--I am ready to make ample apologies orfight--just as you decide," he said in Spanish.

  The wolf would not be appeased by this sop.

  He demanded blood.

  It had been too grievous an insult to be forgiven, and besides, whatbusiness has any self-respecting Spaniard to forgive anyhow?

  So Julio set out for war.

  When any man on earth seeks a disturbance, and selects an Americancitizen for the object of his assault, he usually gets all he desires,and very frequently good measure, pressed down and running over.

  So Julio, the pet dancer and one time idol of the San Juan bull ring,brushing his female companion aside almost rudely, flung himself uponthe stranger with the ferocity of a panther, doubtless resolved to makehim pay for his audacity with his life.