the twins of table mountain-第8节

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accompany　you！'　　A　shriek　at　right　upper　center。　　Enter　the
'Marysville　Pet。'　　'I　have　heard　all。　　'Tis　a　base　calumny。　　It
cannot　be　HERandolph！　　Never！''Dare　you　accompany　us　will！'
Tableau。

〃Is　Miss　Euphemiahere？〃　gasped　Rand；　practical　even　in　his
embarrassment。

〃Or…r…rder！　　Scene　second。　　Summit　of　mountainmoonlight　Peaks　of
Snowdon　in　distance。　　Rightlonely　cabin。　　Enter　slowly　up　defile；
Sol；　Mrs。　Sol；　the　'Pet。'　　Advance　slowly　to　cabin。　　Suppressed
shriek　from　the　'Pet；'　who　rushes　to　recumbent　figureLeft
discovered　lying　beside　cabin…door。　　''Tis　he！　　Hist！　he　sleeps！'
Throws　blanket　over　him；　and　retires　up　stageso。〃　　Here　Sol
achieved　a　vile　imitation　of　the　〃Pet's〃　most　enchanting　stage…
manner。　　〃Mrs。　Sol　advancesCenterthrows　open　door。　　Shriek！
''Tis　Mornie；　the　lost　found！'　　The　'Pet'　advances：　'And　the　father
is？''Not　Rand！'　　The　'Pet'　kneeling：　'Just　Heaven；　I　thank　thee！'
No；　it　is'〃

〃Hush！〃　said　Rand　appealingly；　looking　toward　the　cabin。

〃Hush　it　is！〃　said　the　actor　good…naturedly。　　〃But　it's　all　right；
Mr。　Rand：　we'll　pull　you　through。〃

Later　in　the　morning；　Rand　learned　that　Mornie's　ill…fated
connection　with　the　Star　Variety　Troupe　had　been　a　source　of
anxiety　to　Mrs。　Sol；　and　she　had　reproached　herself　for　the　girl's
infelicitous　debut。

〃But；　Lord　bless　you；　Mr。　Rand！〃　said　Sol；　〃it　was　all　in　the　way
of　business。　　She　came　to　uswas　fresh　and　new。　　Her　chance；
looking　at　it　professionally；　was　as　good　as　any　amateur's；　but
what　with　her　relations　here；　and　her　bein'　known；　she　didn't　take。
We　lost　money　on　her！　　It's　natural　she　should　feel　a　little　ugly。
We　all　do　when　we　get　sorter　kicked　back　onto　ourselves；　and　find
we　can't　stand　alone。　　Why；　you　wouldn't　believe　it；〃　he　continued；
with　a　moist　twinkle　of　his　black　eyes；　〃but　the　night　I　lost　my
little　Rosey；　of　diphtheria　in　Gold　Hill；　the　child　was　down　on　the
bills　for　a　comic　song；　and　I　had　to　drag　Mrs。　Sol　on；　cut　up　as
she　was；　and　filled　up　with　that　much　of　Old　Bourbon　to　keep　her
nerves　stiff；　so　she　could　do　an　old　gag　with　me　to　gain　time；　and
make　up　the　'variety。'　　Why；　sir；　when　I　came　to　the　front；　I　was
ugly！　　And　when　one　of　the　boys　in　the　front　row　sang　out；　'Don't
expose　that　poor　child　to　the　night　air；　Sol；'meaning　Mrs。　Sol；
I　acted　ugly。　　No；　sir；　it's　human　nature；　and　it　was　quite　natural
that　Mornie；　when　she　caught　sight　o'　Mrs。　Sol's　face　last　night；
should　rise　up　and　cuss　us　both。　　Lord；　if　she'd　only　acted　like
that！　　But　the　old　lady　got　her　quiet　at　last；　and；　as　I　said
before；　it's　all　right；　and　we'll　pull　her　through。　　But　don't　YOU
thank　us：　it's　a　little　matter　betwixt　us　and　Mornie。　　We've　got
everything　fixed；　so　that　Mrs。　Sol　can　stay　right　along。　　We'll
pull　Mornie　through；　and　get　her　away　from　this；　and　her　baby　too；
as　soon　as　we　can。　　You　won't　get　mad　if　I　tell　you　something？〃
said　Sol；　with　a　half…apologetic　laugh。　　〃Mrs。　Sol　was　rather　down
on　you　the　other　day；　hated　you　on　sight；　and　preferred　your
brother　to　you；　but　when　she　found　he'd　run　off　and　left　YOU；　you；
don't　mind　my　sayin'；a　'mere　boy；'　to　take　what　oughter　be　HIS
place；　why；　she　just　wheeled　round　agin'　him。　　I　suppose　he　got
flustered；　and　couldn't　face　the　music。　　Never　left　a　word　of
explanation？　　Well；　it　wasn't　exactly　square；　though　I　tell　the　old
woman　it's　human　nature。　　He　might　have　dropped　a　hint　where　he　was
goin'。　　Well；　there；　I　won't　say　a　word　more　agin'　him。　　I　know　how
you　feel。　　Hush　it　is。〃

