Butthenextmomenthiseyefellupontheshoulderandarmthatlaynearesttohim,andthelittlebundle,swathedinflannel,thatitclaspedtoherbreast。Hisbrowgrewdarkashegazed。Thesleepingwomanmoved。Perhapsitwasaninstinctiveconsciousnessofhispresence;perhapsitwasonlythecurrentofcoldairfromtheopeneddoor:butsheshudderedslightly,and,stillunconscious,drewthechildasifawayfromHIM,andnearertoherbreast。TheshamedbloodrushedtoRand’sface;andsayinghalfaloud,\"I’mnotgoingtotakeyourpreciousbabeawayfromyou,\"heturnedinhalf-boyishpettishnessaway。Neverthelesshecamebackagainshortlytothebedside,andgazeduponthemboth。Shecertainlydidlookaltogethermoreladylike,andlessaggressive,lyingtheresostill:sickness,thatcheaprefiningprocessofsomenatures,wasnotunbecomingtoher。Butthisbundle!Aboyishcuriosity,strongerthanevenhisstrongobjectiontothewholeepisode,wassteadilyimpellinghimtolifttheblanketfromit。
\"Isupposeshe’dwakenifIdid,\"saidRand;\"butI’dliketoknowwhatrightthedoctorhadtowrapitupinmybestflannelshirt。\"
Thisfreshgrievance,thefruitofhiscuriosity,senthimawayagaintomeditateontheledge。Afterafewmomentshereturnedagain,openedthecupboardatthefootofthebedsoftly,tookthenceapieceofchalk,andscrawledinlargelettersuponthedoorofthecupboard,\"Ifyouwantanything,singout:I’mjustoutside。——RAND。\"Thisdone,hetookablanketandbear-skinfromthecorner,andwalkedtothedoor。Butherehepaused,lookedbackattheinscription(evidentlynotsatisfiedwithit),returned,tookupthechalk,addedaline,butrubbeditoutagain,repeatedthisoperationafewtimesuntilheproducedthepolitepostscript,——\"Hopeyou’llbebettersoon。\"Thenheretreatedtotheledge,spreadthebear-skinbesidethedoor,and,rollinghimselfinablanket,lithispipeforhisnight-longvigil。ButRand,althoughamartyr,aphilosopher,andamoralist,wasyoung。
Inlessthantenminutesthepipedroppedfromhislips,andhewasasleep。
Heawokewithastrangesenseofheatandsuffocation,andwithdifficultyshookoffhiscovering。Rubbinghiseyes,hediscoveredthatanextrablankethadinsomemysteriouswaybeenaddedinthenight;andbeneathhisheadwasapillowhehadnorecollectionofplacingtherewhenhewenttosleep。Bydegreestheeventsofthepastnightforcedthemselvesuponhisbenumbedfaculties,andhesatup。Thesunwasridinghigh;thedoorofthecabinwasopen。
Stretchinghimself,hestaggeredtohisfeet,andlookedinthroughtheyawningcrackatthehinges。Herubbedhiseyesagain。Washestillasleep,andfollowedbyadreamofyesterday?Forthere,evenintheveryattitudeherememberedtohaveseenhersittingatherluncheononthepreviousday,withherknittingonherlap,satMrs。SolSaunders!Whatdiditmean?orhadshereallybeensittingthereeversince,andalltheeventsthatfollowedonlyadream?
Ahandwaslaiduponhisarm;and,turning,hesawthemurkyblackeyesandIndian-inkedbeardofSolbesidehim。Thatgentlemanputhisfingeronhislipswithatheatricalgesture,andthen,slowlyretreatinginthewell-knownmanneroftheburiedMajestyofDenmark,wavedhim,likeanotherHamlet,toaremoterpartoftheledge。Thisreached,hegraspedRandwarmlybythehand,shookitheartily,andsaid,\"It’sallright,myboy;allright!\"
\"But——\"beganRand。Thehotbloodflowedtohischeeks:hestammered,andstoppedshort。
\"It’sallright,Isay!Don’tyoumind!We’llpullyouthrough。\"
\"But,Mrs。Sol!whatdoesshe——\"
\"Roseyhastakenthematterinhand,sir;andwhenthatwomantakesamatterinhand,whetherit’sababyorarehearsal,sir,shemakesitbuzz。\"
\"Buthowdidsheknow?\"stammeredRand。
\"How?Well,sir,thesceneopenedsomethinglikethis,\"saidSolprofessionally。\"CurtainrisesonmeandMrs。Sol。Domesticinterior:practicablechairs,table,books,newspapers。EnterDr。
Duchesne,——eccentriccharacterpart,verypopularwiththeboys,——
tellsoff-handaffectingstoryofstrangewoman——one’moreunfortunate’——havingbabyinEagle’sNest,lonelyplaceon’peaksofSnowdon,’midnight;eaglesscreaming,youknow,andfardownunfathomabledepths;onlyattendant,cold-bloodedruffian,evidentlyfatherofchild,withsinisterdesignsonchildandmother。\"
\"Hedidn’tsayTHAT!\"saidRand,withanagonizedsmile。
\"Order!Sitdowninfront!\"continuedSoleasily。\"Mrs。Sol——
highlyinterested,amotherherself——demandsnameofplace。’TableMountain。’No;itcannotbe——itis!Excitement。Mystery!Roseyrisestooccasion——comestofront:’Someonemustgo;I——I——willgomyself!’Myself,comingtocenter:’Notalone,dearest;I——Iwillaccompanyyou!’Ashriekatrightuppercenter。Enterthe’MarysvillePet。’’Ihaveheardall。’Tisabasecalumny。ItcannotbeHE——Randolph!Never!’——’Dareyouaccompanyuswill!’
Tableau。
\"IsMissEuphemia——here?\"gaspedRand,practicaleveninhisembarrassment。
\"Or-r-rder!Scenesecond。Summitofmountain——moonlightPeaksofSnowdonindistance。Right——lonelycabin。Enterslowlyupdefile,Sol,Mrs。Sol,the’Pet。’Advanceslowlytocabin。Suppressedshriekfromthe’Pet,’whorushestorecumbentfigure——Left——
discoveredlyingbesidecabin-door。’’Tishe!Hist!hesleeps!’
Throwsblanketoverhim,andretiresupstage——so。\"HereSolachievedavileimitationofthe\"Pet’s\"mostenchantingstage-
manner。\"Mrs。Soladvances——Center——throwsopendoor。Shriek!
’’TisMornie,thelostfound!’The’Pet’advances:’Andthefatheris?’——’NotRand!’The’Pet’kneeling:’JustHeaven,Ithankthee!’
