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the twins of table mountain-第7部分

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There was evidently no marriage as yet; and now; the fear of an
immediate meeting over; there should be none。  For Rand had already
feared this; had recalled the few infelicitous relations; legal and
illegal; which were common to the adjoining camp;the flagrantly
miserable life of the husband of a San Francisco anonyma who lived
in style at the Ferry; the shameful carousals and more shameful
quarrels of the Frenchman and Mexican woman who 〃kept house〃 at
〃the Crossing;〃 the awful spectacle of the three half…bred Indian
children who played before the cabin of a fellow miner and
townsman。  Thank Heaven; the Eagle's Nest on Table Mountain should
never be pointed at from the valley as another

A heavy hand upon his arm brought him trembling to his feet。  He
turned; and met the half…anxious; half…contemptuous glance of the
doctor。

〃I'm sorry to disturb you;〃 he said dryly; 〃but it's about time you
or somebody else put in an appearance at that cabin。  Luckily for
HER; she's one woman in a thousand; has had her wits about her
better than some folks I know; and has left me little to do but
make her comfortable。  But she's gone through too much;fought her
little fight too gallantly;is altogether too much of a trump to
be played off upon now。  So rise up out of that; young man; pick up
your scattered faculties; and fetch a womansome sensible creature
of her own sexto look after her; for; without wishing to be
personal; I'm dd if I trust her to the likes of you。〃

There was no mistaking Dr。 Duchesne' s voice and manner; and Rand
was affected by it; as most people were throughout the valley of
the Stanislaus。  But he turned upon him his frank and boyish face;
and said simply; 〃But I don't know any woman; or where to get one。〃

The doctor looked at him again。  〃Well; I'll find you some one;〃 he
said; softening。

〃Thank you!〃 said Rand。

The doctor was disappearing。  With an effort Rand recalled him。
〃One moment; doctor。〃  He hesitated; and his cheeks were glowing。
〃You'll please say nothing about this down there〃he pointed to
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 h
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