It　was　the　firm　conviction　of　the　simple…minded　Sol　that　no　one
knew　the　various　natural　indications　of　human　passion　better　than
himself。　　Perhaps　it　was　one　of　the　fallacies　of　his　profession
that　the　expression　of　all　human　passion　was　limited　to　certain
conventional　signs　and　sounds。　　Consequently；　when　Rand　colored
violently；　became　confused；　stammered；　and　at　last　turned　hastily
away；　the　good…hearted　fellow　instantly　recognized　the　unfailing
evidence　of　modesty　and　innocence　embarrassed　by　recognition。　　As
for　Rand；　I　fear　his　shame　was　only　momentary。　　Confirmed　in　the
belief　of　his　ulterior　wisdom　and　virtue；　his　first　embarrassment
over；　he　was　not　displeased　with　this　halfway　tribute；　and　really
believed　that　the　time　would　come　when　Mr。　Sol　should　eventually
praise　his　sagacity　and　reservation；　and　acknowledge　that　he　was
something　more　than　a　mere　boy。　　He；　nevertheless；　shrank　from
meeting　Mornie　that　morning；　and　was　glad　that　the　presence　of　Mrs。
Sol　relieved　him　from　that　duty。

The　day　passed　uneventfully。　　Rand　busied　himself　in　his　usual
avocations；　and　constructed　a　temporary　shelter　for　himself　and　Sol
beside　the　shaft；　besides　rudely　shaping　a　few　necessary　articles
of　furniture　for　Mrs。　Sol。

〃It　will　be　a　little　spell　yet　afore　Mornie's　able　to　be　moved；〃
suggested　Sol；　〃and　you　might　as　well　be　comfortable。〃

Rand　sighed　at　this　prospect；　yet　presently　forgot　himself　in　the
good　humor　of　his　companion；　whose　admiration　for　himself　he　began
to　patronizingly　admit。　　There　was　no　sense　of　degradation　in
accepting　the　friendship　of　this　man　who　had　traveled　so　far；　seen
so　much；　and　yet；　as　a　practical　man　of　the　world；　Rand　felt　was　so
inferior　to　himself。　　The　absence　of　Miss　Euphemia；　who　had　early
left　the　mountain；　was　a　source　of　odd；　half…definite　relief。
Indeed；　when　he　closed　his　eyes　to　rest　that　night；　it　was　with　a
sense　that　the　reality　of　his　situation　was　not　as　bad　as　he　had
feared。　　Once　only；　the　figure　of　his　brotherhaggard；　weary；　and
footsore；　on　his　hopeless　quest；　wandering　in　lonely　trails　and
lonelier　settlementscame　across　his　fancy；　but　with　it　came　the
greater　fear　of　his　return；　and　the　pathetic　figure　was　banished。
〃And；　besides；　he's　in　Sacramento　by　this　time；　and　like　as　not
forgotten　us　all；〃　he　muttered；　and；　twining　this　poppy　and
mandragora　around　his　pillow；　he　fell　asleep。