No,itis——’\"
\"Hush!\"saidRandappealingly,lookingtowardthecabin。
\"Hushitis!\"saidtheactorgood-naturedly。\"Butit’sallright,Mr。Rand:we’llpullyouthrough。\"
Laterinthemorning,RandlearnedthatMornie’sill-fatedconnectionwiththeStarVarietyTroupehadbeenasourceofanxietytoMrs。Sol,andshehadreproachedherselfforthegirl’sinfelicitousdebut。
\"But,Lordblessyou,Mr。Rand!\"saidSol,\"itwasallinthewayofbusiness。Shecametous——wasfreshandnew。Herchance,lookingatitprofessionally,wasasgoodasanyamateur’s;butwhatwithherrelationshere,andherbein’known,shedidn’ttake。
Welostmoneyonher!It’snaturalsheshouldfeelalittleugly。
Wealldowhenwegetsorterkickedbackontoourselves,andfindwecan’tstandalone。Why,youwouldn’tbelieveit,\"hecontinued,withamoisttwinkleofhisblackeyes;\"butthenightIlostmylittleRosey,ofdiphtheriainGoldHill,thechildwasdownonthebillsforacomicsong;andIhadtodragMrs。Solon,cutupasshewas,andfilledupwiththatmuchofOldBourbontokeephernervesstiff,soshecoulddoanoldgagwithmetogaintime,andmakeupthe’variety。’Why,sir,whenIcametothefront,Iwasugly!Andwhenoneoftheboysinthefrontrowsangout,’Don’texposethatpoorchildtothenightair,Sol,’——meaningMrs。Sol,——
Iactedugly。No,sir,it’shumannature;anditwasquitenaturalthatMornie,whenshecaughtsighto’Mrs。Sol’sfacelastnight,shouldriseupandcussusboth。Lord,ifshe’donlyactedlikethat!Buttheoldladygotherquietatlast;and,asIsaidbefore,it’sallright,andwe’llpullherthrough。Butdon’tYOU
thankus:it’salittlematterbetwixtusandMornie。We’vegoteverythingfixed,sothatMrs。Solcanstayrightalong。We’llpullMorniethrough,andgetherawayfromthis,andherbabytoo,assoonaswecan。Youwon’tgetmadifItellyousomething?\"
saidSol,withahalf-apologeticlaugh。\"Mrs。Solwasratherdownonyoutheotherday,hatedyouonsight,andpreferredyourbrothertoyou;butwhenshefoundhe’drunoffandleftYOU,you,——
don’tmindmysayin’,——a’mereboy,’totakewhatoughterbeHIS
place,why,shejustwheeledroundagin’him。Isupposehegotflustered,andcouldn’tfacethemusic。Neverleftawordofexplanation?Well,itwasn’texactlysquare,thoughItelltheoldwomanit’shumannature。Hemighthavedroppedahintwherehewasgoin’。Well,there,Iwon’tsayawordmoreagin’him。Iknowhowyoufeel。Hushitis。\"
Itwasthefirmconvictionofthesimple-mindedSolthatnooneknewthevariousnaturalindicationsofhumanpassionbetterthanhimself。Perhapsitwasoneofthefallaciesofhisprofessionthattheexpressionofallhumanpassionwaslimitedtocertainconventionalsignsandsounds。Consequently,whenRandcoloredviolently,becameconfused,stammered,andatlastturnedhastilyaway,thegood-heartedfellowinstantlyrecognizedtheunfailingevidenceofmodestyandinnocenceembarrassedbyrecognition。AsforRand,Ifearhisshamewasonlymomentary。Confirmedinthebeliefofhisulteriorwisdomandvirtue,hisfirstembarrassmentover,hewasnotdispleasedwiththishalfwaytribute,andreallybelievedthatthetimewouldcomewhenMr。Solshouldeventuallypraisehissagacityandreservation,andacknowledgethathewassomethingmorethanamereboy。He,nevertheless,shrankfrommeetingMorniethatmorning,andwasgladthatthepresenceofMrs。
Solrelievedhimfromthatduty。
Thedaypasseduneventfully。Randbusiedhimselfinhisusualavocations,andconstructedatemporaryshelterforhimselfandSolbesidetheshaft,besidesrudelyshapingafewnecessaryarticlesoffurnitureforMrs。Sol。
\"ItwillbealittlespellyetaforeMornie’sabletobemoved,\"
suggestedSol,\"andyoumightaswellbecomfortable。\"
Randsighedatthisprospect,yetpresentlyforgothimselfinthegoodhumorofhiscompanion,whoseadmirationforhimselfhebegantopatronizinglyadmit。Therewasnosenseofdegradationinacceptingthefriendshipofthismanwhohadtraveledsofar,seensomuch,andyet,asapracticalmanoftheworld,Randfeltwassoinferiortohimself。TheabsenceofMissEuphemia,whohadearlyleftthemountain,wasasourceofodd,half-definiterelief。
Indeed,whenheclosedhiseyestorestthatnight,itwaswithasensethattherealityofhissituationwasnotasbadashehadfeared。Onceonly,thefigureofhisbrother——haggard,weary,andfootsore,onhishopelessquest,wanderinginlonelytrailsandloneliersettlements——cameacrosshisfancy;butwithitcamethegreaterfearofhisreturn,andthepatheticfigurewasbanished。
\"And,besides,he’sinSacramentobythistime,andlikeasnotforgottenusall,\"hemuttered;and,twiningthispoppyandmandragoraaroundhispillow,hefellasleep。
Hisspiritshadquitereturnedthenextmorning,andonceortwicehefoundhimselfsingingwhileatworkintheshaft。ThefearthatRuthmightreturntothemountainbeforehecouldgetridofMornie,andtheslightanxietythathadgrownuponhimtoknowsomethingofhisbrother’smovements,andtobeabletogovernthemashewished,causedhimtohitupontheplanofconstructinganingeniousadvertisementtobepublishedintheSanFranciscojournals,whereinthemissingRuthshouldbeadvisedthatnewsofhisquestshouldbecommunicatedtohimby\"afriend,\"throughthesamemedium,afteranintervaloftwoweeks。Fullofthisamiableintention,hereturnedtothesurfacetodinner。Here,tohismomentaryconfusion,hemetMissEuphemia,who,inabsenceofSol,wasassistingMrs。Solinthedetailsofthehousehold。
Ifthehonestfranknesswithwhichthatyoungladygreetedhimwasnotenoughtorelievehisembarrassment,hewouldhaveforgottenitintheutterlynewandchangedaspectshepresented。Herextravagantwalking-costumeofthepreviousdaywasreplacedbysomebrightcalico,alittlewhiteapron,andabroad-brimmedstraw-hat,whichseemedtoRand,insomeoddfashion,torestoreheroriginalgirlishsimplicity。Thechangewascertainlynotunbecomingtoher。Ifherwaistwasnotastightlypinched,alamode,therestillwasanhonest,youthfulplumpnessaboutit;herstepwasfreerfortheabsenceofherhigh-heelboots;andeventhehandsheextendedtoRand,ifnotquitesosmallasinhertightgloves,andalittlebrownfromexposure,wasmagneticinitsstrong,kindlygrasp。TherewasperhapsaslightsuggestionofthepracticalMr。Solinherwholesomepresence;andRandcouldnothelpwonderingifMrs。SolhadeverbeenaGoldHill\"Pet\"beforehermarriagewithMr。Sol。Theyounggirlnoticedhiscuriousglance。
\"Youneversawmeinmyrehearsaldressbefore,\"shesaid,withalaugh。\"ButI’mnot’company’to-day,anddidn’tputonmybestharnesstoknockroundin。IsupposeIlookdreadful。\"
\"Idon’tthinkyoulookbad,\"saidRandsimply。
\"Thankyou,\"saidEuphemia,withalaughandacourtesy。\"Butthisisn’tgettingthedinner。\"
Aspartofthatoperationevidentlywasthetaking-offofherhat,theputting-upofsomethickblondlocksthathadescaped,andtherolling-upofhersleevesoverapairofstrong,roundedarms,Randlingerednearher。Alltraceofthe\"Pet’s\"previousprofessionalcoquetrywasgone,——perhapsitwasonlyreplacedbyamorenaturalone;butasshelookedup,andcaughtsightofRand’sinterestedface,shelaughedagain,andcoloredalittle。Slightaswastheblush,itwassufficienttokindleasympatheticfireinRand’sowncheeks,whichwassoutterlyunexpectedtohimthatheturnedonhisheelinconfusion。\"IreckonshethinksI’msoftandsilly,likeRuth,\"hesoliloquized,and,determiningnottolookatheragain,betookhimselftoadistantandcontemplativepipe。InvaindidMissEuphemiaaddressherselftotheostentatiousgettingofthedinnerinfullviewofhim;invaindidshebringthecoffee-
potawayfromthefire,andnearerRand,withtheapparentintentionofexaminingitscontentsinabetterlight;invain,whilewipingaplate,didshe,absorbedinthedistantprospect,walktothevergeofthemountain,andbecomestatuesqueandforgetful。Thesulkyyounggentlemantooknooutwardnoticeofher。
Mrs。Sol’sattendanceuponMorniepreventedherleavingthecabin,andRandandMissEuphemiadinedintheopenairalone。TheridiculousnessofkeepingupaformalattitudetohissolitarycompanioncausedRandtorelax;but,tohisastonishment,the\"Pet\"
seemedtohavebecomecorrespondinglydistantandformal。Afterafewmomentsofdiscomfort,Rand,whohadeatenlittle,arose,and\"believedhewouldgobacktowork。\"
\"Ah,yes!\"saidthe\"Pet,\"withanindifferentair,\"Isupposeyoumust。Well,good-by,Mr。Pinkney。\"
Randturned。\"YOUarenotgoing?\"heasked,insomeuneasiness。
\"I’VEgotsomeworktodotoo,\"returnedMissEuphemiaalittlecurtly。
\"But,\"saidthepracticalRand,\"Ithoughtyouallowedthatyouwerefixedtostayuntilto-morrow?\"
ButhereMissEuphemia,withrisingcolorandslightacerbityofvoice,wasnotawarethatshewas\"fixedtostay\"anywhere,leastofallwhenshewasintheway。Morethanthat,sheMUSTsay——
althoughperhapsitmadenodifference,andsheoughtnottosayit——thatshewasnotinthehabitofintrudingupongentlemenwhoplainlygavehertounderstandthathercompanywasnotdesirable。
Shedidnotknowwhyshesaidthis——ofcourseitcouldmakenodifferencetoanybodywhodidn’t,ofcourse,care——butsheonlywantedtosaythatsheonlycameherebecauseherdearfriend,heradoptedmother,——andabetterwomanneverbreathed,——hadcome,andhadaskedhertostay。Ofcourse,Mrs。Solwasanintruderherself——Mr。Solwasanintruder——theywereallintruders:sheonlywonderedthatMr。Pinkneyhadbornewiththemsolong。Sheknewitwasanawfulthingtobehere,takingcareofapoor——poor,helplesswoman;butperhapsMr。Rand’sBROTHERmightforgivethem,ifhecouldn’t。Butnomatter,shewouldgo——Mr。Solwouldgo——ALL
wouldgo;andthen,perhaps,Mr,Rand——
Shestoppedbreathless;shestoppedwiththecornerofherapronagainsthertearfulhazeleyes;shestoppedwith——whatwasmoreremarkablethanall——Rand’sarmactuallyaroundherwaist,andhisastonished,alarmedfacewithinafewinchesofherown。
\"Why,MissEuphemia,Phemie,mydeargirl!InevermeantanythinglikeTHAT,\"saidRandearnestly。\"Ireallydidn’tnow!Comenow!\"
\"YouneveroncespoketomewhenIsatdown,\"saidMissEuphemia,feeblyendeavoringtowithdrawfromRand’sgrasp。
\"Ireallydidn’t!Oh,comenow,lookhere!Ididn’t!Don’t!
