the twins of table mountain-第10节

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He　turned　very　pale。　　He　had　consoled　himself　always　for　his
complicity　in　Ruth's　absence；　that　he　was　taking　good　care　of
Mornie；　orwhat　is　considered　by　most　selfish　natures　an
equivalentpermitting　or　encouraging　some　one　else　to　〃take　good
care　of　her；〃　but　here　was　a　contingency　utterly　unforeseen。　　It
did　not　occur　to　him　that　this　〃taking　good　care〃　of　her　could
result　in　anything　but　a　perfect　solution　of　her　troubles；　or　that
there　could　be　any　future　to　her　condition　but　one　of　recovery。
But　what　if　she　should　die？　　A　sudden　and　helpless　sense　of　his
responsibility　to　Ruth；　to　HER；　brought　him　trembling　to　his　feet。

He　hurried　to　the　cabin；　where　Mrs。　Sol　left　him　with　a　word　of
caution：　〃You'll　find　her　changed　and　quiet；very　quiet。　　If　I　was
you；　I　wouldn't　say　anything　to　bring　back　her　old　self。〃

The　change　which　Rand　saw　was　so　great；　the　face　that　was　turned　to
him　so　quiet；　that；　with　a　new　fear　upon　him；　he　would　have
preferred　the　savage　eyes　and　reckless　mien　of　the　old　Mornie　whom
he　hated。　　With　his　habitual　impulsiveness　he　tried　to　say
something　that　should　express　that　fact　not　unkindly；　but　faltered；
and　awkwardly　sank　into　the　chair　by　her　bedside。

〃I　don't　wonder　you　stare　at　me　now；〃　she　said　in　a　far…off　voice。
〃It　seems　to　you　strange　to　see　me　lying　here　so　quiet。　　You　are
thinking　how　wild　I　was　when　I　came　here　that　night。　　I　must　have
been　crazy；　I　think。　　I　dreamed　that　I　said　dreadful　things　to　you；
but　you　must　forgive　me；　and　not　mind　it。　　I　was　crazy　then。〃　　She
stopped；　and　folded　the　blanket　between　her　thin　fingers。　　〃I
didn't　ask　you　to　come　here　to　tell　you　that；　or　to　remind　you　of
it；　butbut　when　I　was　crazy；　I　said　so　many　worse；　dreadful
things　of　HIM；　and　youYOU　will　be　left　behind　to　tell　him　of　it。〃

Rand　was　vaguely　murmuring　something　to　the　effect　that　〃he　knew
she　didn't　mean　anything；〃　that　〃she　musn't　think　of　it　again；〃
that　〃he'd　forgotten　all　about　it；〃　when　she　stopped　him　with　a
tired　gesture。

〃Perhaps　I　was　wrong　to　think；　that；　after　I　am　gone；　you　would
care　to　tell　him　anything。　　Perhaps　I'm　wrong　to　think　of　it　at
all；　or　to　care　what　he　will　think　of　me；　except　for　the　sake　of
the　childhis　child；　Randthat　I　must　leave　behind　me。　　He　will
know　that　IT　never　abused　him。　　No；　God　bless　its　sweet　heart！　IT
never　was　wild　and　wicked　and　hateful；　like　its　cruel；　crazy
mother。　　And　he　will　love　it；　and　you；　perhaps；　will　love　it　too
just　a　little；　Rand！　　Look　at　it！〃　　She　tried　to　raise　the　helpless
bundle　beside　her　in　her　arms；　but　failed。　　〃You　must　lean　over；〃
she　said　faintly　to　Rand。　　〃It　looks　like　him；　doesn't　it？〃

Rand；　with　wondering；　embarrassed　eyes；　tried　to　see　some
resemblance；　in　the　little　blue…red　oval；　to　the　sad；　wistful　face
of　his　brother；　which　even　then　was　haunting　him　from　some
mysterious　distance。　　He　kissed　the　child's　forehead；　but　even　then
so　vaguely　and　perfunctorily；　that　the　mother　sighed；　and　drew　it
closer　to　her　breast。

