The sun., 1892-02-07
T HE
CONSPIRACY OF mrs. BUNKER.
THE
IN THREE PARTS.
Fly BRET HARTE.


'' wv h'' ouoiO vi cHu FtEHCiSCO nay
limo OF bnffs terminates in promontory. at
whose base. formed by tho crumbling debris
OF tho cliT above. tlore is u narrow strotch OF
beach. salt meadow. and scrub oak The alb
rupt wall OF rock behind 1t soenls to isolate it
as completely from tho mainland as the sea
before IT. separatca 1t from the opposi.e
shore. In spite of It's contiguity to San
Francisco-opposite. also. but hidden by
tho sharp. re;nterlng curvo OF coast
tho locality was wild. nncutivated. and
untreuuentod. solitary flshorman's cabin,
hhit hidden in tho rocks. was the only trace Of
habItatlon. White drifts OF ,llls and nell.
cans cross the face OF the cliff. gray clouds Of
aandpipers rising from the beach. tho drip
ping flight OF ducks ovor the salt meadows,
AMI the occasional splash OF seal from the
rocks. werr tho only signs OF life that could be
seen from tho decks OF passing ships And
yet tho fishernans cabin was occupicd by
Ieplias Bunker ind his young wife, and he
had succeeded in Wrestling from tho hard sol!
pasturage for COW and goats. while his
lntecn-sailcd fishing boat occa sionally rodo
quietly in the sheltered covo below.
Thrce years before Zonhas Bunker, an ex.
wlialer had found himself stranded on l., San
Francisco wharf. aud had hired ont" to n
small Pctaluma farmer. At the end OF the
year no had acquired little tus,c Cor the farm.
ers business. but considerable for the farmers
youthful daughter. who. equally weary @,
smnil agriculture. had consented to clone with
him In order to escape IL. They wero murriei
at oakland: no pit his scnnt cirni ings into a
fishing boat. discovered tho site for bis cabin.
and brought his bride thi,lnr. The novelty o.
the change pleased her. although nerhans it
was but little advance OH her preyions
humble position. Yet she preferred her
present freedom to tho bare restricted homo
lifo OF her pust: the perpetual presence
OF tho restless sea was u relief to the
old monotony OF tho wheat field and its
isolated drudgery. For Mary's youthful fancy,
thiniy sustained in childhood by the lishtest
literary food. had neither been stimulated nor
disillusioned by her marriage That practical
experience which Is usually tho end OF glrlish
romance had left her still child in sentiment
The long absences OF her husband in his fish,
ing boat kept her from wearying Of or even
knowing his olde" nd unequal com pa ion ship;
it gave her freedom her girlhood Ind never
known. yet added protection that suited her
still childish dependency. while it tlckled hcr
pride with it's equality. When not engaged In
her easy household duties in her three -roomod
cottage. or tho caro- OF her rocky garden
patch. she found time enough to indulge her
fancy over the mysterious haze that Wrapped
the invisible city GO near anI yet unknown to
her: in the sails that slipped In and out of the
Golden Gate. but Of whose destination she
knew nothing: and In tho long smoke trail Of
the mail steamer which had yet brought her
no message. Like oil lwellers by the sea- her
face and her thoughts were more frequently
turned toward 1t: and ns with them. it also
seemed to her that whatever change was com.
ing into her life would come across that vast
unknown expanse. But it was here that Mrs.
Bunker was mistaken.
1t had been n sparkling summer morning
The waves wore running before the dry north
west trade winds with crystalline but colorless
briliancy. Sheltered by the high. northerly
bluff. tho house and its gurden were exposed
to the untempered heat OF the cloudless sun
refracted from the rocky wall behind it Some
tarmulin and ropes lying among the rocks
were sticky and odorous: the scrub oaks and
manzanita bushes gave out tho aroma OF buk-
ing wood: occasionally faint pot.Do,0rt
fragrance from the hot wild roses and beach
grass was blown along the shore; even the
lingering odors OF Buuker's vocation. and
OF Mrs. Bunker's cooking. were idealiyed and
refined by tho snline breath of the sea
at tho doors and windows Mrs. Bunker. in the
dazzling sun. bending over her peas and let
tuces with a small hoe. felt the comfort OF her
brown holland sunbonnet Secure In her isola-
ton. she unbuttoned tho neck OF her gown for
that had escaped over her shoulder. 1t was
very hot in the lee OF the bluff. aud very quiet
in that still mir. So quiet that she heard two
distinct reports. following each other quickly
but very faint and far. She glanced mechan-
ically toward the sea- Two merchantmen in
midstream were sinking out their wings for q
long flight, a pilot boat and coasting schooner
were rounding the point. but thero was no
smoke from their docks She bent over her
work again. and in another moment had for
gotten it. But the heat. with the dazzling
reflection from the elf. forced her to
suspend her gardening. and stroll along
the beach to tho extreme limit OF her
domain Here she looked after tho cow,
which had also strayed away through tho
tangled bush for coNness. Tho goats. i'm
Dervions to temperature. were basking In in
accessible fastnesscs on the c,ifr itself that
made her eyes nche to climb. Over an hour
passed. she was returning. and had nnnred
her house when sho was suddenly startled to
soc the figure Of u man between her and tho
ciifr. He was engaged in brushing his dusty
clothes with handkerchief and. although he
saw her coming, and even moved slowly
toward her. continued his occupation with n
half patient. lalf-abstracted air. Hor femi,,-
inc perception was struck with the circum-
stance that he was in deep black. with scarcely
and that he wore IL tall black hat. Without
knowing anythin: OF social customs it socmed
to her that his dress WAS inconsistent with his
appearance there.
Good morning." he said. lifting his hat
with preoccupiod air. "Do you Iva here 2"
Yes" she said wonderingly
"Anybody else!''
MY husband"
II mean any other people? Are there any
other housesl' he said. with slight impa-
tience.
NO"
Ho looked at her and then toward the sea.
81 expect some friends who are coming for
mo In boat. l suppose they can land easily
heref'
Didn't you land yourself here Just now;"
she snd quickly
He half hesitatod. and then. as IL scorning
All euuivocation. made hasty gesture over
her shoulder. and said bluntly. NO. l came
over tho cliff