There’sadear——THERE!\"
Thislastconclusiveexpositionwasakiss。MissEuphemiawasnotquickenoughtoreleaseherselffromhisarms。Heanticipatedthatactafullhalf-second,andhaddroppedhisown,paleandbreathless。
Thegirlrecoveredherselffirst。\"There,Ideclare,I’mforgettingMrs。Sol’scoffee!\"sheexclaimedhastily,and,snatchingupthecoffee-pot,disappeared。Whenshereturned,Randwasgone。MissEuphemiabusiedherselfdemurelyinclearingupthedishes,withthetailofhereyesweepingthehorizonofthesummitlevelaroundher。
ButnoRandappeared。Presentlyshebegantolaughquietlytoherself。Thisoccurredseveraltimesduringheroccupation,whichwassomewhatprolonged。Theresultofthismeditativehilaritywassummedupinasomewhatgraveandthoughtfuldeductionasshewalkedslowlybacktothecabin:\"IdobelieveI’mthefirstwomanthatthatboyeverkissed。\"
MissEuphemiastaidthatdayandthenext,andRandforgothisembarrassment。BywhatmeansIknownot,MissEuphemiamanagedtorestoreRand’sconfidenceinhimselfandinher,andinalittlerambleonthemountain-sidegothimtorelate,albeitsomewhatreluctantly,theparticularsofhisrescueofMorniefromherdangerouspositiononthebrokentrail。
\"And,ifyouhadn’tgotthereassoonasyoudid,she’dhavefallen?\"askedthe\"Pet。\"
\"Ireckon,\"returnedRandgloomily:\"shewassorterdazedandcrazedlike。\"
\"Andyousavedherlife?\"
\"Isupposeso,ifyouputitthatway,\"saidRandsulkily。
\"Buthowdidyougetherupthemountainagain?\"
\"Oh!Igotherup,\"returnedRandmoodily。
\"Buthow?Really,Mr。Rand,youdon’tknowhowinterestingthisis。It’sasgoodasaplay,\"saidthe\"Pet,\"withalittleexcitedlaugh。
\"Oh,Icarriedherup!\"
\"Inyourarms?\"
\"Y-e-e-s。\"
MissEuphemiapaused,andbitoffthestalkofaflower,madeawryface,andthrewitawayfromherindisgust。
Thenshedugafewtinyholesintheearthwithherparasol,andburiedbitsoftheflower-stalkinthem,asiftheyhadbeentendermemories。\"IsupposeyouknewMornieverywell?\"sheasked。
\"Iusedtorunacrossherinthewoods,\"respondedRandshortly,\"ayearago。Ididn’tknowhersowellthenas——\"Hestopped。
\"Aswhat?AsNOW?\"askedthe\"Pet\"abruptly。Rand,whowascoloringoverhisnarrowescapefromatopicwhichadelicatekindnessofSolhadexcludedfromtheirintercourseonthemountain,stammered,\"asYOUdo,Imeant。\"
The\"Pet\"tossedherheadalittle。\"Oh!Idon’tknowheratall——
exceptthroughSol。\"
Randstaredhardatthis。The\"Pet,\"whowaslookingathimintently,said,\"ShowmetheplacewhereyousawMornieclingingthatnight。\"
\"It’sdangerous,\"suggestedRand。
\"YoumeanI’dbeafraid!Tryme!Idon’tbelieveshewasSO
dreadfullyfrightened!\"
\"Why?\"askedRand,inastonishment。
\"Oh——because——\"
Randsatdowninvaguewonderment。
\"Showittome,\"continuedthe\"Pet,\"\"or——I’llfinditALONE!\"
Thuschallenged,herose,and,afterafewmoments’climbing,stoodwithheruponthetrail。\"Youseethatthorn-bushwheretherockhasfallenaway。Itwasjustthere。Itisnotsafetogofarther。
No,really!MissEuphemia!Pleasedon’t!It’salmostcertaindeath!\"
Butthegiddygirlhaddartedpasthim,and,facetothewallofthecliff,wascreepingalongthedangerouspath。Randfollowedmechanically。Onceortwicethetrailcrumbledbeneathherfeet;
butsheclungtoaprojectingrootofchaparral,andlaughed。Shehadalmostreachedherelectedgoal,when,slipping,thetreacherouschaparralsheclungtoyieldedinhergrasp,andRand,withacry,sprungforward。
Butthenextinstantshequicklytransferredherholdtoacleftinthecliff,andwassafe。Notsohercompanion。Thesoilbeneathhim,loosenedbytheimpulseofhisspring,slippedaway:hewasfallingwithit,whenshecaughthimsharplywithherdisengagedhand,andtogethertheyscrambledtoamoresecurefooting。
\"Icouldhavereacheditalone,\"saidthe\"Pet,\"\"ifyou’dleftmealone。\"
\"ThankHeaven,we’resaved!\"saidRandgravely。
\"ANDWITHOUTAROPE,\"saidMissEuphemiasignificantly。
Randdidnotunderstandher。But,astheyslowlyreturnedtothesummit,hestammeredoutthealwaysdifficultthanksofamanwhohasbeenphysicallyhelpedbyoneoftheweakersex。MissEuphemiawasquicktoseehererror。
\"Imighthavemadeyouloseyourfootingbycatchingatyou,\"shesaidmeekly。\"ButIwassofrightenedforyou,andcouldnothelpit。\"
Thesuperioranimal,thoroughlybamboozled,thereuponcomplimentedheronherdexterity。
\"Oh,that’snothing!\"shesaid,withasigh。\"Iusedtodotheflying-trapezebusinesswithpapawhenIwasachild,andI’venotforgottenit。\"Withthisandotherconfidencesofherearlylife,inwhichRandbetrayedconsiderableinterest,theybeguiledthetediousascent。\"Ioughttohavemadeyoucarrymeup,\"saidthelady,withalittlelaugh,whentheyreachedthesummit;\"butyouhaven’tknownmeaslongasyouhaveMornie,haveyou?\"WiththismysteriousspeechshebadeRand\"good-night,\"andhurriedofftothecabin。
Andsoaweekpassedby,——theweeksodreadedbyRand,yetpassedsopleasantly,thatattimesitseemedasifthatdreadwereonlyatrickofhisfancy,orasifthecircumstancesthatsurroundedhimweredifferentfromwhathebelievedthemtobe。Ontheseventhdaythedoctorhadstaidlongerthanusual;andRand,whohadbeensittingwithEuphemiaontheledgebytheshaft,watchingthesunset,hadbarelytimetowithdrawhishandfromhers,asMrs。
Sol,atriflepaleandwearied-looking,approachedhim。
\"Idon’tliketotroubleyou,\"shesaid,——indeed,theyhadseldomtroubledhimwiththedetailsofMornie’sconvalescence,orevenherneedsandrequirements,——\"butthedoctorisalarmedaboutMornie,andshehasaskedtoseeyou。Ithinkyou’dbettergoinandspeaktoher。Youknow,\"continuedMrs。Soldelicately,\"youhaven’tbeenintheresincethenightshewastakensick,andmaybeanewfacemightdohergood。\"
TheguiltybloodflewtoRand’sfaceashestammered,\"IthoughtI’dbeintheway。Ididn’tbelieveshecaredmuchtoseeme。Issheworse?\"
\"Thedoctorislookingveryanxious,\"saidMrs。Solsimply。
ThebloodreturnedfromRand’sface,andsettledaroundhisheart。
Heturnedverypale。HehadconsoledhimselfalwaysforhiscomplicityinRuth’sabsence,thathewastakinggoodcareofMornie,or——whatisconsideredbymostselfishnaturesanequivalent——permittingorencouragingsomeoneelseto\"takegoodcareofher;\"butherewasacontingencyutterlyunforeseen。Itdidnotoccurtohimthatthis\"takinggoodcare\"ofhercouldresultinanythingbutaperfectsolutionofhertroubles,orthattherecouldbeanyfuturetoherconditionbutoneofrecovery。
Butwhatifsheshoulddie?AsuddenandhelplesssenseofhisresponsibilitytoRuth,toHER,broughthimtremblingtohisfeet。
Hehurriedtothecabin,whereMrs。Sollefthimwithawordofcaution:\"You’llfindherchangedandquiet,——veryquiet。IfIwasyou,Iwouldn’tsayanythingtobringbackheroldself。\"
