the twins of table mountain-第6节

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passionate　tears；　were　on　her　face；　her　black　hair　flowed　from
beneath　her　gaudy　bonnet；　and；　shamed　out　of　his　brutality；　Rand
placed　his　strong　arm　round　her　waist；　and　half　carrying；　half
supporting　her；　began　the　ascent。　　Her　head　dropped　wearily　on　his
shoulder；　her　arm　encircled　his　neck；　her　hair；　as　if　caressingly；
lay　across　his　breast　and　hands；　her　grateful　eyes　were　close　to
his；　her　breath　was　upon　his　cheek：　and　yet　his　only　consciousness
was　of　the　possibly　ludicrous　figure　he　might　present　to　his
brother；　should　he　meet　him　with　Mornie　Nixon　in　his　arms。　　Not　a
word　was　spoken　by　either　till　they　reached　the　summit。　　Relieved
at　finding　his　brother　still　absent；　he　turned　not　unkindly　toward
the　helpless　figure　on　his　arm。　　〃I　don't　see　what　makes　Ruth　so
late；〃　he　said。　　〃He's　always　here　by　sundown。　　Perhaps〃

〃Perhaps　he　knows　I'm　here；〃　said　Mornie；　with　a　bitter　laugh。

〃I　didn't　say　that；〃　said　Rand；　〃and　I　don't　think　it。　　What　I
meant　was；　he　might　have　met　a　party　that　was　picnicking　here　to…
day；Sol。　Saunders　and　wife；　and　Miss　Euphemia〃

Mornie　flung　his　arm　away　from　her　with　a　passionate　gesture。
〃THEY　here！picnicking　HERE！those　people　HERE！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Rand；　unconsciously　a　little　ashamed。　　〃They　came　here
accidentally。〃

Mornie's　quick　passion　had　subsided：　she　had　sunk　again　wearily　and
helplessly　on　a　rock　beside　him。　　〃I　suppose；〃　she　said；　with　a
weak　laugh〃I　suppose；　they　talked　of　ME。　　I　suppose　they　told　you
how；　with　their　lies　and　fair　promises；　they　tricked　me　out；　and
set　me　before　an　audience　of　brutes　and　laughing　hyenas　to　make
merry　over。　　Did　they　tell　you　of　the　insults　that　I　received？how
the　sins　of　my　parents　were　flung　at　me　instead　of　bouquets？　　Did
they　tell　you　they　could　have　spared　me　this；　but　they　wanted　the
few　extra　dollars　taken　in　at　the　door？　　No！〃

〃They　said　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　replied　Rand　surlily。

〃Then　you　must　have　stopped　them。　　You　were　horrified　enough　to
know　that　I　had　dared　to　take　the　only　honest　way　left　me　to　make　a
living。　　I　know　you；　Randolph　Pinkney！　　You'd　rather　see　Joaquin
Muriatta；　the　Mexican　bandit；　standing　before　you　to…night　with　a
revolver；　than　the　helpless；　shamed；　miserable　Mornie　Nixon。　　And
you　can't　help　yourself；　unless　you　throw　me　over　the　cliff。
Perhaps　you'd　better；〃　she　said；　with　a　bitter　laugh　that　faded
from　her　lips　as　she　leaned；　pale　and　breathless；　against　the
bowlder。

〃Ruth　will　tell　you〃　began　Rand。

〃Dn　Ruth！〃

Rand　turned　away。

〃Stop！〃　she　said　suddenly；　staggering　to　her　feet。　　〃I'm　sickfor
all　I　know；　dying。　　God　grant　that　it　may　be　so！　　But；　if　you　are　a
man；　you　will　help　me　to　your　cabinto　some　place　where　I　can　lie
down　NOW；　and　be　at　rest。　　I'm　very；　very　tired。〃

She　paused。　　She　would　have　fallen　again；　but　Rand；　seeing　more　in
her　face　than　her　voice　interpreted　to　his　sullen　ears；　took　her
sullenly　in　his　arms；　and　carried　her　to　the　cabin。　　Her　eyes
glanced　around　the　bright　party…colored　walls；　and　a　faint　smile
came　to　her　lips　as　she　put　aside　her　bonnet；　adorned　with　a
companion　pinion　of　the　bright　wings　that　covered　it。

