in a hollow of the hills-第12部分

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door　he　heard　the　sounds　of　laughter；albeit　innocent　and　heart…
free；which　seemed　so　inconsistent　with　the　gravity　of　the
situation　and　his　own　thoughts　that　he　was　strangely　shocked。　　But
he　was　still　more　disturbed　by　a　later　occurrence。　　In　his
watchfulness　of　the　movements　of　his　neighbor　he　had　been　equally
careful　of　his　own；　and　had　not　only　refrained　from　registering　his
name；　but　had　enjoined　secrecy　upon　the　landlord；　whom　he　knew。
Yet　the　next　morning　after　his　arrival；　the　porter　not　answering
his　bell　promptly　enough；　he　so　far　forgot　himself　as　to　walk　to
the　staircase；　which　was　near　the　lady's　room；　and　call　to　the
employee　over　the　balustrade。　　As　he　was　still　leaning　over　the
railing；　the　faint　creak　of　a　door；　and　a　singular　magnetic
consciousness　of　being　overlooked；　caused　him　to　turn　slowly；　but
only　in　time　to　hear　the　rustle　of　a　withdrawing　skirt　as　the　door
was　quickly　closed。　　In　an　instant　he　felt　the　full　force　of　his
foolish　heedlessness；　but　it　was　too　late。　　Had　the　mysterious
fugitive　recognized　him？　　Perhaps　not；　their　eyes　had　not　met；　and
his　face　had　been　turned　away。

He　varied　his　espionage　by　subterfuges；　which　his　knowledge　of　the
old　town　made　easy。　　He　watched　the　door　of　the　hotel；　himself
unseen；　from　the　windows　of　a　billiard　saloon　opposite；　which　he
had　frequented　in　former　days。　　Yet　he　was　surprised　the　same
afternoon　to　see　her；　from　his　coigne　of　vantage；　reentering　the
hotel；　where　he　was　sure　he　had　left　her　a　few　moments　ago。　　Had
she　gone　out　by　some　other　exit；or　had　she　been　disguised？　　But
on　entering　his　room　that　evening　he　was　confounded　by　an　incident
that　seemed　to　him　as　convincing　of　her　identity　as　it　was
audacious。　　Lying　on　his　pillow　were　a　few　dead　leaves　of　an
odorous　mountain　fern；　known　only　to　the　Sierras。　　They　were　tied
together　by　a　narrow　blue　ribbon；　and　had　evidently　been　intended
to　attract　his　attention。　　As　he　took　them　in　his　hand；　the
distinguishing　subtle　aroma　of　the　little　sylvan　hollow　in　the
hills　came　to　him　like　a　memory　and　a　revelation！　　He　summoned　the
chambermaid；　she　knew　nothing　of　them；　or　indeed　of　any　one　who　had
entered　his　room。　　He　walked　cautiously　into　the　hall；　the　lady's
sitting…room　door　was　open；　the　room　was　empty。　　〃The　occupant；〃
said　the　chambermaid；　〃had　left　that　afternoon。〃　　He　held　the　proof
of　her　identity　in　his　hand；　but　she　herself　had　vanished！　　That
she　had　recognized　him　there　was　now　no　doubt：　had　she　divined　the
real　object　of　his　quest；　or　had　she　accepted　it　as　a　mere
sentimental　gallantry　at　the　moment　when　she　knew　it　was　hopeless；
and　she　herself　was　perfectly　safe　from　pursuit？　　In　either　event
he　had　been　duped。　　He　did　not　know　whether　to　be　piqued；　angry；
or　relieved　of　his　irresolute　quest。

Nevertheless；　he　spent　the　rest　of　the　twilight　and　the　early
evening　in　fruitlessly　wandering　through　the　one　long　thoroughfare
of　the　town；　until　it　merged　into　the　bosky　Alameda；　or　spacious
grove；　that　connected　it　with　Santa　Luisa。　　By　degrees　his　chagrin
and　disappointment　were　forgotten　in　the　memories　of　the　past；
evoked　by　the　familiar　pathway。　　The　moon　was　slowly　riding
overhead；　and　silvering　the　carriage…way　between　the　straight　ebony
lines　of　trees；　while　the　footpaths　were　diapered　with　black　and
white　checkers。　　The　faint　tinkling　of　a　tram…car　bell　in　the
distance　apprised　him　of　one　of　the　few　innovations　of　the　past。
The　car　was　approaching　him；　overtook　him；　and　was　passing；　with
its　faintly　illuminated　windows；　when；　glancing　carelessly　up；　he
beheld　at　one　of　them　the　profile　of　the　face　which　he　had　just
thought　he　had　lost　forever！