ThechangewhichRandsawwassogreat,thefacethatwasturnedtohimsoquiet,that,withanewfearuponhim,hewouldhavepreferredthesavageeyesandrecklessmienoftheoldMorniewhomhehated。Withhishabitualimpulsivenesshetriedtosaysomethingthatshouldexpressthatfactnotunkindly,butfaltered,andawkwardlysankintothechairbyherbedside。
\"Idon’twonderyoustareatmenow,\"shesaidinafar-offvoice。
\"Itseemstoyoustrangetoseemelyingheresoquiet。YouarethinkinghowwildIwaswhenIcameherethatnight。Imusthavebeencrazy,Ithink。IdreamedthatIsaiddreadfulthingstoyou;
butyoumustforgiveme,andnotmindit。Iwascrazythen。\"Shestopped,andfoldedtheblanketbetweenherthinfingers。\"I
didn’taskyoutocomeheretotellyouthat,ortoremindyouofit;but——butwhenIwascrazy,Isaidsomanyworse,dreadfulthingsofHIM;andyou——YOUwillbeleftbehindtotellhimofit。\"
Randwasvaguelymurmuringsomethingtotheeffectthat\"heknewshedidn’tmeananything,\"that\"shemusn’tthinkofitagain,\"
that\"he’dforgottenallaboutit,\"whenshestoppedhimwithatiredgesture。
\"PerhapsIwaswrongtothink,that,afterIamgone,youwouldcaretotellhimanything。PerhapsI’mwrongtothinkofitatall,ortocarewhathewillthinkofme,exceptforthesakeofthechild——hischild,Rand——thatImustleavebehindme。HewillknowthatITneverabusedhim。No,Godblessitssweetheart!IT
neverwaswildandwickedandhateful,likeitscruel,crazymother。Andhewillloveit;andyou,perhaps,willloveittoo——
justalittle,Rand!Lookatit!\"Shetriedtoraisethehelplessbundlebesideherinherarms,butfailed。\"Youmustleanover,\"
shesaidfaintlytoRand。\"Itlookslikehim,doesn’tit?\"
Rand,withwondering,embarrassedeyes,triedtoseesomeresemblance,inthelittleblue-redoval,tothesad,wistfulfaceofhisbrother,whicheventhenwashauntinghimfromsomemysteriousdistance。Hekissedthechild’sforehead,buteventhensovaguelyandperfunctorily,thatthemothersighed,anddrewitclosertoherbreast。
\"Thedoctorsays,\"shecontinuedinacalmervoice,\"thatI’mnotdoingaswellasIoughtto。Idon’tthink,\"shefaltered,withsomethingofheroldbitterlaugh,\"thatI’meverdoingaswellasIoughtto,andperhapsit’snotstrangenowthatIdon’t。Andhesaysthat,incaseanythinghappenstome,Ioughttolookahead。
Ihavelookedahead。It’sadarklookahead,Rand——ahorrorofblackness,withoutkindfaces,withoutthebaby,without——withoutHIM!\"
Sheturnedherfaceaway,andlaiditonthebundlebyherside。
Itwassoquietinthecabin,that,throughtheopendoorbeyond,thefaint,rhythmicalmoanofthepinesbelowwasdistinctlyheard。
\"Iknowit’sfoolish;butthatiswhat’lookingahead’alwaysmeanttome,\"shesaid,withasigh。\"But,sincethedoctorhasbeengone,I’vetalkedtoMrs。Sol,andfindit’sforthebest。AndI
lookahead,andseemoreclearly。Ilookahead,andseemydisgraceremovedfarawayfromHIMandyou。Ilookahead,andseeyouandHElivingtogetherhappily,asyoudidbeforeIcamebetweenyou。Ilookahead,andseemypastlifeforgotten,myfaultsforgiven;andIthinkIseeyoubothlovingmybaby,andperhapslovingmealittleforitssake。Thankyou,Rand,thankyou!\"
ForRand’shandhadcaughthersbesidethepillow,andhewasstandingoverher,whiterthanshe。Somethinginthepressureofhishandemboldenedhertogoon,andevenlentacertainstrengthtohervoice。
\"WhenitcomestoTHAT,Rand,you’llnotletthesepeopletakethebabyaway。You’llkeepitHEREwithyouuntilHEcomes。AndsomethingtellsmethathewillcomewhenIamgone。You’llkeepithereinthepureairandsunlightofthemountain,andoutofthosewickeddepthsbelow;andwhenIamgone,andtheyaregone,andonlyyouandRuthandbabyarehere,maybeyou’llthinkthatitcametoyouinacloudonthemountain,——acloudthatlingeredonlylongenoughtodropitsburden,andfaded,leavingthesunlightanddewbehind。Whatisit,Rand?Whatareyoulookingat?\"
\"Iwasthinking,\"saidRandinastrangealteredvoice,\"thatI
musttroubleyoutoletmetakedownthosedudsandfurbelowsthathangonthewall,sothatIcangetatsometrapsofminebehindthem。\"Hetooksomearticlesfromthewall,replacedthedressesofMrs。Sol,andansweredMornie’slookofinquiry。
\"Iwasonlygettingatmypurseandmyrevolver,\"hesaid,showingthem。\"I’vegottogetsomestoresattheFerrybydaylight。\"
Morniesighed。\"I’mgivingyougreattrouble,Rand,Iknow;butitwon’tbeforlong。\"
Hemutteredsomething,tookherhandagain,andbadeher\"good-
night。\"Whenhereachedthedoor,helookedback。Thelightwasshiningfulluponherfaceasshelaythere,withherbabeonherbreast,bravely\"lookingahead。\"
IV。
THECLOUDSPASS。
ItwasearlymorningattheFerry。The\"upcoach\"hadpassed,withlightsunextinguished,andthe\"outsides\"stillasleep。TheferrymanhadgoneuptotheFerryMansionHouse,swinginghislantern,andhadfoundthesleepy-looking\"allnight\"bar-keeperonthepointofwithdrawingforthedayonamattressunderthebar。
AnIndianhalf-breed,porteroftheMansionHouse,waswashingoutthestainsofrecentnocturnaldissipationfromthebar-roomandveranda;afewbirdsweretwitteringonthecotton-woodsbesidetheriver;abolderfewhadalightedupontheveranda,andweretryingtoreconciletheexistenceofsomuchlemon-peelandcigar-stumpswiththeirideasofabeneficentCreator。Afaintearthlyfreshnessandperfumerosealongtheriverbanks。Deepshadowstilllayupontheoppositeshore;butinthedistance,fourmilesaway,MorningalongthelevelcrestofTableMountainwalkedwithrosytread。
Thesleepybar-keeperwasthatmorningdoomedtodisappointment;
forscarcelyhadthecoachpassed,whenstepswereheardupontheveranda,andaweary,dustytravellerthrewhisblanketandknapsacktotheporter,andthendroppedintoavacantarm-chair,withhiseyesfixedonthedistantcrestofTableMountain。Heremainedmotionlessforsometime,untilthebar-keeper,whohadalreadyconcoctedtheconventionalwelcomeoftheMansionHouse,appearedwithitinaglass,putituponthetable,glancedatthestranger,andthen,thoroughlyawake,criedout,——
\"RuthPinkney——orI’maChinaman!\"
Thestrangerliftedhiseyeswearily。Hollowcircleswerearoundtheirorbits;haggardlineswereinhischecks。ButitwasRuth。
Hetooktheglass,anddraineditatasingledraught。\"Yes,\"hesaidabsently,\"RuthPinkney,\"andfixedhiseyesagainonthedistantrosycrest。
\"Onyourwayuphome?\"suggestedthebar-keeper,followingthedirectionofRuth’seyes。
\"Perhaps。\"
\"Beenuponapasear,hain’tyer?Beenhavin’alittletearroundSacramento,——seein’thesights?\"
Ruthsmiledbitterly。\"Yes。\"
Thebar-keeperlingered,ostentatiouslywipingaglass。ButRuthagainbecameabstractedinthemountain,andthebarkeeperturnedaway。
