My Hildegarde

I was tremendously jaded, weary of knocking about the world in the vain hope that a succession of strange sights, and rubbing elbows with queer people, might cause me to forget...

Curiosity may have had something to do with my leaning over Robbins’ shoulder as he unfolded the paper. I, too, was an American, and had as much right as he to enter into the sp...

Robbins saw there was something wrong with me, and demanded to know the cause. Strange to say, when I had given him the information, he did not seem to think it a very serious m...

Surprise and consternation about constituted the whole, for had I not often vowed never again to set eyes on that fair face, once madly loved, and here a perverse fate had actua...

Of course they say a woman has a perfect right to change her mind, and that we lords of creation must submit with a good grace; but occasions may arise when such a face-about se...

Really, the governor of the city and his guests were bent on having a merry time, if the noise they made could be taken as an evidence. I hoped they might be so fully occupied i...

What Carmencita wailed may have struck dumb terror to the heart of her mistress, but for my part I saw as yet no reason to despair. The association with such a man as Robbins wa...

I braced myself for the shock--above all, I must remember whose eyes were upon me--the chance I had often prayed for might now be close at hand, and at any rate I must appear to...

Those in the garden were throwing whatever they could lay hands on, and if the shower of missiles such as adobe bricks and broken flowerpots was not overwhelming it could be lai...

I take it that even the bravest of soldiers do not consider that a masterly retreat reflects upon their valor, especially when it can only be avoided by serious consequences.

When Hildegarde cried out in such evident dismay upon discovering that I was bleeding more or less profusely from some miserable cut on the head, my first sensation, strange as...

He already had the oars in his hands, having severed the painter with his knife, and instantly bent his broad back with a swoop that might have done credit to a champion sculler...

I had, it may be remembered, more than once fervently longed for some opportunity to prove my valor in the sight of this doubting little woman, so that she might realize how she...

To tell the truth, I must have imbibed something of the pride that came to old-time Romans when returning victorious from the wars, but if they felt as “rocky” as I did after my...

No doubt she felt the curious eyes of the royal Diana fastened upon her, and though I had known the time when this beauty had to be content with the _rôle_ of second fiddle when...

It was not very strange that while under the spell of Hildegarde’s presence I should forget all about my poor, banged head; when a fellow’s heart is thumping tumultuously agains...

I have never considered myself much of a yarn-spinner, even though a yachtsman by choice; but if ever a man had the material for an engaging story thrust upon him, I certainly c...

She stood not more than six feet away--my back was toward her, and as the space under the canopy could not boast of any too much light, evidently she had no suspicion of my pres...

I knew she must be collecting her thoughts for the telling of a story coherently, and such a story as she meant to narrate was no small thing. Then she began.

Her father--yes, I remembered now how conscientous she had been upon that matter, and insisted that before our marriage I should know how the old reprobate had brought a certain...

It was as if I had reached harbor after two long years of tossing upon the stormy seas, and, utterly wearied, my frame sought sweet rest, when the knowledge came that I was safe.

I am positive that was the first time in my life I ever exerted myself so forcibly upon the panel of a door to attract the attention of the occupant, a guest on board my boat; b...

I certainly never had such a rude shock in all my life as when that terrific crash sent a shudder through the yacht, and every one knew instinctively that the worst had happened.

Still, I would not despair; I had found a new lease of life in the hope that Hildegarde’s coming had aroused, and I would not give up until the very last gasp.

Heaven knows the thing was bad enough even when taken at its best--Hildegarde, brave little woman, had just as much reason to allow her natural fears to throw her into hysteria...

One danger was past--I had dreaded lest some portion of the wreck might be hurled upon us with murderous force; but, wonderful to say, I saw nothing of any timbers or anything a...

It was a dreadful moment when this paralyzing fear beset me--when it seemed as though the sun were hidden once more behind the black tempest clouds, and the atmosphere possessed...

The banana planters had betrayed us, having some knowledge of what transpired in Bolivar on the night of the flower festa, and aware of the fat reward offered for our apprehension.

Well, I lay where I had fallen for a little time; it was just as good a berth as any until my eyes could begin to grow accustomed to the inky darkness.

Somehow I did not care to bother my hand in speculations concerning the pirate, or why he came to see me at this uncanny hour. What did it matter whether his suspicions had been...

The attachments of home did not appeal to me in this instance; to tell the honest truth, I was extremely well pleased to escape from the place in which my person had been confin...

Bless her, she did not shrink back from me in the least, and yet I am sure I must have presented a far from fastidious appearance at that moment, not having been given an opport...

Time was when I had been sorely inclined to believe her the most frivolous and exacting of her sex; but a complete revolution seemed to have taken place within my mind; old thin...

He was a tireless plodder, yet I noticed that the tongue of the bell was now held in his left hand, and that hardly the same energy was being expended as at first.

Now, I reckon that during the course of my nomadic life I have looked upon as many strange scenes as fall to the lot of the average biped; but it so chanced that up to this part...

Had they all been borne down by that last cannon discharge, even as I was, and failed to rise again? I glanced hither and yon about the open square, seeking piles of mangled bod...

Various significant hints which had been dropped of late by this wonderful companion of mine now seemed to take form and substance, and all pointed toward this one grand climax.

Hildegarde had intended to rush forward and throw herself into my arms. Poor girl! She had suffered torments during the last two hours, while the uproar continued around the cit...

Another kaleidoscopic change had occurred in my fortunes. I think I had been president almost three hours, which was quite enough; some men have not enjoyed the luxury even that...

Daylight was just beginning to break when we clattered past the last scattering adobe huts, and struck out upon the winding road that led in the direction of Jalapa, climbing mo...