〃The　doctor　says；〃　she　continued　in　a　calmer　voice；　〃that　I'm　not
doing　as　well　as　I　ought　to。　　I　don't　think；〃　she　faltered；　with
something　of　her　old　bitter　laugh；　〃that　I'm　ever　doing　as　well　as
I　ought　to；　and　perhaps　it's　not　strange　now　that　I　don't。　　And　he
says　that；　in　case　anything　happens　to　me；　I　ought　to　look　ahead。
I　have　looked　ahead。　　It's　a　dark　look　ahead；　Randa　horror　of
blackness；　without　kind　faces；　without　the　baby；　withoutwithout
HIM！〃

She　turned　her　face　away；　and　laid　it　on　the　bundle　by　her　side。
It　was　so　quiet　in　the　cabin；　that；　through　the　open　door　beyond；
the　faint；　rhythmical　moan　of　the　pines　below　was　distinctly　heard。

〃I　know　it's　foolish；　but　that　is　what　'looking　ahead'　always　meant
to　me；〃　she　said；　with　a　sigh。　　〃But；　since　the　doctor　has　been
gone；　I've　talked　to　Mrs。　Sol；　and　find　it's　for　the　best。　　And　I
look　ahead；　and　see　more　clearly。　　I　look　ahead；　and　see　my
disgrace　removed　far　away　from　HIM　and　you。　　I　look　ahead；　and　see
you　and　HE　living　together　happily；　as　you　did　before　I　came
between　you。　　I　look　ahead；　and　see　my　past　life　forgotten；　my
faults　forgiven；　and　I　think　I　see　you　both　loving　my　baby；　and
perhaps　loving　me　a　little　for　its　sake。　　Thank　you；　Rand；　thank
you！〃

For　Rand's　hand　had　caught　hers　beside　the　pillow；　and　he　was
standing　over　her；　whiter　than　she。　　Something　in　the　pressure　of
his　hand　emboldened　her　to　go　on；　and　even　lent　a　certain　strength
to　her　voice。

〃When　it　comes　to　THAT；　Rand；　you'll　not　let　these　people　take　the
baby　away。　　You'll　keep　it　HERE　with　you　until　HE　comes。　　And
something　tells　me　that　he　will　come　when　I　am　gone。　　You'll　keep
it　here　in　the　pure　air　and　sunlight　of　the　mountain；　and　out　of
those　wicked　depths　below；　and　when　I　am　gone；　and　they　are　gone；
and　only　you　and　Ruth　and　baby　are　here；　maybe　you'll　think　that　it
came　to　you　in　a　cloud　on　the　mountain；a　cloud　that　lingered　only
long　enough　to　drop　its　burden；　and　faded；　leaving　the　sunlight　and
dew　behind。　　What　is　it；　Rand？　　What　are　you　looking　at？〃

〃I　was　thinking；〃　said　Rand　in　a　strange　altered　voice；　〃that　I
must　trouble　you　to　let　me　take　down　those　duds　and　furbelows　that
hang　on　the　wall；　so　that　I　can　get　at　some　traps　of　mine　behind
them。〃　　He　took　some　articles　from　the　wall；　replaced　the　dresses
of　Mrs。　Sol；　and　answered　Mornie's　look　of　inquiry。

〃I　was　only　getting　at　my　purse　and　my　revolver；〃　he　said；　showing
them。　　〃I've　got　to　get　some　stores　at　the　Ferry　by　daylight。〃

Mornie　sighed。　　〃I'm　giving　you　great　trouble；　Rand；　I　know；　but　it
won't　be　for　long。〃

He　muttered　something；　took　her　hand　again；　and　bade　her　〃good…
night。〃　　When　he　reached　the　door；　he　looked　back。　　The　light　was
shining　full　upon　her　face　as　she　lay　there；　with　her　babe　on　her
breast；　bravely　〃looking　ahead。〃