Howpureandclearthatsummitlookedtohim!howrestfulandsteadfastwithserenityandcalm!howunlikehisownfeverish,dusty,travel-wornself!Aweekhadelapsedsincehehadlastlookeduponit,——aweekofdisappointment,ofanxiousfears,ofdoubts,ofwildimaginings,ofutterhelplessness。InhishopelessquestofthemissingMornie,hehad,infancy,seenthissereneeminencehauntinghisremorseful,passion-strickensoul。Andnow,withoutaclewtoguidehimtoherunknownhiding-place,hewasbackagain,tofacethebrotherwhomhehaddeceived,withonlytheconfessionofhisownweakness。Hardasitwastoloseforeverthefierce,reproachfulglancesofthewomanheloved,itwasstillharder,toamanofRuth’stemperament,tolookagainuponthefaceofthebrotherhefeared。Ahandlaiduponhisshoulderstartledhim。Itwasthebar-keeper。
\"Ifit’safairquestion,RuthPinkney,I’dliketoaskyehowlongyekalkilatetohangaroundtheFerryto-day。\"
\"Why?\"demandedRuthhaughtily。
\"Because,whateveryou’vebeenanddone,Iwantyetohaveasquareshow。OleNixonhasbeencavoortin’roundyerthelasttwodays,swearin’tokillyouonsightforrunnin’offwithhisdarter。
Sabe?Now,letmeaxyetwoquestions。FIRST,Areyouheeled?\"
Ruthrespondedtothisdialecticalinquiryaffirmativelybyputtinghishandonhisrevolver。
\"Good!Now,SECOND,Haveyougotthegalalongherewithyou?\"
\"No,\"respondedRuthinahollowvoice。
\"That’sbetteryet,\"saidtheman,withoutheedingthetoneofthereply。\"Awoman——andespeciallyTHEwomaninarowofthiskind——
handicapsamanawful。\"Hepaused,andtookuptheemptyglass。
\"Lookyer,RuthPinkney,I’masquareman,andI’llbesquarewithyou。SoI’lljusttellyouyou’vegotthedemdestoddsagin’ye。
Pr’apsyeknowit,anddon’tkeer。Well,theboysaroundyerareallsidin’withtheoldmanNixon。It’sthefirsttimetheoldripeverhadahandinhisfavor:sotheboyswillseefairplayforNixon,andagin’YOU。ButIreckonyoudon’tmindhim!\"
\"Solittle,Ishallneverpulltriggeronhim,\"saidRuthgravely。
Thebar-keeperstared,andrubbedhischinthoughtfully。\"Well,thar’sthatKanakaJoe,whousedtobesortersweetonMornie,——
he’sanuglydevil,——he’shelpin’theoldman。\"
ThesadlookfadedfromRuth’seyessuddenly。AcertainwildBerserkerrage——ataintoftheblood,inheritedfromheavenknowswhatOld-Worldancestry,whichhadmadethetwin-brothers’
Southwesterneccentricitiesrespectedinthesettlement——glowedinitsplace。Thebarkeepernotedit,andauguredalivelyfuturefortheday’sfestivities。Butitfadedagain;andRuth,asherose,turnedhesitatinglytowardshim。
\"HaveyouseenmybrotherRandlately?\"
\"Nary。\"
\"Hehasn’tbeenhere,orabouttheFerry?\"
\"Narytime。\"
\"Youhaven’theard,\"saidRuth,withafaintattemptatasmile,\"ifhe’sbeenaroundhereaskingafterme,——sorterlookingmeup,youknow?\"
\"Notmuch,\"returnedthebar-keeperdeliberately。\"EzfarezI
knowRand,——thatarbrothero’yours,——he’soneofyerhigh-tonedchapsezdoesn’tdrink,thinksbar-roomsispizen,andain’tthesorttocomeroundyer,andslingyarnswithme。\"
Ruthrose;butthehandthatheplaceduponthetable,albeitapowerfulone,trembledsothatitwaswithdifficultyheresumedhisknapsack。Whenhedidso,hisbentfigure,stoopingshoulders,andhaggardface,madehimappearanothermanfromtheonewhohadsatdown。Therewasaslighttouchofapologeticdeferenceandhumilityinhismannerashepaidhisreckoning,andslowlyandhesitatinglybegantodescendthesteps。
Thebar-keeperlookedafterhimthoughtfully。\"Well,dogmyskin!\"
heejaculatedtohimself,\"efIhadn’tseenthatman——thatsameRuthPinkney——straddleafriend’sbodyinthisyerveryroom,anddareawholecrowdtocomeon,I’dswarthathehadn’tanygritinhim。Thar’ssomethingup!\"
ButhereRuthreachedthelaststep,andturnedagain。
\"IfyouseeoldmanNixon,sayI’mintown;ifyouseethat————
————————\"(IregrettosaythatIcannotrepeathisexact,andbriefcharacterizationofthepresentconditionandnatalantecedentsofKanakaJoe),\"sayI’mlookingoutforhim,\"andwasgone。
Hewandereddowntheroad,towardstheonelong,stragglingstreetofthesettlement。Thefewpeoplewhomethimatthatearlyhourgreetedhimwithakindofconstrainedcivility;certaincautioussoulshurriedbywithoutseeinghim;allturnedandlookedafterhim;andafewfollowedhimatarespectfuldistance。AsomewhatnotoriouspracticaljokerandrecognizedwagattheFerryapparentlyawaitedhiscomingwithsomethingofinvitationandexpectation,but,catchingsightofRuth’shaggardfaceandblazingeyes,becameinstantlypractical,andbynomeansjocularinhisgreeting。Atthetopofthehill,Ruthturnedtolookoncemoreuponthedistantmountain,nowagainamerecloud-lineonthehorizon。Inthefirmbeliefthathewouldneveragainseethesunriseuponit,heturnedasideintoahazel-thicket,and,tearingoutafewleavesfromhispocket-book,wrotetwoletters,——onetoRand,andonetoMornie,butwhich,astheywereneverdelivered,shallnotburdenthisbriefchronicleofthateventfulday。For,whiletranscribingthem,hewasstartledbythesoundsofadozenpistol-shotsinthedirectionofthehotelhehadrecentlyquitted。
Somethinginthemeresoundprovokedtheoldhereditaryfightinginstinct,andsenthimtohisfeetwithabound,andaslightdistensionofthenostrils,andsniffingoftheair,notunknowntocertainmenwhobecomehalfintoxicatedbythesmellofpowder。Hequicklyfoldedhisletters,andaddressedthemcarefully,and,takingoffhisknapsackandblanket,methodicallyarrangedthemunderatree,withthelettersontop。Thenheexaminedthelockofhisrevolver,andthen,withthestepofamantenyearsyounger,leapedintotheroad。Hehadscarcelydonesowhenhewasseized,andbysheerforcedraggedintoablacksmith’sshopattheroadside。Heturnedhissavagefaceanddrawnweaponuponhisassailant,butwassurprisedtomeettheanxiouseyesofthebar-
keeperoftheMansionHouse。
\"Don’tbead————dfool,\"saidthemanquickly。\"Thar’sfiftyagin’youdownthar。Butwhyinh-lldidn’tyouwipeoutoldNixonwhenyouhadsuchagoodchance?\"
\"WipeoutoldNixon?\"repeatedRuth。
\"Yes;justnow,whenyouhadhimcovered。\"
\"What!\"
Thebar-keeperturnedquicklyuponRuth,staredathim,andthensuddenlyburstintoafitoflaughter。\"Well,I’veknowedyoutwoweretwins,butdamnmeifIeverthoughtI’dbesoldlikethis!\"
Andheagainburstintoaroaroflaughter。
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"demandedRuthsavagely。
\"WhatdoImean?\"returnedthebarkeeper。\"Why,Imeanthis。I
meanthatyourbrotherRand,asyoucallhim,he’zbin——forayoungfeller,andapiousfeller——doin’aboutthetallestkindo’
fightin’to-daythat’sbeendoneattheFerry。HelaidoutthatarKanakaJoeandtwoofhischums。Hewaspitchedintoonyourquarrel,andhetookitupforyoulikealittleman。Imanagedtodraghimoff,upyerinthehazel-bushforsafety,andoutyoupops,andIthoughtyouwashim。Hecan’tbefaraway。Halloo!
