K. G. C.—A Tale of Fort Alcatraz, Chapters I - VI [pp. 238-248]

K. G. C. -4 Tale of Fort A lcatrav.
guest at the ranch, where he met the Seforita Matilda, and where too he soon became
a frequent visitor.
The young girl's education had been
obtained at the convent at San Jos6, from
which she had recently returned. Heretofore she had seen few young men, those the
sons of the neighboring families, whose prac
tice it had frequently been to dash in and out
of the large courtyard at the ranch, mounted
on fiery mustangs, their heads covered by
broad sombreros ornamented with wide bands
of silver and gold embroidery, their legs
encased in slashed leather trousers supported
at the waist by a bright sash of crimson silk,
while from their heels dangled and clanked
immense Mexican spurs with jingling pendants. It was thus the young Californians
endeavored to pay court, and so had hoped
to find favor in the eyes of the fair one, the
fame of whose beauty had extended far; but
each in succession had as signally failed.
Toward Dillon she had been attracted
because he was different from any young
man she had ever before met; perhaps, too,
the paternal influence had been exerted in his
behalf - though it was quite as certain the
Doha had no wish for an American son-inlaw.
But now the bluff, blonde, and handsome
Seymour, with his glib tongue and military
style, was a new sensation, quite in contrast
with the modest demeanor and undemonstrative habit of the man she was to marry.
Seymour was quick to see this, and his
vanity was immensely flattered; there was
too a romantic flavor about it all which was
very enticing. Possibly the unwritten law to
which men hold each other accountable concerning their mutual relations with individuals of the opposite sex, might have prevented
Seymour from a deliberate attempt to supplant the affections of Dillon; but the marked
encouragement he found was too strong a
temptation, and he lost no opportunity of
finding her presence.
The changed relations did not immediately
dawn upon the consciousness of the unsuspicious Dillon, whose confidence was destined
to a rude awakening. It was after he had
made a flying business trip to the San Gabriel
Mission on the afternoon of one Sunday when
he and Seymour had been invited to dine at
San Pablo, that a discovery was forced upon
him which opened his eyes, and changed his
entire plans for the future.
Riding slowly up the long avenue leading
to the house, on his return near the close of
the day, his attention was arrested by the
sound of voices issuing from a clump of live
oaks at the roadside. The trunks of these
trees had been overgrown by.vines, which
had formed a natural arbor,- a romantic
retreat, where he had been wont to stray in
company with his betrothed. This place was
known as the Casa Vista, as from it the
house was first brought into view. At this
point the road turned; near it a rippling
stream from the neighboring foothills tumbled over the rocks, making just sufficient
noise to deaden the sound of his horse's feet
as he approached. His mind occupied with
pleasant thoughts of her who was always first
there, he had scarcely heeded the low sound
of voices, and he might have passed on but
that his horse, with equine curiosity, wheeled
sharply out of the road and stopped directly
opposite the clump of trees, as suddenly discovering the occupants of the place. Here
a sight met the astonished gaze of the lovei
that for an instant caused him to doubt the
evidence of his senses. On a rustic seat
which had been improvised with the limbs
of a fallen tree sat Seymour, at his side the
maiden who was Dillon's promised bride. One
of Seymour's arms encircled the slender waist,
and a tiny hand rested unresistingly in his.
Painfully but quickly was Dillon able to
comprehend a degree of perfidy that woman
is sometimes capable of; that intimacy which
should have been his alone, as an accepted
lover, he now saw as freely enjoyed by
another, hitherto an unsuspected rival. The
sehorita, in dismay, would gladly have extricated herself, but it was useless; Seymour
would not release her. It seemed to suit
his purpose to announce in this way a
stronger claim, and he continued to look
unflinchingly into the wrathful eyes of the
angry man before him.
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