small purchases while in San Francisco。 When her husband spoke of
going as far south as Todos Santos； she begged him to deliver the
parcel to her aunt's messenger； and even addressed it boldly to
her。 Inside the outer wrapper she wrote a note to Marion； which；
with a new and amazing diffidence； she composed and altered a dozen
times； at last addressing the following in a large； school…girl
hand： 〃Sir； I obey your commands to the last。 Whatever your
oppressors or enemies may do； you can always rely and trust upon
She who in deepest sympathy signs herself ever； Mollie Rosalie
MacEwan。〃 The substitution of her maiden name in full seemed in
her simplicity to be a delicate exclusion of her husband from the
affair； and a certain disguise of herself to alien eyes。 The
superscription； 〃To Mrs。 Marion MacEwan from Mollie Bunker； to be
called for by hand at Todos Santos；〃 also struck her as a marvel of
ingenuity。 The package was safely and punctually delivered by
Zephas； who brought back a small packet directed to her； which on
private examination proved to contain a letter addressed to 〃J。 E。
Kirby； to be called for；〃 with the hurried line： 〃A thousand
thanks； W。 M。〃 Mrs。 Bunker drew a long； quick breath。 He might
have written more； he might havebut the wish remained still
unformulated。 The next day she ran up a signal； the same boat and
solitary rower appeared around the Point； and took the package。 A
week later； when her husband was ready for sea； she again hoisted
her signal。 It brought a return package for Mexico； which she
inclosed and readdressed； and gave to her husband。 The recurrence
of this incident apparently struck a bright idea from the simple
Zephas。
〃Look here； Mollie； why don't you come YOURSELF and see your aunt。
I can't go into port without a license； and them port charges cost
a heap o' red tape； for they've got a Filibuster scare on down
there just now； but you can go ashore in the boat and I'll get
permission from the Secretary to stand off and wait for you there
for twenty…four hours。〃 Mrs。 Bunker flushed and paled at the
thought。 She could see him！ The letter would be sufficient
excuse； the distrust suggested by her husband would give color to
her delivering it in person。 There was perhaps a brief twinge of
conscience in taking this advantage of Zephas' kindness； but the
next moment； with that peculiar logic known only to the sex； she
made the unfortunate man's suggestion a condonation of her deceit。
SHE hadn't asked to go； HE had offered to take her。 He had only
himself to thank。
Meantime the political excitement in which she had become a
partisan without understanding or even conviction； presently
culminated with the Presidential campaign and the election of
Abraham Lincoln。 The intrigues of Southern statesmen were revealed
in open expression； and echoed in California by those citizens of
Southern birth and extraction who had long； held place； power； and
opinion there。 There were rumors of secession； of California
joining the South； or of her founding an independent Pacific
Empire。 A note from 〃J。 E。 Kirby〃 informed Mrs。 Bunker that she
was to carefully retain any correspondence that might be in her
hands until further orders； almost at the same time that Zephas as
regretfully told her that his projected Southern trip had been
suspended。 Mrs。 Bunker was disappointed； and yet； in some singular
conditions of her feelings； felt relieved that her meeting with
Marion was postponed。 It is to be feared that some dim conviction；
unworthy a partisan； that in the magnitude of political events her
own petty personality might be overlooked by her hero tended
somewhat to her resignation。
Meanwhile the seasons had changed。 The winter rains had set in；
the trade winds had shifted to the southeast； and the cottage；
although strengthened； enlarged； and made more comfortable through
the good fortunes of the Bunkers； was no longer sheltered by the
cliff； but was exposed to the full strength of the Pacific gales。
There were long nights when she could hear the rain fall monotonously
on the shingles； or startle her with a short； sharp reveille en the
windows； there were brief days of flying clouds and drifting
sunshine； and intervals of dull gray shadow； when the heaving white
breakers beyond the Gate slowly lifted themselves and sank before
her like wraiths of warning。 At such times； in her accepted
solitude； Mrs。 Bunker gave herself up to strange moods and singular
visions； the more audacious and more striking it seemed to her from
