Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-07
TEE CONSPIRACY OF MRS. BUNKER.
IN THREE PAErs-Bx BRET HAErE'
Copyright, 1872, by the Author.

might pc llSIOrlc2l-aS OF SOiucDOuy VI
great Importance who had halted on the eve
of some great event at the door OF her num-
BILE cabin.
His apparent Inconsistencies OF her ana
of his surroundings, his preoccupation with
something far beyond her ken, lar from
piquing her, only excited her interest the
more And then there was such an ood
sadness in his eyes. -.
''Are you anxious for your folks comlngE'
she said at last, following his OUTLOOK.
"I-oh, noi'' he returned, quickly recall
ing himself, they'll be sure TO come
sooner or later. No fear of that, " ne added,
half smilIngly, half YEARLY.
Mrs. Bunker passed into the kitchen,
where, while apparently attending to her
household duties, she could still observe
her singular guest. Left alone, he seated
himself mechanically in the chair, and
gazed fxedly at the fireplace. He renamed
long time so quiet and unmoved, in spite
of the marked ostentatious ciatter Mrs.
Bunker found it necessary to make with
her dishes, that an odd fancy that he was
scarcely 4 human visitant began to take
possession of her. Yet she was not fright
ened. She remembered distinctly after
ward that far from having any concern for
herself, she was only moved by q strange
and vague admiration of him.
But her prolonged scrutiny was not with
out effect. Suddenly he raised his dark
eyes and she felt them pierce the obscurlty
of her kitchen with quick, suspicious, i'm
patient penetration, which, as they met
hers, gave way, however. 10 look that she
thought was gently reproachful. Then he
rose, stretched himself TO his full height,
and, approaching the kitchen door, leaned
istlesfly against the door post.
Il don't suppose you are ever lonely
herel"
mo, sir"
''Of course not You have yourself and
husband. Nobody interferes with you.
You are contented and happy together"
Mrs. Bunker did not say, what was the
fact, that she had never before connected
the sole companionship of her husband
with her happiness. Perhaps it had never
occurred to her until that moment how
little it had to do with it. She only smiled
gratefully at the change in her guests alb
straction.a
do you often go to San Francisco" he
continued.
81 have never been there at all. Some
day l expect we will go there to live"
Il wouldn't advise you to,' he said, look
ing at her gravely. 81 don't think it will
pay you. You'll never be happy there as
here. You'll never have the independence
and freedom you have here. You'll never
be your own mistress again. But how does
it happen you never were in San Fran
ClSCOFF nc SdlU SuuOSuly.
If he would not talk of himself, here at
least was Z chance for Mrs. Bunker to say
something. She related how her family
had emigrated from Kansas across the
plains and had taken up 'location' at
Contra Costa. How she didn't care for il,
and how she came to marry the seafaring
man who brought her here-all with great
simplicity and frankness-and as unre-
serYedly as to 4 superior being-albeit his
attention 1rrn11Iapad at TiTnnS an rsaI
melancholy smile that he had apparently
evoked to meet her conversational advances
became fixed occasionally. Even his dark
eyes, which had obliged Mrs Bunker to put
up her hair, and button her collar, rested
upon her without seeing her.
Then your husbands name is Bunker?"
he said when she paused at last. 'That's
one of those Nantucket Quaker names
sailors and whalers for generations-an
yours, you say, was MacEwan. Well, Mrs.
Bunker, your family came from Kentucky
TO Kansas only lately, though 1 suppose
your father calls himself a free states man.
You ought to know something of farming
and cattle, for your ancestors were old
Scotch coveuanters, who emigrated hun
dred years ago and were great stock rails
ers."
All this seemed only the natural omni-
science of a superior being. And Mrs.
Bunker perhaps was not panied to learn
that her husbands family was of lower
degree than her own. But the strangers
knowledge did not end there. He talked of
her husbands business-he explained the
vast fishing resources of the bay and coast.
He showed her how the large colony of
Italian fishermen were inimical to the in
terests Of California and to her husband
particularly as i native American trader.
He told her of the volcanic changes of the
bay and coast line, of the formation of the
rocky ledge on which she lived. He pointed
out to her its value TO the govern
ment for defensive purposes and how
it naturally commanded the entrance
Point, and that it ought to be in its hands.
If the Federal government did not buy it
of her husband, certainly the state of Cal
ifornia should And here he fell into an
abstraction as deep and as gloomy as be-
fore. He walked to the window, paced the
floor with his hand in his breast, went to
the door, and finally stepped out of the
cabin, moving along the ledge of rocks to
the shore, where he stood motionless.
Mrs. Bunker had listened to him with
parted lips and eyes of eloquent admiration.
She had never before heard any one talk
like that-she had not believed it possible
that any one could have such knowledge.
Perhaps she could not understand all he
said, but she would try 10 remember it
aIUer nc uiu SOuCs Que tOulu only lNlQk
now how kind it was Of HIM that in all this
mystery Of his coming and in the singular
sadness that was expressing him he should
try to interest her. And thus looking at
him and wondering, an idea came to her
She went into her bedroom and took
down her husbands heavy pilot overcoat
and sou'weSter and handed them to her
guest.
''You'd better put them on If you're going
to stand there" she said.
But am not cold,'' he said, wonder
ingly.
Il was the first suggestion that had passed
between them that his presence there was
n secret He looked at her intentIy. then
he smiled and said: Il think YOU'RE right.
for many reasons" put the pilot coat over
his frock coat, removed his hat with the
gesture of a bow, HANGED it to her. and
placed the sou'wester in its stead. Then
for an instant ne hesitated, as if about to
speak. but Mrs. Bunker. with a delicacy
that she could not herself COMPREHEND at
the moment, hurried back to the cabin
without giving him an opportunity.
Nor did she again intrude upon his
meditations. Hidden in his disguise,
which to her eyes did not, however, seem
to conceal his characteristic figure. he
wandered for nearly an hour under the
bluff and along the shore returning at last
almost mechanically to the cabin. where
oblivious of his surroundings he reseated
himself in silence by the table with his
cheek resting on his hand Presently her
quick. experienced ear detected the sound
of oars in their rowloczs: she could plainly
Sae from her kitchen window a small boat