〃Which　is　Ruth's　bed？〃　she　asked。

Rand　pointed　to　it。

〃Lay　me　there！〃

Rand　would　have　hesitated；　but；　with　another　look　at　her　face；
complied。

She　lay　quite　still　a　moment。　　Presently　she　said；　〃Give　me　some
brandy　or　whiskey！〃

Rand　was　silent　and　confused。

〃I　forgot；〃　she　added　half　bitterly。　　〃I　know　you　have　not　that
commonest　and　cheapest　of　vices。〃

She　lay　quite　still　again。　　Suddenly　she　raised　herself　partly　on
her　elbow；　and　in　a　strong；　firm　voice；　said；　〃Rand！〃

〃Yes；　Mornie。〃

〃If　you　are　wise　and　practical；　as　you　assume　to　be；　you　will　do
what　I　ask　you　without　a　question。　　If　you　do　it　AT　ONCE；　you　may
save　yourself　and　Ruth　some　trouble；　some　mortification；　and
perhaps　some　remorse　and　sorrow。　　Do　you　hear　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Go　to　the　nearest　doctor；　and　bring　him　here　with　you。〃

〃But　YOU！〃

Her　voice　was　strong；　confident；　steady；　and　patient。　　〃You　can
safely　leave　me　until　then。〃

In　another　moment　Rand　was　plunging　down　the　〃slide。〃　　But　it　was
past　midnight　when　he　struggled　over　the　last　bowlder　up　the
ascent；　dragging　the　half…exhausted　medical　wisdom　of　Brown's　Ferry
on　his　arm。

〃I've　been　gone　long；　doctor；〃　said　Rand　feverishly；　〃and　she
looked　SO　death…like　when　I　left。　　If　we　should　be　too　late！〃

The　doctor　stopped　suddenly；　lifted　his　head；　and　pricked　his　ears
like　a　hound　on　a　peculiar　scent。　　〃We　ARE　too　late；〃　he　said；　with
a　slight　professional　laugh。

Indignant　and　horrified；　Rand　turned　upon　him。

〃Listen；〃　said　the　doctor；　lifting　his　hand。

Rand　listened；　so　intently　that　he　heard　the　familiar　moan　of　the
river　below；　but　the　great　stony　field　lay　silent　before　him。　　And
then；　borne　across　its　bare　barren　bosom；　like　its　own
articulation；　came　faintly　the　feeble　wail　of　a　new…born　babe。


III。


STORM。


The　doctor　hurried　ahead　in　the　darkness。　　Rand；　who　had　stopped
paralyzed　at　the　ominous　sound；　started　forward　again　mechanically；
but　as　the　cry　arose　again　more　distinctly；　and　the　full
significance　of　the　doctor's　words　came　to　him；　he　faltered；
stopped；　and；　with　cheeks　burning　with　shame　and　helpless
indignation；　sank　upon　a　stone　beside　the　shaft；　and；　burying　his
face　in　his　hands；　fairly　gave　way　to　a　burst　of　boyish　tears。　　Yet
even　then　the　recollection　that　he　had　not　cried　since；　years　ago；
his　mother's　dying　hands　had　joined　his　and　Ruth's　childish　fingers
together；　stung　him　fiercely；　and　dried　his　tears　in　angry　heat
upon　his　cheeks。

How　long　he　sat　there；　he　remembered　not；　what　he　thought；　he
recalled　not。　　But　the　wildest　and　most　extravagant　plans　and
resolves　availed　him　nothing　in　the　face　of　this　forever　desecrated
home；　and　this　shameful　culmination　of　his　ambitious　life　on　the
mountain。　　Once　he　thought　of　flight；　but　the　reflection　that　he
would　still　abandon　his　brother　to　shame；　perhaps　a　self…contented
shame；　checked　him　hopelessly。　　Could　he　avert　the　future？　　He
MUST；　but　how？　　Yet　he　could　only　sit　and　stare　into　the　darkness
in　dumb　abstraction。

