Headless Horseman. Captain Mayne Reid
On that same evening, after the dining-hall had been deserted, the roof, instead of the drawing-room, was chosen as the place of re-assemblage; and as the sun descended towards the horizon, his slanting rays fell upon a throng as gay, as cheerful, and perhaps as resplendent, as ever trod the azotea of Casa del Corvo. Moving about over its tessellated tiles, standing in scattered groups, or lined along the parapet with faces turned towards the plain, were women as fair and men as brave as had ever assembled on that same spot — even when its ancient owner used to distribute hospitality to the hidalgos of the land — the bluest blood in Coahuila and Texas.
The company now collected to welcome the advent of Woodley Poindexter on his Texan estate, could also boast of this last distinction. They were the élite of the Settlements — not only of the Leona, but of others more distant. There were guests from Gonzales, from Castroville, and even from San Antonio — old friends of the planter, who, like him, had sought a home in South-Western Texas, and who had ridden — some of them over a hundred miles — to be present at this, his first grand “reception.”
The planter had spared neither pains nor expense to give it éclat. What with the sprinkling of uniforms and epaulettes, supplied by the Fort — what with the brass band borrowed from the same convenient repository — what with the choice wines found in the cellars of Casa del Corvo, and which had formed part of the purchase — there could be little lacking to make Poindexter’s party the most brilliant ever given upon the banks of the Leona.
And to insure this effect, his lovely daughter Louise, late belle of Louisiana — the fame of whose beauty had been before her, even in Texas — acted as mistress of the ceremonies — moving about among the admiring guests with the smile of a queen, and the grace of a goddess.
On that occasion was she the cynosure of a hundred pairs of eyes, the happiness of a score of hearts, and perhaps the torture of as many more: for not all were blessed who beheld her beauty.
Was she herself happy?
The interrogatory may appear singular — almost absurd. Surrounded by friends — admirers — one, at least, who adored her — a dozen whose incipient love could but end in adoration — young planters, lawyers, embryo statesmen, and some with reputation already achieved — sons of Mars in armour, or with armour late laid aside — how could she be otherwise than proudly, supremely happy?
A stranger might have asked the question; one superficially acquainted with Creole character — more especially the character of the lady in question.
But mingling in that splendid throng was a man who was no stranger to either; and who, perhaps, more than any one present, watched her every movement; and endeavoured more than any other to interpret its meaning. Cassius Calhoun was the individual thus occupied.
She went not hither, nor thither, without his following her — not close, like a shadow; but by stealth, flitting from place to place; upstairs, and downstairs; standing in corners, with an air of apparent abstraction; but all the while with eyes turned askant upon his cousin’s face, like a plain-clothes policeman employed on detective duty.
Strangely enough he did not seem to pay much regard to her speeches, made in reply to the compliments showered upon her by several would-be winners of a smile — not even when these were conspicuous and respectable, as in the case of young Hancock of the dragoons. To all such he listened without visible emotion, as one listens to a conversation in no way affecting the affairs either of self or friends.
It was only after ascending to the azotea, on observing his cousin near the parapet, with her eye turned interrogatively towards the plain, that his detective zeal became conspicuous — so much so as to attract the notice of others. More than once was it noticed by those standing near: for more than once was repeated the act which gave cause to it.
At intervals, not very wide apart, the young mistress of Casa del Corvo might have been seen to approach the parapet, and look across the plain, with a glance that seemed to interrogate the horizon of the sky.
Why she did so no one could tell. No one presumed to conjecture, except Cassius Calhoun. He had thoughts upon the subject — thoughts that were torturing him.
When a group of moving forms appeared upon the prairie, emerging from the garish light of the setting sun — when the spectators upon the azotea pronounced it a drove of horses in charge of some mounted men — the ex-officer of volunteers had a suspicion as to who was conducting that cavallada.
Another appeared to feel an equal interest in its advent, though perhaps from a different motive. Long before the horse-drove had attracted the observation of Poindexter’s guests, his daughter had noted its approach — from the time that a cloud of dust soared up against the horizon, so slight and filmy as to have escaped detection by any eye not bent expressly on discovering it.
From that moment the young Creole, under cover of a conversation carried on amid a circle of fair companions, had been slyly scanning the dust-cloud as it drew nearer; forming conjectures as to what was causing it, upon knowledge already, and as she supposed, exclusively her own.
“Wild horses!” announced the major commandant of Fort Inge, after a short inspection through his pocket telescope. “Some one bringing them in,” he added, a second time raising the glass to his eye. “Oh! I see now — it’s Maurice the mustanger, who occasionally helps our men to a remount. He appears to be coming this way — direct to your place, Mr Poindexter.”
“If it be the young fellow you have named, that’s not unlikely,” replied the owner of Casa del Corvo. “I bargained with him to catch me a score or two; and maybe this is the first instalment he’s bringing me.”
“Yes, I think it is,” he added, after a look through the telescope.
“I am sure of it,” said the planter’s son. “I can tell the horseman yonder to be Maurice Gerald.”
The planter’s daughter could have done the same; though she made no display of her knowledge. She did not appear to be much interested in the matter — indeed, rather indifferent. She had become aware of being watched by that evil eye, constantly burning upon her.
The cavallada came up, Maurice sitting handsomely on his horse, with the spotted mare at the end of his lazo.
“What a beautiful creature!” exclaimed several voices, as the captured mustang was led up in front of the house, quivering with excitement at a scene so new to it.
“It’s worth a journey to the ground to look at such an animal!” suggested the major’s wife, a lady of enthusiastic inclinings. “I propose we all go down! What say you, Miss Poindexter?”
“Oh, certainly,” answered the mistress of the mansion, amidst a chorus of other voices crying out —
“Let us go down! Let us go down!”
Led by the majoress, the ladies filed down the stone stairway — the gentlemen after; and in a score of seconds the horse-hunter, still seated in his saddle, became, with his captive, the centre of the distinguished circle.
Henry Poindexter had hurried down before the rest, and already, in the frankest manner, bidden the stranger welcome.
Between the latter and Louise only a slight salutation could be exchanged. Familiarity with a horse-dealer — even supposing him to have had the honour of an introduction — would scarce have been tolerated by the “society.”
Of the ladies, the major’s wife alone addressed him in a familiar way; but that was in a tone that told of superior position, coupled with condescension. He was more gratified by a glance — quick and silent — when his eye changed intelligence with that of the young Creole.
Hers was not the only one that rested approvingly upon him. In truth, the mustanger looked splendid, despite his travel-stained habiliments. His journey of over twenty miles had done little to fatigue him. The prairie breeze had freshened the colour upon his cheeks; and his full round throat, naked to the breast-bone, and slightly bronzed with the sun, contributed to the manliness of his mien. Even the dust clinging to his curled hair could not altogether conceal