His　spirits　had　quite　returned　the　next　morning；　and　once　or　twice
he　found　himself　singing　while　at　work　in　the　shaft。　　The　fear　that
Ruth　might　return　to　the　mountain　before　he　could　get　rid　of
Mornie；　and　the　slight　anxiety　that　had　grown　upon　him　to　know
something　of　his　brother's　movements；　and　to　be　able　to　govern　them
as　he　wished；　caused　him　to　hit　upon　the　plan　of　constructing　an
ingenious　advertisement　to　be　published　in　the　San　Francisco
journals；　wherein　the　missing　Ruth　should　be　advised　that　news　of
his　quest　should　be　communicated　to　him　by　〃a　friend；〃　through　the
same　medium；　after　an　interval　of　two　weeks。　　Full　of　this　amiable
intention；　he　returned　to　the　surface　to　dinner。　　Here；　to　his
momentary　confusion；　he　met　Miss　Euphemia；　who；　in　absence　of　Sol；
was　assisting　Mrs。　Sol　in　the　details　of　the　household。

If　the　honest　frankness　with　which　that　young　lady　greeted　him　was
not　enough　to　relieve　his　embarrassment；　he　would　have　forgotten
it　in　the　utterly　new　and　changed　aspect　she　presented。　　Her
extravagant　walking…costume　of　the　previous　day　was　replaced　by
some　bright　calico；　a　little　white　apron；　and　a　broad…brimmed
straw…hat；　which　seemed　to　Rand；　in　some　odd　fashion；　to　restore
her　original　girlish　simplicity。　　The　change　was　certainly　not
unbecoming　to　her。　　If　her　waist　was　not　as　tightly　pinched；　a　la
mode；　there　still　was　an　honest；　youthful　plumpness　about　it；　her
step　was　freer　for　the　absence　of　her　high…heel　boots；　and　even　the
hand　she　extended　to　Rand；　if　not　quite　so　small　as　in　her　tight
gloves；　and　a　little　brown　from　exposure；　was　magnetic　in　its
strong；　kindly　grasp。　　There　was　perhaps　a　slight　suggestion　of　the
practical　Mr。　Sol　in　her　wholesome　presence；　and　Rand　could　not
help　wondering　if　Mrs。　Sol　had　ever　been　a　Gold　Hill　〃Pet〃　before
her　marriage　with　Mr。　Sol。　　The　young　girl　noticed　his　curious
glance。

〃You　never　saw　me　in　my　rehearsal　dress　before；〃　she　said；　with　a
laugh。　　〃But　I'm　not　'company'　to…day；　and　didn't　put　on　my　best
harness　to　knock　round　in。　　I　suppose　I　look　dreadful。〃

〃I　don't　think　you　look　bad；〃　said　Rand　simply。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Euphemia；　with　a　laugh　and　a　courtesy。　　〃But　this
isn't　getting　the　dinner。〃

As　part　of　that　operation　evidently　was　the　taking…off　of　her　hat；
the　putting…up　of　some　thick　blond　locks　that　had　escaped；　and　the
rolling…up　of　her　sleeves　over　a　pair　of　strong；　rounded　arms；　Rand
lingered　near　her。　　All　trace　of　the　〃Pet's〃　previous　professional
coquetry　was　gone；perhaps　it　was　only　replaced　by　a　more　natural
one；　but　as　she　looked　up；　and　caught　sight　of　Rand's　interested
face；　she　laughed　again；　and　colored　a　little。　　Slight　as　was　the
blush；　it　was　sufficient　to　kindle　a　sympathetic　fire　in　Rand's　own
cheeks；　which　was　so　utterly　unexpected　to　him　that　he　turned　on
his　heel　in　confusion。　　〃I　reckon　she　thinks　I'm　soft　and　silly；
like　Ruth；〃　he　soliloquized；　and；　determining　not　to　look　at　her
again；　betook　himself　to　a　distant　and　contemplative　pipe。　　In　vain
did　Miss　Euphemia　address　herself　to　the　ostentatious　getting　of
the　dinner　in　full　view　of　him；　in　vain　did　she　bring　the　coffee…
pot　away　from　the　fire；　and　nearer　Rand；　with　the　apparent
intention　of　examining　its　contents　in　a　better　light；　in　vain；
while　wiping　a　plate；　did　she；　abso