Therethey’recomin’;andthar’sthedoctor,tryingtokeepthemback!\"
Acrowdofangry,excitedfaces,filledtheroadsuddenly;butbeforethemDr。Duchesne,mounted,andwithapistolinhishand,opposedtheirfurtherprogress。
\"Backinthebush!\"whisperedthebarkeeper。\"Now’syourtime!\"
ButRuthstirrednot。\"Goyouback,\"hesaidinalowvoice,\"findRand,andtakehimaway。Iwillfillhisplacehere。\"Hedrewhisrevolver,andsteppedintotheroad。
Ashout,areport,andthespatterofreddustfromabulletnearhisfeet,toldhimhewasrecognized。Hestirrednot;butanothershout,andacry,\"Theretheyare——BOTHof’em!\"madehimturn。
HisbrotherRand,withasmileonhislipandfireinhiseye,stoodbyhisside。Neitherspoke。ThenRand,quietly,asofold,slippedhishandintohisbrother’sstrongpalm。Twoorthreebulletssangbythem;asplinterflewfromtheblacksmith’sshed:
butthebrothers,hardgrippingeachother’shands,andlookingintoeachother’sfaceswithaquietjoy,stoodtherecalmandimperturbable。
Therewasamomentarypause。ThevoiceofDr。Duchesneroseabovethecrowd。
\"Keepback,Isay!keepback!Orhearme!——forfiveyearsI’veworkedamongyou,andmendedandpatchedtheholesyou’vedrilledthrougheachother’scarcasses——Keepback,Isay!——orthenextmanthatpullstrigger,orstepsforward,willgetaholefrommethatnosurgeoncanstop。I’msickofyourbunglingballpractice!
Keepback!——or,bythelivingJingo,I’llshowyouwhereaman’svitalsare!\"
Therewasaburstoflaughterfromthecrowd,andforamomentthetwinswereforgotteninthisaudaciousspeechandcoollyimpertinentpresence。
\"That’sright!Nowletthatinfernaloldhypocriticaldrunkard,MatNixon,steptothefront。\"
Thecrowdpartedrightandleft,andhalfpushed,halfdraggedNixonbeforehim。
\"Gentlemen,\"saidthedoctor,\"thisisthemanwhohasjustshotatRandPinkneyforhidinghisdaughter。Now,Itellyou,gentlemen,andItellhim,thatforthelastweekhisdaughter,MornieNixon,hasbeenundermycareasapatient,andmyprotectionasafriend。
Ifthere’sanybodytobeshot,thejobmustbeginwithme!\"
Therewasanotherlaugh,andacryof\"BullyforoldSawbones!\"
Ruthstartedconvulsively,andRandansweredhislookwithaconfirmingpressureofhishand。
\"Thatisn’tall,gentlemen:thisdrunkenbrutehasjustshotatagentlemanwhoseonlyoffence,tomyknowledge,is,thathehas,forthelastweek,treatedherwithabrother’skindness,hastakenherintohisownhome,andcaredforherwantsasifshewerehisownsister。\"
Ruth’shandagaingraspedhisbrother’s。Randcoloredandhunghishead。
\"There’smoreyet,gentlemen。Itellyouthatthatgirl,MornieNixon,has,tomyknowledge,beentreatedlikealady,hasbeencaredforassheneverwascaredforinherfather’shouse,and,whilethatfatherhasbeenproclaiminghershameineverybar-roomattheFerry,hashadthesympathyandcare,nightandday,oftwoofthemostaccomplishedladiesoftheFerry,——Mrs。SolSaunders,gentlemen,andMissEuphemia。\"
Therewasashoutofapprobationfromthecrowd。Nixonwouldhaveslippedaway,butthedoctorstoppedhim。
\"Notyet!I’veonethingmoretosay。I’vetotellyou,gentlemen,onmyprofessionalwordofhonor,that,besidesbeinganoldhypocrite,thissameoldMatNixonistheungrateful,unnaturalGRANDFATHERofthefirstboyborninthedistrict。\"
Awildhuzzagreetedthedoctor’sclimax。ByacommonconsentthecrowdturnedtowardtheTwins,who,graspingeachother’shands,stoodapart。Thedoctornoddedhishead。ThenextmomenttheTwinsweresurrounded,andliftedinthearmsofthelaughingthrong,andborneintriumphtothebar-roomoftheMansionHouse。
\"Gentlemen,\"saidthebar-keeper,\"callforwhatyoulike:theMansionHousetreatsto-dayinhonorofitsbeingthefirsttimethatRandPinkneyhasbeenadmittedtothebar。\"……
Itwasagreed,that,asherconditionwasstillprecarious,thenewsshouldbebrokentohergraduallyandindirectly。TheindefatigableSolhadaprofessionalidea,whichwasnotdispleasingtotheTwins。Itbeingalovelysummerafternoon,thecouchofMorniewasliftedoutontheledge,andshelaytherebaskinginthesunlight,drinkinginthepureair,andlookingbravelyaheadinthedaylightasshehadinthedarkness,forhercouchcommandedaviewofthemountainflank。And,lyingthere,shedreamedapleasantdream,andinherdreamsawRandreturningupthemountain-trail。Shewashalfconsciousthathehadgoodnewsforher;and,whenheatlastreachedherbedside,hebegangentlyandkindlytotellhisnews。Butsheheardhimnot,orratherinherdreamwasmostoccupiedwithhiswaysandmanners,whichseemedunlikehim,yetinexpressiblysweetandtender。Thetearswerefastcominginhereyes,whenhesuddenlydroppedonhiskneesbesideher,threwawayRand’sdisguisinghatandcoat,andclaspedherinhisarms。AndbythatsheKNEWitwasRuth。
Butwhattheysaid;whathurriedwordsofmutualexplanationandforgivenesspassedbetweenthem;whatbitteryettenderrecollectionsofhiddenfearsanddoubts,nowforeverchasedawayintherainoftearsandjoyoussunshineofthatmountain-top,werethenwhispered;
whateverofthislittlechroniclethattothereaderseemsstrangeandinconsistent(asallhumanrecordmusteverbestrangeandimperfect,excepttotheactors)wasthenmadeclear,——wasneverdivulgedbythem,andmustremainwiththemforever。Therestofthepartyhadwithdrawn,andtheywerealone。ButwhenMornieturned,andplacedthebabyinitsfather’sarms,theyweresoisolatedintheirhappiness,thatthelowerworldbeneaththemmighthaveswunganddriftedaway,andleftthatmountain-topthebeginningandcreationofabetterplanet……
\"Youknowallaboutitnow,\"saidSolthenextday,explainingthepreviousepisodesofthishistorytoRuth:\"you’vegotthewholeplotbeforeyou。Itdraggedalittleinthesecondact,fortheactorsweren’tupintheirparts。Butforanamateurperformance,onthewhole,itwasn’tbad。\"
\"Idon’tknow,I’msure,\"saidRandimpulsively,\"howwe’dhavegotonwithoutEuphemia。It’stoobadshecouldn’tbehereto-day。\"
\"Shewantedtocome,\"saidSol;\"butthegentlemanshe’sengagedtocameupfromMarysvillelastnight。\"
\"Gentleman——engaged!\"repeatedRand,whiteandredbyturns。
\"Well,yes。Isay,’gentleman,’althoughhe’sinthevarietyprofession。Shealwayssaid,\"saidSol,quietlylookingatRand,\"thatshe’dnevermarryOUTofit。\"
ANHEIRESSOFREDDOG。
Thefirstintimationgivenoftheeccentricityofthetestatorwas,Ithink,inthespringof1854。Hewasatthattimeinpossessionofaconsiderableproperty,heavilymortgagedtoonefriend,andawifeofsomeattraction,onwhoseaffectionsanotherfriendheldanencumberinglien。Onedayitwasfoundthathehadsecretlydug,orcausedtobedug,adeeptrapbeforethefront-doorofhisdwelling,intowhichafewfriends,inthecourseoftheevening,casuallyandfamiliarlydropped。Thiscircumstance,slightinitself,seemedtopointtotheexistenceofacertainhumorintheman,whichmighteventuallygetintoliterature,althoughhiswife’slover——amanofquickdiscernment,whoselegwasbrokenbythefall——tookotherviews。Itwassomeweekslater,that,whilediningwithcertainotherfriendsofhiswife,heexcusedhimselffromthetabletoquietlyre-appearatthefront-windowwithathree-quarterinchhydraulicpipe,andastreamofwaterprojectedattheassembledcompany。Anattemptwasmadetotakepubliccognizanceofthis;butamajorityofthecitizensofRedDog,whowerenotatdinner,decidedthatamanhadarighttochoosehisownmethodsofdivertinghiscompany。Nevertheless,thereweresomehintsofhisinsanity;hiswiferecalledotheractsclearlyattributabletodementia;thecrippledloverarguedfromhisownexperiencethattheintegrityofherlimbscouldonlybesecuredbyleavingherhusband’shouse;andthemortgagee,fearingafurtherdamagetohisproperty,foreclosed。Butherethecauseofallthisanxietytookmattersintohisownhands,anddisappeared。
