the twins of table mountain-第6部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


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
feared　this；　had　recalled　the　few　infelicitous　relations；　legal　and
illegal；　which　were　common　to　the　adjoining　camp；the　flagrantly
miserable　life　of　the　husband　of　a　San　Francisco　anonyma　who　lived
in　style　at　the　Ferry；　the　shameful　carousals　and　more　shameful
quarrels　of　the　Frenchman　and　Mexican　woman　who　〃kept　house〃　at
〃the　Crossing；〃　the　awful　spectacle　of　the　three　half…bred　Indian
children　who　played　before　the　cabin　of　a　fellow　miner　and
townsman。　　Thank　Heaven；　the　Eagle's　Nest　on　Table　Mountain　should
never　be　pointed　at　from　the　valley　as　another

A　heavy　hand　upon　his　arm　brought　him　trembling　to　his　feet。　　He
turned；　and　met　the　half…anxious；　half…contemptuous　glance　of　the
doctor。

〃I'm　sorry　to　disturb　you；〃　he　said　dryly；　〃but　it's　about　time　you
or　somebody　else　put　in　an　appearance　at　that　cabin。　　Luckily　for
HER；　she's　one　woman　in　a　thousand；　has　had　her　wits　about　her
better　than　some　folks　I　know；　and　has　left　me　little　to　do　but
make　her　comfortable。　　But　she's　gone　through　too　much；fought　her
little　fight　too　gallantly；is　altogether　too　much　of　a　trump　to
be　played　off　upon　now。　　So　rise　up　out　of　that；　young　man；　pick　up
your　scattered　faculties；　and　fetch　a　womansome　sensible　creature
of　her　own　sexto　look　after　her；　for；　without　wishing　to　be
personal；　I'm　dd　if　I　trust　her　to　the　likes　of　you。〃

There　was　no　mistaking　Dr。　Duchesne'　s　voice　and　manner；　and　Rand
was　affected　by　it；　as　most　people　were　throughout　the　valley　of
the　Stanislaus。　　But　he　turned　upon　him　his　frank　and　boyish　face；
and　said　simply；　〃But　I　don't　know　any　woman；　or　where　to　get　one。〃

The　doctor　looked　at　him　again。　　〃Well；　I'll　find　you　some　one；〃　he
said；　softening。

〃Thank　you！〃　said　Rand。

The　doctor　was　disappearing。　　With　an　effort　Rand　recalled　him。
〃One　moment；　doctor。〃　　He　hesitated；　and　his　cheeks　were　glowing。
〃You'll　please　say　nothing　about　this　down　there〃he　pointed　to
the　valley〃for　a　time。　　And　you'll　say　to　the　woman　you　send〃

Dr。　Duchesne；　whose　resolute　lips　were　sealed　upon　the　secrets　of
half　Tuolumne　County；　interrupted　him　scornfully。　　〃I　cannot　answer
for　the　womanyou　must　talk　to　her　yourself。　　As　for　me；　generally
I　keep　my　professional　visits　to　myself；　but〃　he　laid　his　hand　on
Rand's　arm〃if　I　find　out　you're　putting　on　any　airs　to　that　poor
creature；　if；　on　my　next　visit；　her　lips　or　her　pulse　tell　me　you
haven't　been　acting　on　the　square　to　her；　I'll　drop　a　hint　to
drunken　old　Nixon　where　his　daughter　is　hidden。　　I　reckon　she　could
stand　his　brutality　better　than　yours。　　Good…night！〃

