“Yes, darling, you go; but at present I'd rather sit here by the window.”
And she sat there, but the sad blue orbs saw nothing—for her mental gaze was fixed on that other flying train, that was rushing away, carrying her beloved with such frightful rapidity. She felt, she knew, Clarence was sitting by a car window, thinking of her, gazing blankly at his misery.
And so he was.
It is to be feared that his misery would have been greatly intensified had he caught a glimpse of Messrs. Gunther and Selden, as they rushed past him on their eastward journey. This aggravation, however, was spared him. And, as when he arrived at San Francisco, Charles Gunther and his three companions had already left for Oregon, Clarence remained, for the present, in blissful ignorance of the whereabouts of those two persistent young gentlemen, traveling so near Mercedes.
But could magician of old have shown to him in enchanted mirror the image of his beloved, he would have read in those expressive eyes how sadly she felt his absence.
When she had sat there, motionless, for two hours, Elvira came to tell her to get ready for dinner, which she declined doing, saying that she was not a bit hungry. And so the day passed—the night came—and she did not gladden the hearts of their traveling companions, by letting them see her that day. Next day the morning hours also passed. She had her breakfast in her room.
Mr. Selden began to feel piqued and Mr. Gunther nervous. They and Elvira were playing a three-handed game of casino; George was elsewhere, talking to an acquaintance he had met on the train.
Presently, softly and unexpectedly, the sliding-door of the compartment moved, and Mercedes stood beside Mr. Selden, sweet as a rosebud, smiling in her most bewitching way. The blood mounted to Mr. Selden's temples, and those of Mr. Gunther's assumed the same hue. Then she, of course, blushed also—for she could never see any one blush without doing the very same thing herself.
Elvira alone kept her composure, and said: “Why, Baby! I am so glad you feel better. Come, take a hand, for these gentlemen will cut your sister's throat, or she theirs. We are having a fierce battle.”
“All right. Will you have me for a partner, Mr. Gunther? I warn you that I am a very poor player,” said Mercedes.