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kindness of Sol had excluded from their intercourse on the
mountain； stammered； 〃as YOU do； I meant。〃
The 〃Pet〃 tossed her head a little。 〃Oh！ I don't know her at all
except through Sol。〃
Rand stared hard at this。 The 〃Pet；〃 who was looking at him
intently； said； 〃Show me the place where you saw Mornie clinging
that night。〃
〃It's dangerous；〃 suggested Rand。
〃You mean I'd be afraid！ Try me！ I don't believe she was SO
dreadfully frightened！〃
〃Why？〃 asked Rand； in astonishment。
〃Ohbecause〃
Rand sat down in vague wonderment。
〃Show it to me；〃 continued the 〃Pet；〃 〃orI'll find it ALONE！〃
Thus challenged； he rose； and； after a few moments' climbing； stood
with her upon the trail。 〃You see that thorn…bush where the rock
has fallen away。 It was just there。 It is not safe to go farther。
No； really！ Miss Euphemia！ Please don't！ It's almost certain
death！〃
But the giddy girl had darted past him； and； face to the wall of
the cliff； was creeping along the dangerous path。 Rand followed
mechanically。 Once or twice the trail crumbled beneath her feet；
but she clung to a projecting root of chaparral； and laughed。 She
had almost reached her elected goal； when； slipping； the
treacherous chaparral she clung to yielded in her grasp； and Rand；
with a cry； sprung forward。
But the next instant she quickly transferred her hold to a cleft in
the cliff； and was safe。 Not so her companion。 The soil beneath
him； loosened by the impulse of his spring； slipped away： he was
falling with it； when she caught him sharply with her disengaged
hand； and together they scrambled to a more secure footing。
〃I could have reached it alone；〃 said the 〃Pet；〃 〃if you'd left me
alone。〃
〃Thank Heaven； we're saved！〃 said Rand gravely。
〃AND WITHOUT A ROPE；〃 said Miss Euphemia significantly。
Rand did not understand her。 But； as they slowly returned to the
summit； he stammered out the always difficult thanks of a man who
has been physically helped by one of the weaker sex。 Miss Euphemia
was quick to see her error。
〃I might have made you lose your footing by catching at you；〃 she
said meekly。 〃But I was so frightened for you； and could not help
it。〃
The superior animal； thoroughly bamboozled； thereupon complimented
her on her dexterity。
〃Oh； that's nothing！〃 she said； with a sigh。 〃I used to do the
flying…trapeze business with papa when I was a child； and I've not
forgotten it。〃 With this and other confidences of her early life；
in which Rand betrayed considerable interest； they beguiled the
tedious ascent。 〃I ought to have made you carry me up；〃 said the
lady； with a little laugh； when they reached the summit； 〃but you
haven't known me as long as you have Mornie； have you？〃 With this
mysterious speech she bade Rand 〃good…night；〃 and hurried off to
the cabin。
And so a week passed by；the week so dreaded by Rand； yet passed
so pleasantly； that at times it seemed as if that dread were only a
trick of his fancy； or as if the circumstances that surrounded him
were different from what he believed them to be。 On the seventh
day the doctor had staid longer than usual； and Rand； who had been
sitting with Euphemia on the ledge by the shaft； watching the
sunset； had barely time to withdraw his hand from hers； as Mrs。
Sol； a trifle pale and wearied…looking； approached him。
〃I don't like to trouble you；〃 she said；indeed； they had seldom
troubled him with the details of Mornie's convalescence； or even
her needs and requirements；〃but the doctor is alarmed about
Mornie； and she has asked to see you。 I think you'd better go in
and speak to her。 You know；〃 continued Mrs。 Sol delicately； 〃you
haven't been in there since the night she was taken sick； and maybe
a new face might do her good。〃
The guilty blood flew to Rand's face as he stammered； 〃I thought
I'd be in the way。 I didn't believe she cared much to see me。 Is
she worse？〃
〃The doctor is looking very anxious；〃 said Mrs。 Sol simply。
The blood returned from Rand's face； and settled around his heart。
He turned very pale。 He had consoled himself always for his
complicity in Ruth's absence； that he was taking good care of
Mornie； orwhat is considered by most selfish natures an
equivalentpermitting or encouraging some one else to 〃take good
care of her；〃 but here was a contingency utterly unforeseen。 It
did not occur to him that this 〃taking good care〃 of her could
result in anything but a perfect solution of her troubles； or that
there could be any future to her condition but one of recovery。
But what if she should die？ A sudden and helpless sense of his
responsibility to Ruth； to HER； brought him trembling to his feet。
He hurried to the cabin； where Mrs。 Sol left him with a word of
caution： 〃You'll find her changed and quiet；very quiet。 If I was
you； I wouldn't say anything to bring back her old self。〃
The change which Rand saw was so great； the face that was turned to
him so quiet； that； with a new fear upon him； he would have
preferred the savage eyes and reckless mien of the old Mornie whom
he hated。 With his habitual impulsiveness he tried to say
something that should express that fact not unkindly； but faltered；
and awkwardly sank into the chair by her bedside。
〃I don't wonder you stare at me now；〃 she said in a far…off voice。
〃It seems to you strange to see me lying here so quiet。 You are
thinking how wild I was when I came here that night。 I must have
been crazy； I think。 I dreamed that I said dreadful things to you；
but you must forgive me； and not mind it。 I was crazy then。〃 She
stopped； and folded the blanket between her thin fingers。 〃I
didn't ask you to come here to tell you that； or to remind you of
it； butbut when I was crazy； I said so many worse； dreadful
things of HIM； and youYOU will be left behind to tell him of it。〃
Rand was vaguely murmuring something to the effect that 〃he knew
she didn't mean anything；〃 that 〃she musn't think of it again；〃
that 〃he'd forgotten all about it；〃 when she stopped him with a
tired gesture。
〃Perhaps I was wrong to think； that； after I am gone； you would
care to tell him anything。 Perhaps I'm wrong to think of it at
all； or to care what he will think of me； except for the sake of
the childhis child； Randthat I must leave behind me。 He will
know that IT never abused him。 No； God bless its sweet heart！ IT
never was wild and wicked and hateful； like its cruel； crazy
mother。 And he will love it； and you； perhaps； will love it too
just a little； Rand！ Look at it！〃 She tried to raise the helpless
bundle beside her in her arms； but failed。 〃You must lean over；〃
she said faintly to Rand。 〃It looks like him； doesn't it？〃
Rand； with wondering； embarrassed eyes； tried to see some
resemblance； in the little blue…red oval； to the sad； wistful face
of his brother； which even then was haunting him from some
mysterious distance。 He kissed the child's forehead； but even then
so vaguely and perfunctorily； that the mother sighed； and drew it
closer to her breast。
〃The doctor says；〃 she continued in a calmer voice； 〃that I'm not
doing as well as I ought to。 I don't think；〃 she faltered； with
some