their very remoteness； and the difficulty she was beginning to have
in materializing them。 The actual personality of Wynyard Marion； as
she knew it in her one interview； had become very shadowy and faint
in the months that passed； yet when the days were heavy she
sometimes saw herself standing by his side in some vague tropical
surroundings； and hailed by the multitude as the faithful wife and
consort of the great Leader； President； Emperorshe knew not what！
Exactly how this was to be managed； and the manner of Zephas'
effacement from the scene； never troubled her childish fancy； and；
it is but fair to say； her woman's conscience。 In the logic before
alluded to； it seemed to her that all ethical responsibility for her
actions rested with the husband who had unduly married her。 Nor
were those visions always roseate。 In the wild declamation of that
exciting epoch which filled the newspapers there was talk of short
shrift with traitors。 So there were days when the sudden onset of a
squall of hail against her window caused her to start as if she had
heard the sharp fusillade of that file of muskets of which she had
sometimes read in history。
One day she had a singular fright。 She had heard the sound of oars
falling with a precision and regularity unknown to her。 She was
startled to see the approach of a large eight…oared barge rowed by
men in uniform； with two officers wrapped in cloaks in the stern
sheets； and before them the glitter of musket barrels。 The two
officers appeared to be conversing earnestly； and occasionally
pointing to the shore and the bluff above。 For an instant she
trembled； and then an instinct of revolt and resistance followed。
She hurriedly removed the ring； which she usually wore when alone；
from her finger； slipped it with the packet under the mattress of
her bed； and prepared with blazing eyes to face the intruders。 But
when the boat was beached； the two officers； with scarcely a glance
towards the cottage； proceeded leisurely along the shore。 Relieved；
yet it must be confessed a little piqued at their indifference； she
snatched up her hat and sallied forth to confront them。
〃I suppose you don't know that this is private property？〃 she said
sharply。
The group halted and turned towards her。 The orderly； who was
following； turned his face aside and smiled。 The younger officer
demurely lifted his cap。 The elder； gray； handsome； in a general's
uniform； after a moment's half…astounded； half…amused scrutiny of
the little figure； gravely raised his gauntleted fingers in a
military salute。
〃I beg your pardon； madam； but I am afraid we never even thought of
that。 We are making a preliminary survey for the Government with a
possible view of fortifying the bluff。 It is very doubtful if you
will be disturbed in any rights you may have； but if you are； the
Government will not fail to make it good to you。〃 He turned
carelessly to the aide beside him。 〃I suppose the bluff is quite
inaccessible from here？〃
〃I don't know about that； general。 They say that Marion； after he
killed Henderson； escaped down this way；〃 said the young man。
〃Indeed； what good was that？ How did he get away from here？〃
〃They say that Mrs。 Fairfax was hanging round in a boat； waiting
for him。 The story of the escape is all out now。〃
They moved away with a slight perfunctory bow to Mrs。 Bunker； only
the younger officer noting that the pert； pretty little Western
woman wasn't as sharp and snappy to his superior as she had at
first promised to be。
She turned back to the cottage astounded； angry； and vaguely
alarmed。 Who was this Mrs。 Fairfax who had usurped her fame and
solitary devotion？ There was no woman in the boat that took him
off； it was equally well known that he went in the ship alone。 If
they had heard that some woman was with him herewhy should they
have supposed it was Mrs。 Fairfax？ Zephas might know something
but he was away。 The thought haunted her that day and the next。
On the third came a more startling incident。
She had been wandering along the edge of her domain in a state of
restlessness which had driven her from the monotony of the house
when she heard the barking of the big Newfoundland dog which Zephas
had lately bought for protection and company。 She looked up and
saw the boat and its solitary rower at the landing。 She ran
quickly to the house to bring the packet。 As she entered she
started back in amazement。 For the sitting…room was already in
possession of a woman who was seated calmly by the table。
The stranger turned on Mrs。 Bunker that frankly insolent glance and
deliberate examination whic