Whenwenextheardfromhim,hehad,insomemysteriousway,beenrelievedalikeofhiswifeandproperty,andwaslivingaloneatRockvillefiftymilesaway,andeditinganewspaper。Butthatoriginalityhehaddisplayedwhendealingwiththeproblemsofhisownprivatelife,whenappliedtopoliticsinthecolumnsof\"TheRockvilleVanguard\"wassingularlyunsuccessful。Anamusingexaggeration,purportingtobeanexactaccountofthemannerinwhichtheopposingcandidatehadmurderedhisChineselaundryman,was,Iregrettosay,answeredonlybyassaultandbattery。A
gratuitousandpurelyimaginativedescriptionofagreatreligiousrevivalinCalaveras,inwhichthesheriffofthecounty——anotoriouslyprofanesceptic——wasallegedtohavebeenthechiefexhorter,resultedonlyinthewithdrawalofthecountyadvertisingfromthepaper。Inthemidstofthispracticalconfusionhesuddenlydied。Itwasthendiscovered,asacrowningproofofhisabsurdity,thathehadleftawill,bequeathinghisentireeffectstoafreckle-facedmaid-servantattheRockvilleHotel。ButthatabsurditybecameseriouswhenitwasalsodiscoveredthatamongtheseeffectswereathousandsharesintheRisingSunMiningCompany,whichadayortwoafterhisdemise,andwhilepeoplewerestilllaughingathisgrotesquebenefaction,suddenlysprangintoopulenceandcelebrity。Threemillionsofdollarswasroughlyestimatedasthevalueoftheestatethuswantonlysacrificed。Foritisonlyfairtostate,asajusttributetotheenterpriseandenergyofthatyoungandthrivingsettlement,thattherewasnotprobablyasinglecitizenwhodidnotfeelhimselfbetterabletocontrolthedeceasedhumorist’sproperty。Somehadexpressedadoubtoftheirabilitytosupportafamily;othershadfeltperhapstookeenlythedeepresponsibilityrestinguponthemwhenchosenfromthepanelasjurors,andhadevadedtheirpublicduties;afewhaddeclinedofficeandalowsalary:butnooneshrankfromthepossibilityofhavingbeencalledupontoassumethefunctionsofPeggyMoffat,theheiress。
Thewillwascontested,——firstbythewidow,whoitnowappearedhadneverbeenlegallydivorcedfromthedeceased;nextbyfourofhiscousins,whoawoke,onlytoolate,toaconsciousnessofhismoralandpecuniaryworth。Butthehumblelegatee——asingularlyplain,unpretending,uneducatedWesterngirl——exhibitedadoggedpertinacityinclaimingherrights。Sherejectedallcompromises。
Aroughsenseofjusticeinthecommunity,whiledoubtingherabilitytotakecareofthewholefortune,suggestedthatsheoughttobecontentwiththreehundredthousanddollars。\"She’sboundtothrowevenTHATawayonsomedernedskunkofaman,natoorally;butthreemillionsistoomuchtogiveachapformakin’heronhappy。
It’sofferin’atemptationtocussedness。\"TheonlyopposingvoicetothiscounselcamefromthesardoniclipsofMr。JackHamlin。
\"Suppose,\"suggestedthatgentleman,turningabruptlyonthespeaker,——\"suppose,whenyouwontwentythousanddollarsofmelastFridaynight——supposethat,insteadofhandingyouoverthemoneyasIdid——supposeI’dgotuponmyhind-legs,andsaid,’Lookyer,BillWethersbee,you’read————dfool。IfIgiveyethattwentythousand,you’llthrowitawayinthefirstskin-gamein’Frisco,andhanditovertothefirstshort-cardsharpyou’llmeet。
There’sathousand,——enoughforyoutoflingaway,——takeitandget!’SupposewhatI’dsaidtoyouwasthefrozentruth,andyouknow’dit,wouldthathavebeenthesquarethingtoplayonyou?\"
ButhereWethersbeequicklypointedouttheinefficiencyofthecomparisonbystatingthatHEhadwonthemoneyfairlywithaSTAKE。\"Andhowdoyouknow,\"demandedHamlinsavagely,bendinghisblackeyesontheastoundedcasuist,——\"howdoyouknowthatthegalhezn’tputdownastake?\"Themanstammeredanunintelligiblereply。ThegamblerlaidhiswhitehandonWethersbee’sshoulder。
\"Lookyer,oldman,\"hesaid,\"everygalstakesherWHOLEpile,——
youcanbetyourlifeonthat,——whatever’sherlittlegame。Ifshetooktokeerdsinsteadofherfeelings,ifshe’dputup’chips’
insteado’bodyandsoul,she’dbusteverybank’twixtthisand’Frisco!Youhearme?\"
Somewhatofthisideawasconveyed,Ifearnotquiteassentimentally,toPeggyMoffatherself。ThebestlegalwisdomofSanFrancisco,retainedbythewidowandrelatives,tookoccasion,inaprivateinterviewwithPeggy,topointoutthatshestoodinthequasi-criminalattitudeofhavingunlawfullypractisedupontheaffectionsofaninsaneelderlygentleman,withaviewofgettingpossessionofhisproperty,andsuggestedtoherthatnovestigeofhermoralcharacterwouldremainafterthetrial,ifshepersistedinforcingherclaimstothatissue。ItissaidthatPeggy,onhearingthis,stoppedwashingtheplateshehadinherhands,and,twistingthetowelaroundherfingers,fixedhersmallpaleblueeyesatthelawyer。
\"Andezthatthekindo’chirpinthesecritterskeepup?\"
\"Iregrettosay,mydearyounglady,\"respondedthelawyer,\"thattheworldiscensorious。Imustadd,\"hecontinued,withengagingfrankness,\"thatweprofessionallawyersareapttostudytheopinionoftheworld,andthatsuchwillbethetheoryof——ourside。\"
\"Then,\"saidPeggystoutly,\"ezIallowI’vegottogointocourttodefendmycharacter,Imightaswellpackinthemthreemillionstoo。\"
ThereishearsayevidencethatPegaddedtothisspeechawishanddesireto\"bustthecrust\"ofhertraducers,and,remarkingthat\"thatwasthekindofhairpin\"shewas,closedtheconversationwithanunfortunateaccidenttotheplate,thatleftaseverecontusiononthelegalbrowofhercompanion。Butthisstory,popularinthebar-roomsandgulches,lackedconfirmationinhighercircles。Betterauthenticatedwasthelegendrelatedofaninterviewwithherownlawyer。Thatgentlemanhadpointedouttohertheadvantageofbeingabletoshowsomereasonablecauseforthesingulargenerosityofthetestator。
\"Although,\"hecontinued,\"thelawdoesnotgobackofthewillforreasonorcauseforitsprovisions,itwouldbeastrongpointwiththejudgeandjury——particularlyifthetheoryofinsanityweresetup——forustoshowthattheactwaslogicalandnatural。Ofcourseyouhave——Ispeakconfidently,MissMoffat——certainideasofyourownwhythelateMr。Bywayswassosingularlygeneroustoyou。\"
\"No,Ihaven’t,\"saidPegdecidedly。
\"Thinkagain。Hadhenotexpressedtoyou——youunderstandthatthisisconfidentialbetweenus,althoughIprotest,mydearyounglady,thatIseenoreasonwhyitshouldnotbemadepublic——hadhenotgivenutterancetosentimentsofanatureconsistentwithsomefuturematrimonialrelations?\"ButhereMissPeg’slargemouth,whichhadbeenslowlyrelaxingoverherirregularteeth,stoppedhim。
\"Ifyoumeanhewantedtomarryme——No!\"
\"Isee。Butwerethereanyconditions——ofcourseyouknowthelawtakesnocognizanceofanynotexpressedinthewill;butstill,forthesakeofmerecorroborationofthebequest——doyouknowofanyconditionsonwhichhegaveyoutheproperty?\"
