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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃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
something of her old bitter laugh； 〃that I'm ever doing as well as
I ought to； and perhaps it's not strange now that I don't。 And he
says that； in case anything happens to me； I ought to look ahead。
I have looked ahead。 It's a dark look ahead； Randa horror of
blackness； without kind faces； without the baby； withoutwithout
HIM！〃
She turned her face away； and laid it on the bundle by her side。
It was so quiet in the cabin； that； through the open door beyond；
the faint； rhythmical moan of the pines below was distinctly heard。
〃I know it's foolish； but that is what 'looking ahead' always meant
to me；〃 she said； with a sigh。 〃But； since the doctor has been
gone； I've talked to Mrs。 Sol； and find it's for the best。 And I
look ahead； and see more clearly。 I look ahead； and see my
disgrace removed far away from HIM and you。 I look ahead； and see
you and HE living together happily； as you did before I came
between you。 I look ahead； and see my past life forgotten； my
faults forgiven； and I think I see you both loving my baby； and
perhaps loving me a little for its sake。 Thank you； Rand； thank
you！〃
For Rand's hand had caught hers beside the pillow； and he was
standing over her； whiter than she。 Something in the pressure of
his hand emboldened her to go on； and even lent a certain strength
to her voice。
〃When it comes to THAT； Rand； you'll not let these people take the
baby away。 You'll keep it HERE with you until HE comes。 And
something tells me that he will come when I am gone。 You'll keep
it here in the pure air and sunlight of the mountain； and out of
those wicked depths below； and when I am gone； and they are gone；
and only you and Ruth and baby are here； maybe you'll think that it
came to you in a cloud on the mountain；a cloud that lingered only
long enough to drop its burden； and faded； leaving the sunlight and
dew behind。 What is it； Rand？ What are you looking at？〃
〃I was thinking；〃 said Rand in a strange altered voice； 〃that I
must trouble you to let me take down those duds and furbelows that
hang on the wall； so that I can get at some traps of mine behind
them。〃 He took some articles from the wall； replaced the dresses
of Mrs。 Sol； and answered Mornie's look of inquiry。
〃I was only getting at my purse and my revolver；〃 he said； showing
them。 〃I've got to get some stores at the Ferry by daylight。〃
Mornie sighed。 〃I'm giving you great trouble； Rand； I know； but it
won't be for long。〃
He muttered something； took her hand again； and bade her 〃good…
night。〃 When he reached the door； he looked back。 The light was
shining full upon her face as she lay there； with her babe on her
breast； bravely 〃looking ahead。〃
IV。
THE CLOUDS PASS。
It was early morning at the Ferry。 The 〃up coach〃 had passed； with
lights unextinguished； and the 〃outsides〃 still asleep。 The
ferryman had gone up to the Ferry Mansion House； swinging his
lantern； and had found the sleepy…looking 〃all night〃 bar…keeper on
the point of withdrawing for the day on a mattress under the bar。
An Indian half…breed； porter of the Mansion House； was washing out
the stains of recent nocturnal dissipation from the bar…room and
veranda； a few birds were twittering on the cotton…woods beside the
river； a bolder few had alighted upon the veranda； and were trying
to reconcile the existence of so much lemon…peel and cigar…stumps
with their ideas of a beneficent Creator。 A faint earthly
freshness and perfume rose along the river banks。 Deep shadow
still lay upon the opposite shore； but in the distance； four miles
away； Morning along the level crest of Table Mountain walked with
rosy tread。
The sleepy bar…keeper was that morning doomed to disappointment；
for scarcely had the coach passed； when steps were heard upon the
veranda； and a weary； dusty traveller threw his blanket and
knapsack to the porter； and then dropped into a vacant arm…chair；
with his eyes fixed on the distant crest of Table Mountain。 He
remained motionless for some time； until the bar…keeper； who had
already concocted the conventional welcome of the Mansion House；
appeared with it in a glass； put it upon the table； glanced at the
stranger； and then； thoroughly awake； cried out；
〃Ruth Pinkneyor I'm a Chinaman！〃
The stranger lifted his eyes wearily。 Hollow circles were around
their orbits； haggard lines were in his checks。 But it was Ruth。
He took the glass； and drained it at a single draught。 〃Yes；〃 he
said absently； 〃Ruth Pinkney；〃 and fixed his eyes again on the
distant rosy crest。
〃On your way up home？〃 suggested the bar…keeper； following the
direction of Ruth's eyes。
〃Perhaps。〃
〃Been upon a pasear； hain't yer？ Been havin' a little tear round
Sacramento；seein' the sights？〃
Ruth smiled bitterly。 〃Yes。〃
The bar…keeper lingered； ostentatiously wiping a glass。 But Ruth
again became abstracted in the mountain； and the barkeeper turned
away。
How pure and clear that summit looked to him！ how restful and
steadfast with serenity and calm！ how unlike his own feverish；
dusty； travel…worn self！ A week had elapsed since he had last
looked upon it；a week of disappointment； of anxious fears； of
doubts； of wild imaginings； of utter helplessness。 In his hopeless
quest of the missing Mornie； he had； in fancy； seen this serene
eminence haunting his remorseful； passion…stricken soul。 And now；
without a clew to guide him to her unknown hiding…place； he was
back again； to face the brother whom he had deceived； with only the
confession of his own weakness。 Hard as it was to lose forever the
fierce； reproachful glances of the woman he loved； it was still
harder； to a man of Ruth's temperament； to look again upon the face
of the brother he feared。 A hand laid upon his shoulder startled
him。 It was the bar…keeper。
〃If it's a fair question； Ruth Pinkney； I'd like to ask ye how long
ye kalkilate to hang around the Ferry to…day。〃
〃Why？〃 demanded Ruth haughtily。
〃Because； whatever you've been and done； I want ye to have a square
show。 Ole Nixon has been cavoortin' round yer the last two days；
swearin' to kill you on sight for runnin' off with his darter。
Sabe？ Now； let me ax ye two questions。 FIRST； Are you heeled？〃
Ruth responded to this dialectical inquiry affirmatively by putting
his hand on his revolver。
〃Good！ Now； SECOND； Have you got the gal along here with you？〃
〃No；〃 responded Ruth in a hollow voice。
〃That's better yet；〃 said the man； without heeding the tone of the
reply。 〃A womanand especially THE woman in a row of this kind
handicaps a man awful。〃 He paused； and took up the empty glass。
〃Look yer； Ruth Pinkney； I'm a square man； and I'll be square with
you。 So I'll just tell you you've got the demdest odds agin' ye。
Pr'aps ye know it； and don't keer。 Well； the boys around yer are
all sidin' with the old man Nixon。 It's the first time the old rip
ever had a hand in his favor： so the boys will see fair play for
Nixon； and agin' YOU。 But I reckon you don't mind him！〃
〃So little； I shall