the twins of table mountain-第8章

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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　blanket；　lit　his　pipe　for　his　night…long　vigil。　　But
Rand；　although　a　martyr；　a　philosopher；　and　a　moralist；　was　young。
In　less　than　ten　minutes　the　pipe　dropped　from　his　lips；　and　he　was
asleep。


He　awoke　with　a　strange　sense　of　heat　and　suffocation；　and　with
difficulty　shook　off　his　covering。　　Rubbing　his　eyes；　he　discovered
that　an　extra　blanket　had　in　some　mysterious　way　been　added　in　the
night；　and　beneath　his　head　was　a　pillow　he　had　no　recollection　of
placing　there　when　he　went　to　sleep。　　By　degrees　the　events　of　the
past　night　forced　themselves　upon　his　benumbed　faculties；　and　he
sat　up。　　The　sun　was　riding　high；　the　door　of　the　cabin　was　open。
Stretching　himself；　he　staggered　to　his　feet；　and　looked　in　through
the　yawning　crack　at　the　hinges。　　He　rubbed　his　eyes　again。　　Was　he
still　asleep；　and　followed　by　a　dream　of　yesterday？　　For　there；
even　in　the　very　attitude　he　remembered　to　have　seen　her　sitting　at
her　luncheon　on　the　previous　day；　with　her　knitting　on　her　lap；　sat
Mrs。　Sol　Saunders！　　What　did　it　mean？　or　had　she　really　been
sitting　there　ever　since；　and　all　the　events　that　followed　only　a
dream？

A　hand　was　laid　upon　his　arm；　and；　turning；　he　saw　the　murky　black
eyes　and　Indian…inked　beard　of　Sol　beside　him。　　That　gentleman　put
his　finger　on　his　lips　with　a　theatrical　gesture；　and　then；　slowly
retreating　in　the　well…known　manner　of　the　buried　Majesty　of
Denmark；　waved　him；　like　another　Hamlet；　to　a　remoter　part　of　the
ledge。　　This　reached；　he　grasped　Rand　warmly　by　the　hand；　shook　it
heartily；　and　said；　〃It's　all　right；　my　boy；　all　right！〃

〃But〃　began　Rand。　　The　hot　blood　flowed　to　his　cheeks：　he
stammered；　and　stopped　short。

〃It's　all　right；　I　say！　　Don't　you　mind！　　We'll　pull　you　through。〃

〃But；　Mrs。　Sol！　what　does　she〃

〃Rosey　has　taken　the　matter　in　hand；　sir；　and　when　that　woman　takes
a　matter　in　hand；　whether　it's　a　baby　or　a　rehearsal；　sir；　she
makes　it　buzz。〃

〃But　how　did　she　know？〃　stammered　Rand。

〃How？　　Well；　sir；　the　scene　opened　something　like　this；〃　said　Sol
professionally。　　〃Curtain　rises　on　me　and　Mrs。　Sol。　　Domestic
interior：　practicable　chairs；　table；　books；　newspapers。　　Enter　Dr。
Duchesne；eccentric　character　part；　very　popular　with　the　boys；
tells　off…hand　affecting　story　of　strange　womanone　'more
unfortunate'having　baby　in　Eagle's　Nest；　lonely　place　on　'peaks
of　Snowdon；'　midnight；　eagles　screaming；　you　know；　and　far　down
unfathomable　depths；　only　attendant；　cold…blooded　ruffian；
evidently　father　of　child；　with　sinister　designs　on　child　and
mother。〃

〃He　didn't　say　THAT！〃　said　Rand；　with　an　agonized　smile。

〃Order！　　Sit　down　in　front！〃　continued　Sol　easily。　　〃Mrs。　Sol
highly　interested；　a　mother　herselfdemands　name　of　place。　　'Table
Mountain。'　　No；　it　cannot　beit　is！　　Excitement。　　Mystery！　　Rosey
rises　to　occasioncomes　to　front：　'Some　one　must　go；　IIwill　go
myself！'　　Myself；　coming　to　center：　'Not　alone；　dearest；　II　will
accompany　you！'　　A　shriek　at　right　upper　center。　　Enter　the
'Marysville　Pet。'　　'I　have　heard　all。　　'Tis　a　base　calumny。　　It
cannot　be　HERandolph！　　Never！''Dare　you　accompany　us　will！'
Tableau。

〃Is　Miss　Euphemiahere？〃　gasped　Rand；　practical　even　in　his
embarrassment。

〃Or…r…rder！　　Scene　second。　　Summit　of　mountainmoonlight　Peaks　of
Snowdon　in　distance。　　Rightlonely　cabin。　　Enter　slowly　up　defile；
Sol；　Mrs。　Sol；　the　'Pet。'　　Advance　slowly　to　cabin。　　Suppressed
shriek　from　the　'Pet；'　who　rushes　to　recumbent　figureLeft
discovered　lying　beside　cabin…door。　　''Tis　he！　　Hist！　he　sleeps！'
Throws　blanket　over　him；　and　retires　up　stageso。〃　　Here　Sol
achieved　a　vile　imitation　of　the　〃Pet's〃　most　enchanting　stage…
manner。　　〃Mrs。　Sol　advancesCenterthrows　open　door。　　Shriek！
''Tis　Mornie；　the　lost　found！'　　The　'Pet'　advances：　'And　the　father
is？''Not　Rand！'　　The　'Pet'　kneeling：　'Just　Heaven；　I　thank　thee！'
No；　it　is'〃

〃Hush！〃　said　Rand　appealingly；　looking　toward　the　cabin。

〃Hush　it　is！〃　said　the　actor　good…naturedly。　　〃But　it's　all　right；
Mr。　Rand：　we'll　pull　you　through。〃

Later　in　the　morning；　Rand　learned　that　Mornie's　i