Sitting　there；　his　eyes　fell　upon　a　peculiar　object　in　a　crevice　of
the　ledge　beside　the　shaft。　　It　was　the　tin　pail　containing　his
dinner；　which；　according　to　their　custom；　it　was　the　duty　of　the
brother　who　staid　above　ground　to　prepare　and　place　for　the　brother
who　worked　below。　　Ruth　must；　consequently；　have　put　it　there
before　he　left　that　morning；　and　Rand　had　overlooked　it　while
sharing　the　repast　of　the　strangers　at　noon。　　At　the　sight　of　this
dumb　witness　of　their　mutual　cares　and　labors；　Rand　sighed；　half　in
brotherly　sorrow；　half　in　a　selfish　sense　of　injury　done　him。

He　took　up　the　pail　mechanically；　removed　its　cover；　andstarted；
for　on　top　of　the　carefully　bestowed　provisions　lay　a　little　note；
addressed　to　him　in　Ruth's　peculiar　scrawl。

He　opened　it　with　feverish　hands；　held　it　in　the　light　of　the
peaceful　moon；　and　read　as　follows：


DEAR；　DEAR　BROTHER；When　you　read　this；　I　shall　be　far　away。　　I　go
because　I　shall　not　stay　to　disgrace　you；　and　because　the　girl　that
I　brought　trouble　upon　has　gone　away　too；　to　hide　her　disgrace　and
mine；　and　where　she　goes；　Rand；　I　ought　to　follow　her；　and；　please
God；　I　will！　　I　am　not　as　wise　or　as　good　as　you　are；　but　it　seems
the　best　I　can　do；　and　God　bless　you；　dear　old　Randy；　boy！　　Times
and　times　again　I've　wanted　to　tell　you　all；　and　reckoned　to　do　so；
but　whether　you　was　sitting　before　me　in　the　cabin；　or　working
beside　me　in　the　drift；　I　couldn't　get　to　look　upon　your　honest
face；　dear　brother；　and　say　what　things　I'd　been　keeping　from　you
so　long。　　I'll　stay　away　until　I've　done　what　I　ought　to　do；　and　if
you　can　say；　〃Come；　Ruth；〃　I　will　come；　but；　until　you　can　say　it；
the　mountain　is　yours；　Randy；　boy；　the　mine　is　yours；　the　cabin　is
yours；　ALL　is　yours。　　Rub　out　the　old　chalk…marks；　Rand；　as　I　rub
them　out　here　in　my＇A　few　words　here　were　blurred　and　indistinct；
as　if　the　moon　had　suddenly　become　dim…eyed　too＇。　　God　bless　you；
brother！

P。S。You　know　I　mean　Mornie　all　the　time。　　It's　she　I'm　going　to
seek；　but　don't　you　think　so　bad　of　her　as　you　do；　I　am　so　much
worse　than　she。　　I　wanted　to　tell　you　that　all　along；　but　I　didn't
dare。　　She's　run　away　from　the　Ferry　half　crazy；　said　she　was　going
to　Sacramento；　and　I　am　going　there　to　find　her　alive　or　dead。
Forgive　me；　brother！　　Don't　throw　this　down　right　away；　hold　it　in
your　hand　a　moment；　Randy；　boy；　and　try　hard　to　think　it's　my　hand
in　yours。　　And　so　good…by；　and　God　bless　you；　old　Randy！

From　your　loving　brother；

RUTH。


A　deep　sense　of　relief　overpowered　every　other　feeling　in　Rand's
breast。　　It　was　clear　that　Ruth　had　not　yet　discovered　the　truth　of
Mornie's　flight：　he　was　on　his　way　to　Sacramento；　and　before　he
could　return；　Mornie　could　be　removed。　　Once　despatched　in　some
other　direction；　with　Ruth　once　more　returned　and　under　his
brother's　guidance；　the　separation　could　be　made　easy　and　final。
There　was　evidently　no　marriage　as　yet；　and　now；　the　fear　of　an
immediate　meeting　over；　there　should　be　none。　　For　Rand　had　already
feare