Among the heaviest investors, Don Mariano Alamar, Mr. James Mechlin, and Mr. Alfred Holman were the most prominent. They bought block after block of building lots, and only stopped when their money was all invested.

Clarence also bought a few blocks, and George and Gabriel risked all they dared. Many other people followed this (which proved to be disastrous) example, and then all sat down to wait for the railroad to bring population and prosperity.

The day of the double wedding which was to tie together (with a double loop) the Alamar and Mechlin families, was set for the 24th of May, 1873. On that day Gabriel and George would lead to the altar their respective sisters, Lizzie and Elvira.

Don Mariano wished to celebrate that double wedding in the same old-fashioned way in which his own had been solemnized. He wanted at least three days of good eating and drinking, and dancing; to have noise and boat racing; to have a day's sailing on the bay, and a day's picnic in the woods, to which picnic even the stubborn, hostile squatters should be invited. But with the sole exception of Victoriano, no one of his family approved this programme.

"I'm afraid my dear husband that we are too closely surrounded by Americans for us to indulge in our old-fashioned rejoicings," Dona Josefa said.

"We would be laughed at," Carlota added.

"Who cares for that?" Victoriano asked, scornfully.

"I don't believe that the right thinking and kind-hearted Americans would say anything, except that such is customary among us. But if George and Gabriel desire to run off in the steamer, as though they were ashamed of matrimony, I say let them have their way. But they will have a wedding that will look like a funeral," said the disappointed Don Mariano.

"George and Gabriel are willing to have their wedding celebrated as you propose, but it is the girls that object; they wished to run off and hide for a month in a fashionable hotel in San Francisco; afterward they came to the conclusion that they didn't want to go to a hotel, so Gabriel proposed that they will take the steamer that goes to Mazatlan and Guaymas and La Paz, thus to visit all of those places on their wedding tour," Victoriano said. "As George had been wishing to see the Mexican coast, this plan suited all very well, and George has written to have the steamer stop for them on her way south," Victoriano explained, half apologetically, half resentfully.

"That is all right; if they are satisfied I am," said Don Mariano, philosophically, with characteristic amiability.

The steamer running between San Francisco and the Mexican ports on the Gulf of California stopped at San Diego to take the newly married couples; a large party of friends escorted them on board.

Don Mariano was kind and affable to all, but many days passed before he became reconciled to the fact that the marriage of his two children was not celebrated as his own had been, in the good old times of yore.

The brides and grooms had been gone for some time, and might now be coming back in a few days.

"I am glad we three are alone, for there is something of which I wish to speak with you two when no one of the family is with us," said Dona Josefa to Carlota and Rosario, as they sat in their favorite front veranda, sewing.

The girls looked up, and casting a quick glance to see whether any one was approaching, waited to hear what their mother had to say. The awnings being only half down no one could come from the outside unobserved.

"What is it, mamma?" Carlota asked, seeing that her mother seemed to hesitate; "anything unpleasant?"

"Well, no-yes. That is to say, to me it is, very. Have you noticed Mercedes' manner lately? She seems absorbed, silent, thoughtful, sad, and-and-you know what I fear. She says she is not sick, then it is some mental trouble, I am sure. So, then, I have been thinking that she had better go with Elvira and visit New York for a while, the change will do her good. I do not approve of young girls going from home on visits, but as she will go with her married sister, and-and-I hope it will be for her good."

"And yet it may not," said Carlota.

"Perhaps, if it is as you-as we three-fear, absence might be worse for her," added Rosario; "Mercedes is very gentle, but she is very loving and constant, so it might do more harm than good to send her away now.

Remember what the poet says about it:

'La ausencia es para el amor Lo que el aire para el fuego; Si es poco, lo apaga luego, Si es grande, lo hace mayor.'

and I fear that Mercedes is too deeply interested already."

"That is so. Have you spoken to papa about it?" Carlota asked.

"I mentioned it only once, knowing his partiality to Clarence," Dona Josefa replied.

"He might be partial, but when it comes to the danger of his daughter's marrying a _squatter_ I should think there would be a limit to partiality," Carlota said, warmly.

"I fear your father views the matter differently. The one time I mentioned to him that Clarence seemed to be more and more in love with Mercedes, and my fear that she also liked him more than I care to believe. He said, 'Has he made love or proposed to her?' I told him I hoped he had not been so audacious as that. 'Audacious!' said he, and laughed. 'I tell you, wife, if all that is necessary for Clarence to propose be courage, neither you nor I can stop him, for the boy is no coward. I reckon that it is Mercedes herself who gives him no encouragement; that is what deters him, but none of our _sangre azul_,'

and he laughed again. I said to him, you take very coolly a matter that might be a question of our child's fate for life, but he only appeared amused at my anxiety. He said: 'Don't borrow trouble; Clarence is a most excellent young fellow-bright, energetic and honorable. Don't bother them or yourself; if they feel true love they have a right to it. Trust him, he is all right.'"

"But a squatter! The idea of an Alamar marrying a squatter! For squatters they are, though we dance with them," Carlota said. "I am shocked at papa's partiality. I must say yes, mamma, send poor Mercita away."

"Yes; with all due respect to papa, I fear I will not be reconciled to the idea of Mercedes being a daughter-in-law of old Darrell," Rosario said, with a shudder.

"Neither could I," added Carlota.

And thus felt and thus reasoned these proud ladies _in those days_. For although the shadows of black clouds were falling all around, they had not observed them, or suspected their proximity; they held up their heads proudly.

"And has Clarence the means of supporting a wife?" Rosario asked. "That is another question to be considered."

"I don't know. I heard he had made money in stocks, but I don't know how much," Dona Josefa replied.

"I have no faith in stocks," said Carlota.

"Let us not mention this to Mercedes yet. When Elvira returns we will consult with her," Dona Josefa said.

Nothing was said to Mercedes about her journey, but she was never allowed to see Clarence alone.

Elvira returned, and the project mentioned to her. She, as a matter of course, was delighted at the prospect of having her favorite sister with her. The pain of leaving her home would be lessened in her company.

A day or two after, when Elvira was alone in her room, Mercedes came in, looking rather pale, and letting herself drop into the first chair she came to, said:

"What is this unexpected news about my going to New York with you?"

"Good news, I think. Don't you like it?"

"Certainly. But it is too sudden. Why hadn't mamma thought of it before?"

"Because she did not think your health required any change."

"I tell you what, mamma alarms herself unnecessarily, and puts but poor reliance on me. I understand it all, but as a trip to New York is a most delightful medicine, I am willing to take it, and that she should consider my health in a precarious state."

"But you _do_ look pale and thin, Mercita."

"Nonsense!" Mercedes exclaimed. "I have been keeping late hours, and dancing too much. If I go to bed early I shall get back my good color and flesh again. However, I am glad to play the invalid until I get on board the cars."

"Very well. I'll be alarmed for you, too, until we get off."

Mercedes laughed, and went to her room singing, but once there her gayety vanished. She locked her door, and threw herself on the bed, burying her face in her pillow to stifle her sobs.

"Can anything tear his image from my heart? No. Nothing! nothing! They may send me away to the other end of the world, they shall not part us, for you will still fill my heart, my own darling, holding my very soul forever in full possession."

Mercedes, being not quite seventeen, her grief at parting from Clarence was wild, vehement and all-absorbing. But she had been trained to obedience, and her battles with the spirit always took place after she carefully locked her bedroom door. Then Clarence was wildly apostrophized, and a torrent of tears relieved the overcharged, aching heart.

The day of departure arrived, and she had not had one minute's conversation alone with Clarence.