In　another　moment　he　was　gone。　　Rand；　who　had　held　back　his　quick
tongue；　feeling　himself　in　the　power　of　this　man；　once　more　alone；
sank　on　a　rock；　and　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。　　Recalling
himself　in　a　moment；　he　rose；　wiped　his　hot　eyelids；　and　staggered
toward　the　cabin。　　It　was　quite　still　now。　　He　paused　on　the
topmost　step；　and　listened：　there　was　no　sound　from　the　ledge；　or
the　Eagle's　Nest　that　clung　to　it。　　Half　timidly　he　descended　the
winding　steps；　and　paused　before　the　door　of　the　cabin。　　〃Mornie；〃
he　said；　in　a　dry；　metallic　voice；　whose　only　indication　of　the
presence　of　sickness　was　in　the　lowness　of　its　pitch；〃Mornie！〃
There　was　no　reply。　　〃Mornie；〃　he　repeated　impatiently；　〃it's　me；
Rand。　　If　you　want　anything；　you're　to　call　me。　　I　am　just
outside。〃　　Still　no　answer　came　from　the　silent　cabin。　　He　pushed
open　the　door　gently；　hesitated；　and　stepped　over　the　threshold。

A　change　in　the　interior　of　the　cabin　within　the　last　few　hours
showed　a　new　presence。　　The　guns；　shovels；　picks；　and　blankets　had
disappeared；　the　two　chairs　were　drawn　against　the　wall；　the　table
placed　by　the　bedside。　　The　swinging…lantern　was　shaded　towards　the
bed；the　object　of　Rand's　attention。　　On　that　bed；　his　brother's
bed；　lay　a　helpless　woman；　pale　from　the　long　black　hair　that
matted　her　damp　forehead；　and　clung　to　her　hollow　cheeks。　　Her　face
was　turned　to　the　wall；　so　that　the　softened　light　fell　upon　her
profile；　which　to　Rand　at　that　moment　seemed　even　noble　and　strong。
But　the　next　moment　his　eye　fell　upon　the　shoulder　and　arm　that　lay
nearest　to　him；　and　the　little　bundle；　swathed　in　flannel；　that　it
clasped　to　her　breast。　　His　brow　grew　dark　as　he　gazed。　　The
sleeping　woman　moved。　　Perhaps　it　was　an　instinctive　consciousness
of　his　presence；　perhaps　it　was　only　the　current　of　cold　air
from　the　opened　door：　but　she　shuddered　slightly；　and；　still
unconscious；　drew　the　child　as　if　away　from　HIM；　and　nearer　to　her
breast。　　The　shamed　blood　rushed　to　Rand's　face；　and　saying　half
aloud；　〃I'm　not　going　to　take　your　precious　babe　away　from　you；〃　he
turned　in　half…boyish　pettishness　away。　　Nevertheless　he　came　back
again　shortly　to　the　bedside；　and　gazed　upon　them　both。　　She
certainly　did　look　altogether　more　ladylike；　and　less　aggressive；
lying　there　so　still：　sickness；　that　cheap　refining　process　of　some
natures；　was　not　unbecoming　to　her。　　But　this　bundle！　　A　boyish
curiosity；　stronger　than　even　his　strong　objection　to　the　whole
episode；　was　steadily　impelling　him　to　lift　the　blanket　from　it。
〃I　suppose　she'd　waken　if　I　did；〃　said　Rand；　〃but　I'd　like　to　know
what　right　the　doctor　had　to　wrap　it　up　in　my　best　flannel　shirt。〃
This　fresh　grievance；　the　fruit　of　his　curiosity；　sent　him　away
again　to　meditate　on　the　ledge。　　After　a　few　moments　he　returned
again；　opened　the　cupboard　at　the　foot　of　the　bed　softly；　took
thence　a　piece　of　chalk；　and　scrawled　in　large　letters　upon　the
door　of　the　cupboard；　〃If　you　want　anything；　sing　out：　I'm　just
outside。RAND。〃　　This　done；　he　took　a　blanket　and　bear…skin　from
the　corner；　and　walked　to　the　door。　　But　here　he　paused；　looked
back　at　the　inscription　（evidently　not　satisfied　with　it）；
returned；　took　up　the　chalk；　added　a　line；　but　rubbed　it　out　again；
repeated　this　operation　a　few　times　until　he　produced　the　polite
postscript；〃Hope　you'll　be　better　soon。〃　　Then　he　retreated　to
the　ledge；　spread　the　bear…skin　beside　the　door；　and；　rolling
himself　in　a　bla