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and trembling。 For it was Barker's custom to endow all those he
cared for with his own sensitiveness； and it was not like him to
reflect that the woman who had so recklessly speculated against his
opinion would scarcely fear his reproaches in her defeat。 In the
fullness of his heart he telegraphed to her in case she had not yet
left Boomville： 〃All right。 Have heard news。 Understand perfectly。
Don't worry。 Come to me。〃 Then he left the hotel by the stable
entrance in order to evade the guests who had congregated on the
veranda； and made his way to a little wooded crest which he knew
commanded a view of the two roads from Boomville。 Here he
determined to wait and intercept her before she reached the hotel。
He knew that many of the guests were aware of his wife's
speculations with Van Loo； and that he was her broker。 He wished to
spare her running the gauntlet of their curious stares and comments
as she drove up alone。 As he was climbing the slope the coach from
Sacramento dashed past him on the road below； but he knew that it
had changed horses at Boomville at four o'clock； and that his tired
wife would not have availed herself of it at that hour； particularly
as she could not have yet received the fateful news。 He threw
himself under a large pine； and watched the stagecoach disappear as
it swept round into the courtyard of the hotel。
He sat there for some moments with his eyes bent upon the two forks
of the red road that diverged below him； but which appeared to
become whiter and more dazzling as he searched their distance。
There was nothing to be seen except an occasional puff of dust
which eventually revealed a horseman or a long trailing cloud out
of which a solitary mule； one of a pack…train of six or eight；
would momentarily emerge and be lost again。 Then he suddenly heard
his name called； and； looking up； saw Mrs。 Horncastle； who had
halted a few paces from him between two columns of the long…drawn
aisle of pines。
In that mysterious half…light she seemed such a beautiful and
goddess…like figure that his consciousness at first was unable to
grasp anything else。 She was always wonderfully well dressed； but
the warmth and seclusion of this mountain morning had enabled her
to wear a light gown of some delicate fabric which set off the
grace of her figure； and even pardoned the rural coquetry of a
silken sash around her still slender waist。 An open white parasol
thrown over her shoulder made a nimbus for her charming head and
the thick coils of hair under her lace…edged hat。 He had never
seen her look so beautiful before。 And that thought was so plainly
in his frank face and eyes as he sprang to his feet that it brought
a slight rise of color to her own cheek。
〃I saw you climbing up here as I passed in the coach a few minutes
ago；〃 she said； with a smile； 〃and as soon as I had shaken the dust
off I followed you。〃
〃Where's Kitty？〃 he stammered。
The color faded from her face as it had come； and a shade of
something like reproach crept into her dark eyes。 And whatever it
had been her purpose to say； or however carefully she might have
prepared herself for this interview； she was evidently taken aback
by the sudden directness of the inquiry。 Barker saw this as
quickly； and as quickly referred it to his own rudeness。 His whole
soul rushed in apology to his face as he said； 〃Oh； forgive me！ I
was anxious about Kitty； indeed； I had thought of coming again to
Boomville； for you've heard the news； of course？ Van Loo is a
defaulter； and has run away with the poor child's money。〃
Mrs。 Horncastle had heard the news at the hotel。 She paused a
moment to collect herself； and then said slowly and tentatively；
with a watchful intensity in her eyes； 〃Mrs。 Barker went； I think；
to the Divide〃
But she was instantly interrupted by the eager Barker。 〃I see。 I
thought of that at once。 She went directly to the company's
offices to see if she could save anything from the wreck before she
saw me。 It was like her； poor girl！ And youyou；〃 he went on
eagerly； his whole face beaming with gratitude；〃you； out of your
goodness； came here to tell me。〃 He held out both hands and took
hers in his。
For a moment Mrs。 Horncastle was speechless and vacillating。 She
had often noticed before that it was part of the irony of the
creation of such a simple nature as Barker's that he was not only
open to deceit； but absolutely seemed to invite it。 Instead of
making others franker； people were inclined to rebuke his credulity
by restraint and equivocation on their own part。 But the evasion
thus offered to her； although only temporary； was a temptation she
could not resist。 And it prolonged an interview that a ruthless
revelation of the truth might have shortened。
〃She did not tell me she was going there；〃 she replied still
evasively； 〃and； indeed；〃 she added； with a burst of candor still
more dangerous； 〃I only learned it from the hotel clerk after she
was gone。 But I want to talk to you about her relations to Van
Loo；〃 she said； with a return of her former intensity of gaze； 〃and
I thought we would be less subject to interruption here than at the
hotel。 Only I suppose everybody knows this place； and any of those
flirting couples are likely to come here。 Besides；〃 she added；
with a little half…hysterical laugh and a slight shiver； as she
looked up at the high interlacing boughs above her head； 〃it's as
public as the aisles of a church； and really one feels as if one
were 'speaking out' in meeting。 Isn't there some other spot a
little more secluded； where we could sit down；〃 she went on； as she
poked her parasol into the usual black gunpowdery deposit of earth
which mingled with the carpet of pine…needles beneath her feet；
〃and not get all sticky and dirty？〃
Barker's eyes sparkled。 〃I know every foot of this hill； Mrs。
Horncastle；〃 he said； 〃and if you will follow me I'll take you to
one of the loveliest nooks you ever dreamed of。 It's an old Indian
spring now forgotten； and I think known only to me and the birds。
It's not more than ten minutes from here； only〃he hesitated as he
caught sight of the smart French bronze buckled shoe and silken
ankle which Mrs。 Horncastle's gathering up of her dainty skirts
around her had disclosed〃it may be a little rough and dusty going
to your feet。〃
But Mrs。 Horncastle pointed out that she had already irretrievably
ruined her shoes and stockings in climbing up to him；although
Barker could really distinguish no diminution of their freshness；
and that she might as well go on。 Whereat they both passed down
the long aisle of slope to a little hollow of manzanita； which
again opened to a view of Black Spur； but left the hotel hidden。
〃What time did Kitty go？〃 began Barker eagerly； when they were half
down the slope。
But here Mrs。 Horncastle's foot slipped upon the glassy pine…
needles； and not only stopped an answer； but obliged B