\"Youmeandidhewantanythinginreturn?\"
\"Exactly,mydearyounglady。\"
Peg’sfaceononesideturnedadeepmagentacolor,ontheotheralightercherry,whilehernosewaspurple,andherforeheadanIndianred。Toaddtotheeffectofthisawkwardanddiscomposingdramaticexhibitionofembarrassment,shebegantowipeherhandsonherdress,andsatsilent。
\"Iunderstand,\"saidthelawyerhastily。\"Nomatter——theconditionsWEREfulfilled。\"
\"No!\"saidPegamazedly。\"Howcouldtheybeuntilhewasdead?\"
Itwasthelawyer’sturntocolorandgrowembarrassed。
\"HeDIDsaysomething,andmakesomeconditions,\"continuedPeg,withacertainfirmnessthroughherawkwardness;\"butthat’snobody’sbusinessbutmineandhis’n。Andit’snocallo’yoursortheirs。\"
\"But,mydearMissMoffat,iftheseveryconditionswereproofsofhisrightmind,yousurelywouldnotobjecttomakethemknown,ifonlytoenableyoutoputyourselfinaconditiontocarrythemout。\"
\"But,\"saidPegcunningly,\"s’poseyouandtheCourtdidn’tthink’emsatisfactory?S’poseyouthought’emQUEER?Eh?\"
Withthishelplesslimitationonthepartofthedefence,thecasecametotrial。Everybodyremembersit,——howforsixweeksitwasthedailyfoodofCalaverasCounty;howforsixweekstheintellectualandmoralandspiritualcompetencyofMr。JamesBywaystodisposeofhispropertywasdiscussedwithlearnedandformalobscurityinthecourt,andwithunletteredandindependentprejudicebycamp-firesandinbar-rooms。Attheendofthattime,whenitwaslogicallyestablishedthatatleastnine-tenthsofthepopulationofCalaveraswereharmlesslunatics,andeverybodyelse’sreasonseemedtototteronitsthrone,anexhaustedjurysuccumbedonedaytothepresenceofPeginthecourt-room。Itwasnotaprepossessingpresenceatanytime;buttheexcitement,andaninjudiciousattempttoornamentherself,broughtherdefectsintoaglaringreliefthatwasalmostunreal。Everyfreckleonherfacestoodoutandasserteditselfsingly;herpaleblueeyes,thatgavenoindicationofherforceofcharacter,wereweakandwandering,orstaredblanklyatthejudge;herover-sizedhead,broadatthebase,terminatinginthescantiestpossiblelight-
coloredbraidinthemiddleofhernarrowshoulders,wasashardanduninterestingasthewoodenspheresthattoppedtherailingagainstwhichshesat。
Thejury,whoforsixweekshadhadherdescribedtothembytheplaintiffsasanarch,wilyenchantress,whohadsappedthefailingreasonofJimByways,revoltedtoaman。Therewassomethingsoappallinglygratuitousinherplainness,thatitwasfeltthatthreemillionswasscarcelyacompensationforit。\"Efthatmoneywasgivetoher,sheearneditSURE,boys:itwasn’tnosoftnessoftheoldman,\"saidtheforeman。Whenthejuryretired,itwasfeltthatshehadclearedhercharacter:whentheyre-enteredtheroomwiththeirverdict,itwasknownthatshehadbeenawardedthreemillionsdamagesforitsdefamation。
Shegotthemoney。Butthosewhohadconfidentlyexpectedtoseehersquanderitweredisappointed:onthecontrary,itwaspresentlywhisperedthatshewasexceedinglypenurious。Thatadmirablewoman,Mrs。StiverofRedDog,whoaccompaniedhertoSanFranciscotoassistherinmakingpurchases,wasloudinherindignation。\"ShecaresmorefortwobitsthanIdoforfivedollars。Shewouldn’tbuyanythingatthe’CityofParis,’becauseitwas’tooexpensive,’andatlastriggedherselfout,aperfectguy,atsomecheapslop-shopsinMarketStreet。AndafterallthecareJaneandmetookofher,givingupourtimeandexperiencetoher,sheneversomuchasmadeJaneasinglepresent。\"Popularopinion,whichregardedMrs。Stiver’sattentionaspurelyspeculative,wasnotshockedatthisunprofitabledenouement;butwhenPegrefusedtogiveanythingtoclearthemortgageoffthenewPresbyterianChurch,andevendeclinedtotakesharesintheUnionDitch,consideredbymanyasanequallysacredandsafeinvestment,shebegantolosefavor。Nevertheless,sheseemedtobeasregardlessofpublicopinionasshehadbeenbeforethetrial;tookasmallhouse,inwhichshelivedwithanoldwomanwhohadoncebeenafellow-servant,onapparentlytermsofperfectequality,andlookedafterhermoney。IwishIcouldsaythatshedidthisdiscreetly;butthefactis,sheblundered。Thesamedoggedpersistencyshehaddisplayedinclaimingherrightswasvisibleinherunsuccessfulventures。Shesunktwohundredthousanddollarsinaworn-outshaftoriginallyprojectedbythedeceasedtestator;
sheprolongedthemiserableexistenceof\"TheRockvilleVanguard\"
longafterithadceasedtointerestevenitsenemies;shekeptthedoorsoftheRockvilleHotelopenwhenitscustomhaddeparted;shelosttheco-operationandfavorofafellow-capitalistthroughatriflingmisunderstandinginwhichshewasderelictandimpenitent;
shehadthreelawsuitsonherhandsthatcouldhavebeensettledforatrifle。Inotethesedefectstoshowthatshewasbynomeansaheroine。IquoteheraffairwithJackFolinsbeetoshowshewasscarcelytheaveragewoman。
Thathandsome,gracelessvagabondhadstrucktheoutskirtsofRedDoginacycloneofdissipationwhichlefthimastrandedbutstillratherinterestingwreckinaruinouscabinnotfarfromPegMoffat’svirginbower。Pale,crippledfromexcesses,withavoicequitetremulousfromsympatheticemotionmoreorlessdevelopedbystimulants,helingeredlanguidly,withmuchtimeonhishands,andonlyafewneighbors。Inthisfascinatingkindofgeneraldeshabilleofmorals,dress,andtheemotions,heappearedbeforePegMoffat。Morethanthat,heoccasionallylimpedwithherthroughthesettlement。ThecriticaleyeofRedDogtookinthesingularpair,——Jack,voluble,suffering,apparentlyovercomebyremorse,conscience,vituperation,anddisease;andPeg,open-
mouthed,high-colored,awkward,yetdelighted;andthecriticaleyeofRedDog,seeingthis,winkedmeaninglyatRockville。Nooneknewwhatpassedbetweenthem;butallobservedthatonesummerdayJackdrovedownthemainstreetofRedDoginanopenbuggy,withtheheiressofthattownbesidehim。Jack,albeitatrifleshaky,heldthereinswithsomethingofhisolddash;andMistressPeggy,inanenormousbonnetwithpearl-coloredribbonsashadedarkerthanherhair,holdinginhershort,pink-glovedfingersabouquetofyellowroses,absolutelyglowedcrimsonindistressfulgratificationoverthedash-board。Sothesetwofaredon,outofthebusysettlement,intothewoods,againsttherosysunset。
Possiblyitwasnotaprettypicture:nevertheless,asthedimaislesofthesolemnpinesopenedtoreceivethem,minersleanedupontheirspades,andmechanicsstoppedintheirtoiltolookafterthem。ThecriticaleyeofRedDog,perhapsfromthesun,perhapsfromthefactthatithaditselfoncebeenyounganddissipated,tookonakindlymoistureasitgazed。
Themoonwashighwhentheyreturned。ThosewhohadwaitedtocongratulateJackonthisnearprospectofafavorablechangeinhisfortuneswerechagrinedtofind,that,havingseentheladysafehome,hehadhimselfdepartedfromRedDog。NothingwastobegainedfromPeg,who,onthenextdayandensuingdays,kepttheeventenorofherway,sunkathousandortwomoreinunsuccessfulspeculation,andmadenochangeinherhabitsofpersonaleconomy。
Weekspassedwithoutanyapparentsequeltothisromanticidyl。