He　stopped　for　an　instant；　not　in　indecision　this　time；　but　in　a
grim　resolution　to　let　no　chance　escape　him　now。　　The　car　was　going
slowly；　it　was　easy　to　board　it　now；　but　again　the　tinkle　of　the
bell　indicated　that　it　was　stopping　at　the　corner　of　a　road　beyond。
He　checked　his　pace；a　lady　alighted；it　was　she！　　She　turned
into　the　cross…street；　darkened　with　the　shadows　of　some　low
suburban　tenement　houses；　and　he　boldly　followed。　　He　was　fully
determined　to　find　out　her　secret；　and　even；　if　necessary；　to
accost　her　for　that　purpose。　　He　was　perfectly　aware　what　he　was
doing；　and　all　its　risks　and　penalties；　he　knew　the　audacity　of
such　an　introduction；　but　he　felt　in　his　left…hand　pocket　for　the
sprig　of　fern　which　was　an　excuse　for　it；　he　knew　the　danger　of
following　a　possible　confidante　of　desperadoes；　but　he　felt　in　his
right…hand　pocket　for　the　derringer　that　was　equal　to　it。　　They
were　both　there；　he　was　ready。

He　was　nearing　the　convent　and　the　oldest　and　most　ruinous　part　of
the　town。　　He　did　not　disguise　from　himself　the　gloomy　significance
of　this；　even　in　the　old　days　the　crumbling　adobe　buildings　that
abutted　on　the　old　garden　wall　of　the　convent　were　the　haunts　of
lawless　Mexicans　and　vagabond　peons。　　As　the　roadway　began　to　be
rough　and　uneven；　and　the　gaunt　outlines　of　the　sagging　roofs　of
tiles　stood　out　against　the　sky　above　the　lurking　shadows　of　ruined
doorways；　he　was　prepared　for　the　worst。　　As　the　crumbling　but
still　massive　walls　of　the　convent　garden　loomed　ahead；　the　tall；
graceful；　black…gowned　figure　he　was　following　presently　turned
into　the　shadow　of　the　wall　itself。　　He　quickened　his　pace；　lest　it
should　again　escape　him。　　Suddenly　it　stopped；　and　remained
motionless。　　He　stopped；　too。　　At　the　same　moment　it　vanished！

He　ran　quickly　forward　to　where　it　had　stood；　and　found　himself
before　a　large　iron　gate；　with　a　smaller　one　in　the　centre；　that
had　just　clanged　to　on　its　rusty　hinges。　　He　rubbed　his　eyes！the
place；　the　gate；　the　wall；　were　all　strangely　familiar！　　Then　he
stepped　back　into　the　roadway；　and　looked　at　it　again。　　He　was　not
mistaken。

He　was　standing　before　the　porter's　lodge　of　the　Convent　of　the
Sacred　Heart。


CHAPTER　V。


The　day　following　the　great　stagecoach　robbery　found　the　patient
proprietor　of　Collinson's　Mill　calm　and　untroubled　in　his　usual
seclusion。　　The　news　that　had　thrilled　the　length　and　breadth　of
Galloper's　Ridge　had　not　touched　the　leafy　banks　of　the　dried…up
river；　the　hue　and　cry　had　followed　the　stage…road；　and　no　courier
had　deemed　it　worth　his　while　to　diverge　as　far　as　the　rocky　ridge
which　formed　the　only　pathway　to　the　mill。　　That　day　Collinson's
solitude　had　been　unbroken　even　by　the　haggard　emigrant　from　the
valley；　with　his　old　monotonous　story　of　hardship　and　privation。
The　birds　had　flown　nearer　to　the　old　mill；　as　if　emboldened　by　the
unwonted　quiet。　　That　morning　there　had　been　the　half　human　imprint
of　a　bear's　foot　in　the　ooze　beside　the　mill…wheel；　and　coming　home
with　his　scant　stock　from　the　woodland　pasture；　he　had　found　a
golden　squirrela　beautiful；　airy　embodiment　of　the　brown　woods
itselfcalmly　seated　on　his　bar…counter；　with　a　biscuit　between
its　baby　hands。　　He　was　full　of　his　characteristic　reveries　and
abstractions　that　afternoon；　falling　into　them　even　at　his　wood…
pile；　leaning　on　his　axeso　still　that　an　emerald…throated　lizard；
who　had　slid　upon　the　log；　went　to　sleep　under　the　forgotten
stroke。

