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"A sketch I did Of you" He looked her directly in the eye, a world of longing in his gaze

"OhJ" Madelaine said softly "May I open it?"

"Not here, if you please," he said, his standoffishness returning "I couldn’t keep it with --oh, not of you, of me If Ellen ever saw it, she--" He cleared his throat "It is enough that one of us should have a broken heart I will not chance giving such pain to her"

Madelaine nodded, unable to speak; she slipped the envelope into her leather portfolio which she had brought to contain her account records

’This is too difficult," Sherman whispered as he took the file and thrust it toward her "If you do not leave now, I don’t think I will be able to let you go And let you go I must"

"Yes," said Madelaine as she took the file and put it into the portfolio

"And your cash and gold," he went on with ruthless practicality, handing her a heavy canvas sack with Lucas and Turner stenciled on its side "Be careful where you stow this"

"I will," she said, and turned to leave

"Madel--a her "I wish, with all my heart, you your stay here wasn’t over"

"You’re very kind, Mr Sher to retain her composure

"As it is," he went on as if unable to stop "I will think of you each often"

"And I of you," said Madelaine, wishing she could kiss hi she must not

"If only you and I…" He let his words falter and stop

Madelaine backed away, reaching behind her for the door "Our… our friendship is not at an end si herself to speak steadily She pulled the door open, readying herself to leave the bank

His reply struck her with the full weight of his constrained emotions, as if he wanted to impart to her all that he could not say: "I know, Madelaine; I know"

Presidio de Santa Barbara, 14 November,

We have found an inn near the Presidio itself, and I am assured ill be safe here… This pan of California is much more Spanish than the north, more like Mexico; I suspect it is because there are fewerto prospect in the deserts than in the er here than in the North, as there are fewer newcoe their rule and their Land Grants Thanks to gold, San Francisco has beco from every pan of Europe and Aed For the uide calls the Mission Road, is well enoughit, and lost only one day to rain Our average progress has been a respectable ten to twelve h the mountains around San Luis Obispo Generally, however, we have traveled swiftly, and at this pace, we should reach San Diego by Christmas, from whence ill turn east

I have sent two letters back to Tecuh 1 have had no replies and expect none; I have not yet found a way to thank hiave ht: it is too easily read for hiht be discovered and understood In execution it is si, my hat in my hand, in all considerations aabout it that smolders, so that I half expect the paper to burst into flame He included a shon note which said he would have to carry allant of hi very nearly accurate, if this sketch is any indication of his senti the bond between us is, though why I should feel so, I cannot think

I wonder if Saint-Ger a weakness for Americans?