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and spread upon the ledge； the dimensions of the cabin not
admitting four。 Under the potent influence of a bottle； Sol became
hilarious and professional。 The 〃Pet〃 was induced to favor the
company with a recitation； and； under the plea of teaching Rand； to
perform the clog…dance with both gentlemen。 Then there was an
interval； in which Rand and Euphemia wandered a little way down the
mountain…side to gather laurel； leaving Mr。 Sol to his siesta on a
rock； and Mrs。 Sol to take some knitting from the basket； and sit
beside him。
When Rand and his companion had disappeared； Mrs。 Sol nudged her
sleeping partner。 〃Do you think that WAS the brother？〃
Sol yawned。 〃Sure of it。 They're as like as two peas； in looks。〃
〃Why didn't you tell him so； then？〃
〃Will you tell me； my dear； why you stopped me when I began？〃
〃Because something was said about Ruth being here； and I supposed
Ruth was a woman； and perhaps Pinkney's wife； and knew you'd be
putting your foot in it by talking of that other woman。 I supposed
it was for fear of that he denied knowing you。〃
〃Well； when HEthis Randtold me he had a twin…brother； he looked
so frightened that I knew he knew nothing of his brother's doings
with that woman； and I threw him off the scent。 He's a good
fellow； but awfully green； and I didn't want to worry him with
tales。 I like him； and I think Phemie does too。〃
〃Nonsense！ He's a conceited prig！ Did you hear his sermon on the
world and its temptations？ I wonder if he thought temptation had
come up to him in the person of us professionals out on a picnic。
I think it was positively rude。〃
〃My dear woman； you're always seeing slights and insults。 I tell
you he's taken a shine to Phemie； and he's as good as four seats
and a bouquet to that child next Wednesday evening； to say nothing
of the eclat of getting this St。 Simeonwhat do you call him？
Stalactites？〃
〃Stylites；〃 suggested Mrs。 Sol。
〃Stylites； off from his pillar here。 I'll have a paragraph in the
paper； that the hermit crabs of Table Mountain〃
〃Don't be a fool； Sol！〃
〃The hermit twins of Table Mountain bespoke the chaste performance。〃
〃One of them being the protector of the well…known Mornie Nixon；〃
responded Mrs。 Sol； viciously accenting the name with her knitting…
needles。
〃Rosy； you're unjust。 You're prejudiced by the reports of the
town。 Mr。 Pinkney's interest in her may be a purely artistic one；
although mistaken。 She'll never make a good variety…actress： she's
too heavy。 And the boys don't give her a fair show。 No woman can
make a debut in my version of 'Somnambula；' and have the front row
in the pit say to her in the sleepwalking scene； 'You're out rather
late； Mornie。 Kinder forgot to put on your things； didn't you？
Mother sick； I suppose； and you're goin' for more gin？ Hurry
along； or you'll ketch it when ye get home。' Why； you couldn't do
it yourself； Rosy！〃
To which Mrs。 Sol's illogical climax was； that； 〃bad as Rutherford
might be； this Sunday…school superintendent； Rand； was worse。〃
Rand and his companion returned late； but in high spirits。 There
was an unnecessary effusiveness in the way in which Euphemia kissed
Mrs。 Sol；the one woman present； who UNDERSTOOD； and was to be
propitiated；which did not tend to increase Mrs。 Sol's good humor。
She had her basket packed all ready for departure； and even the
earnest solicitation of Rand； that they would defer their going
until sunset； produced no effect。
〃Mr。 RandMr。 Pinkney； I meansays the sunsets here are so
lovely；〃 pleaded Euphemia。
〃There is a rehearsal at seven o'clock； and we have no time to
lose；〃 said Mrs。 Sol significantly。
〃I forgot to say；〃 said the 〃Marysville Pet〃 timidly； glancing at
Mrs。 Sol； 〃that Mr。 Rand says he will bring his brother on
Wednesday night； and wants four seats in front； so as not to be
crowded。〃
Sol shook the young man's hand warmly。 〃You'll not regret it； sir：
it's a surprising； a remarkable performance。〃
〃I'd like to go a piece down the mountain with you；〃 said Rand；
with evident sincerity； looking at Miss Euphemia； 〃but Ruth isn't
here yet； and we make a rule never to leave the place alone。 I'll
show you the slide： it's the quickest way to go down。 If you meet
any one who looks like me； and talks like me； call him 'Ruth；' and
tell him I'm waitin' for him yer。〃
Miss Phemia； the last to go； standing on the verge of the
declivity； here remarked； with a dangerous smile； that； if she met
any one who bore that resemblance； she might be tempted to keep him
with her；a playfulness that brought the ready color to Rand's
cheek。 When she added to this the greater audacity of kissing her
hand to him； the young hermit actually turned away in sheer
embarrassment。 When he looked around again； she was gone； and for
the first time in his experience the mountain seemed barren and
lonely。
The too sympathetic reader who would rashly deduce from this any
newly awakened sentiment in the virgin heart of Rand would quite
misapprehend that peculiar young man。 That singular mixture of
boyish inexperience and mature doubt and disbelief； which was
partly the result of his temperament； and partly of his cloistered
life on the mountain； made him regard his late companions； now that
they were gone； and his intimacy with them； with remorseful
distrust。 The mountain was barren and lonely； because it was no
longer HIS。 It had become a part of the great world； which four
years ago he and his brother had put aside； and in which； as two
self…devoted men； they walked alone。 More than that； he believed
he had acquired some understanding of the temptations that assailed
his brother； and the poor little vanities of the 〃Marysville Pet〃
were transformed into the blandishments of a Circe。 Rand； who
would have succumbed to a wicked； superior woman； believed he was a
saint in withstanding the foolish weakness of a simple one。
He did not resume his work that day。 He paced the mountain；
anxiously awaiting his brother's return； and eager to relate his
experiences。 He would go with him to the dramatic entertainment；
from his example and wisdom； Ruth should learn how easily
temptation might be overcome。 But； first of all； there should be
the fullest exchange of confidences and explanations。 The old rule
should be rescinded for once； the old discussion in regard to
Mornie re…opened； and Rand； having convinced his brother of error；
would generously extend his forgiveness。
The sun sank redly。 Lingering long upon the ledge before their
cabin； it at last slipped away almost imperceptibly； leaving Rand
still wrapped in revery。 Darkness； the smoke of distant fires in
the woods； and the faint evening incense of the pines； crept slowly
up； but Ruth came not。 The moon rose； a silver gleam on the
farther ridge； and Rand； becoming uneasy at his brother's prolonged
absence； resolved to break another custom； and leave the summit； to
seek him on the trail。 He buckled on his revolvers； seized his
gun； when a cry from the depths arrested him。 He leaned over the
ledge； and listened。 Again the cry arose； and this time more
distinctly。 He held his breath： the blood s