But　at　nightfall　the　wind　arose；at　first　as　a　distant　murmur
along　the　hillside；　that　died　away　before　it　reached　the　rocky
ledge；　then　it　rocked　the　tops　of　the　tall　redwoods　behind　the
mill；　but　left　the　mill　and　the　dried　leaves　that　lay　in　the　river…
bed　undisturbed。　　Then　the　murmur　was　prolonged；　until　it　became
the　continuous　trouble　of　some　far…off　sea；　and　at　last　the　wind
possessed　the　ledge　itself；　driving　the　smoke　down　the　stumpy
chimney　of　the　mill；　rattling　the　sun…warped　shingles　on　the　roof；
stirring　the　inside　rafters　with　cool　breaths；　and　singing　over　the
rough　projections　of　the　outside　eaves。　　At　nine　o'clock　he　rolled
himself　up　in　his　blankets　before　the　fire；　as　was　his　wont；　and
fell　asleep。

It　was　past　midnight　when　he　was　awakened　by　the　familiar　clatter
of　boulders　down　the　grade；　the　usual　simulation　of　a　wild　rush
from　without　that　encompassed　the　whole　mill；　even　to　that　heavy
impact　against　the　door；　which　he　had　heard　once　before。　　In　this
he　recognized　merely　the　ordinary　phenomena　of　his　experience；　and
only　turned　over　to　sleep　again。　　But　this　time　the　door　rudely
fell　in　upon　him；　and　a　figure　strode　over　his　prostrate　body；　with
a　gun　leveled　at　his　head。

He　sprang　sideways　for　his　own　weapon；　which　stood　by　the　hearth。
In　another　second　that　action　would　have　been　his　last；　and　the
solitude　of　Seth　Collinson　might　have　remained　henceforward
unbroken　by　any　mortal。　　But　the　gun　of　the　first　figure　was
knocked　sharply　upward　by　a　second　man；　and　the　one　and　only　shot
fired　that　night　sped　harmlessly　to　the　roof。　　With　the　report　he
felt　his　arms　gripped　tightly　behind　him；　through　the　smoke　he　saw
dimly　that　the　room　was　filled　with　masked　and　armed　men；　and　in
another　moment　he　was　pinioned　and　thrust　into　his　empty　armchair。
At　a　signal　three　of　the　men　left　the　room；　and　he　could　hear　them
exploring　the　other　rooms　and　outhouses。　　Then　the　two　men　who　had
been　standing　beside　him　fell　back　with　a　certain　disciplined
precision；　as　a　smooth…chinned　man　advanced　from　the　open　door。
Going　to　the　bar；　he　poured　out　a　glass　of　whiskey；　tossed　it　off
deliberately；　and；　standing　in　front　of　Collinson；　with　his
shoulder　against　the　chimney　and　his　hand　resting　lightly　on　his
hip；　cleared　his　throat。　　Had　Collinson　been　an　observant　man；　he
would　have　noticed　that　the　two　men　dropped　their　eyes　and　moved
their　feet　with　a　half　impatient；　perfunctory　air　of　waiting。　　Had
he　witnessed　the　stage…robbery；　he　would　have　recognized　in　the
smooth…faced　man　the　presence　of　〃the　orator。〃　　But　he　only　gazed
at　him　with　his　dull；　imperturbable　patience。

〃We　regret　exceedingly　to　have　to　use　force　to　a　gentleman　in　his
own　house；〃　began　the　orator　blandly；　〃but　we　feel　it　our　duty　to
prevent　a　repetition　of　the　unhappy　incident　which　occurred　as　we
entered。　　We　desire　that　you　should　answer　a　few　questions；　and　are
deeply　grateful　that　you　are　still　able　to　do　so；which　seemed
extremely　improbable　a　moment　or　two　ago。〃　　He　paused；　coughed；　and
leaned　back　against　the　chimney。　　〃How