IV。


THE　CLOUDS　PASS。


It　was　early　morning　at　the　Ferry。　　The　〃up　coach〃　had　passed；　with
lights　unextinguished；　and　the　〃outsides〃　still　asleep。　　The
ferryman　had　gone　up　to　the　Ferry　Mansion　House；　swinging　his
lantern；　and　had　found　the　sleepy…looking　〃all　night〃　bar…keeper　on
the　point　of　withdrawing　for　the　day　on　a　mattress　under　the　bar。
An　Indian　half…breed；　porter　of　the　Mansion　House；　was　washing　out
the　stains　of　recent　nocturnal　dissipation　from　the　bar…room　and
veranda；　a　few　birds　were　twittering　on　the　cotton…woods　beside　the
river；　a　bolder　few　had　alighted　upon　the　veranda；　and　were　trying
to　reconcile　the　existence　of　so　much　lemon…peel　and　cigar…stumps
with　their　ideas　of　a　beneficent　Creator。　　A　faint　earthly
freshness　and　perfume　rose　along　the　river　banks。　　Deep　shadow
still　lay　upon　the　opposite　shore；　but　in　the　distance；　four　miles
away；　Morning　along　the　level　crest　of　Table　Mountain　walked　with
rosy　tread。

The　sleepy　bar…keeper　was　that　morning　doomed　to　disappointment；
for　scarcely　had　the　coach　passed；　when　steps　were　heard　upon　the
veranda；　and　a　weary；　dusty　traveller　threw　his　blanket　and
knapsack　to　the　porter；　and　then　dropped　into　a　vacant　arm…chair；
with　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　distant　crest　of　Table　Mountain。　　He
remained　motionless　for　some　time；　until　the　bar…keeper；　who　had
already　concocted　the　conventional　welcome　of　the　Mansion　House；
appeared　with　it　in　a　glass；　put　it　upon　the　table；　glanced　at　the
stranger；　and　then；　thoroughly　awake；　cried　out；

〃Ruth　Pinkneyor　I'm　a　Chinaman！〃

The　stranger　lifted　his　eyes　wearily。　　Hollow　circles　were　around
their　orbits；　haggard　lines　were　in　his　checks。　　But　it　was　Ruth。

He　took　the　glass；　and　drained　it　at　a　single　draught。　　〃Yes；〃　he
said　absently；　〃Ruth　Pinkney；〃　and　fixed　his　eyes　again　on　the
distant　rosy　crest。

〃On　your　way　up　home？〃　suggested　the　bar…keeper；　following　the
direction　of　Ruth's　eyes。

〃Perhaps。〃

〃Been　upon　a　pasear；　hain't　yer？　　Been　havin'　a　little　tear　round
Sacramento；seein'　the　sights？〃

Ruth　smiled　bitterly。　　〃Yes。〃

The　bar…keeper　lingered；　ostentatiously　wiping　a　glass。　　But　Ruth
again　became　abstracted　in　the　mountain；　and　the　barkeeper　turned
away。

How　pure　and　clear　that　summit　looked　to　him！　how　restful　and
steadfast　with　serenity　and　calm！　how　unlike　his　own　feverish；
dusty；　travel…worn　self！　　A　week　had　elapsed　since　he　had　last
looked　upon　it；a　week　of　disappointment；　of　anxious　fears；　of
doubts；　of　wild　imaginings；　of　utter　helplessness。　　In　his　hopeless
quest　of　the　missing　Mornie；　he　had；　in　fancy；　seen　this　serene
eminence　haunting　his　remorseful；　passion…stricken　soul。　　And　now；
without　a　clew　to　guide　him　to　her　unknown　hiding…place；　he　was
back　again；　to　face　the　brother　whom　he　had　deceived；　with　only　the
confession　of　his　own　weakness。　　Hard　as　it　was　to　lose　forever　the
fierce；　reproachful　glances　of　the　woman　he　loved；　it　was　still
harder；　to　a　man　of　Ruth's　temperament；　to　look　again　upon　the　face
of　the　brother　he　feared。　　A　hand　laid　upon　his　shoulder　startled
him。　　It　was　the　bar…keeper。

〃If　it's　a　fair　question；　Ruth　Pinkney；　I'd　like　to　ask　ye　how　long
ye　kalkilate　to　hang　around　the　Ferry　to…day。〃

〃Why？〃　demanded　Ruth　haughtily。

〃Because；　whatever　you've　been　and　done；　I　want　ye　to　have　a　square
show。　　Ole　Nixon　has　been　cavoortin'　rou