the twins of table mountain-第4章

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its　dark…green　tilting　spears；　and　left　only　Table　Mountain　sunlit
and　bare。　　Here　and　there　were　profound　olive　depths；　over　which
the　gray　hawk　hung　lazily；　and　into　which　blue　jays　dipped。　　A
faint；　dull　yellowish　streak　marked　an　occasional　watercourse；　a
deeper　reddish　ribbon；　the　mountain　road　and　its　overhanging　murky
cloud　of　dust。

〃Is　it　quite　safe　here？〃　asked　Mrs。　Sol；　eying　the　little　cabin。
〃I　mean　from　storms？〃

〃It　never　blows　up　here；〃　replied　Rand；　〃and　nothing　happens。〃

〃It　must　be　lovely；〃　said　Euphemia；　clasping　her　hands。

〃It　IS　that；〃　said　Rand　proudly。　　〃It's　four　years　since　Ruth　and　I
took　up　this　yer　claim；　and　raised　this　shanty。　　In　that　four　years
we　haven't　left　it　alone　a　night；　or　cared　to。　　It's　only　big
enough　for　two；　and　them　two　must　be　brothers。　　It　wouldn't　do　for
mere　pardners　to　live　here　alone；they　couldn't　do　it。　　It
wouldn't　be　exactly　the　thing　for　man　and　wife　to　shut　themselves
up　here　alone。　　But　Ruth　and　me　know　each　other's　ways；　and　here
we'll　stay　until　we've　made　a　pile。　　We　sometimesone　of　ustakes
a　pasear　to　the　Ferry　to　buy　provisions；　but　we're　glad　to　crawl　up
to　the　back　of　old　'Table'　at　night。〃

〃You're　quite　out　of　the　world　here；　then？〃　suggested　Mrs。　Sol。

〃That's　it；　just　it！　　We're　out　of　the　world；out　of　rows；　out　of
liquor；　out　of　cards；　out　of　bad　company；　out　of　temptation。
Cussedness　and　foolishness　hez　got　to　follow　us　up　here　to　find　us；
and　there's　too　many　ready　to　climb　down　to　them　things　to　tempt
'em　to　come　up　to　us。〃

There　was　a　little　boyish　conceit　in　his　tone；　as　he　stood　there；
not　altogether　unbecoming　his　fresh　color　and　simplicity。　　Yet；
when　his　eyes　met　those　of　Miss　Euphemia；　he　colored；　he　hardly
knew　why；　and　the　young　lady　herself　blushed　rosily。

When　the　neat　cabin；　with　its　decorated　walls；　and　squirrel　and
wild…cat　skins；　was　duly　admired；　the　luncheon…basket　of　the
Saunders　party　was　re…enforced　by　provisions　from　Rand's　larder；
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　settled　around　his　heart
in　superstitious　terror。　　It　was　the　wailing　voice　of　a　woman。

〃Ruth；　Ruth！　for　God's　sake　come　and　help　me！〃

The　blood　flew　back　hotly　to　Rand's　cheek。　　It　was　Mornie's　voice。
By　leaning　over　the　ledge；　he　could　distinguish　something　moving
along　the　almost　precipitous　face　of　the　cliff；　where　an　abandoned
trail；　long　since　broken　off　and　disrupted　by　the　fall　of　a　portion
of　the　ledge；　stopped　abruptly　a　hundred　feet　below　him。　　Rand　knew
the　trail；　a　dangerous　one　always：　in　its　present　condition　a
single　mis…step　would　be　fatal。　　Would　she　make　that　mis…step？　　He
shook　off　a　horrible　temptation　that　seemed　to　be　sealing　his　lips；
and　paralyzing　his　limbs；　and　almost　screamed　to　her；　〃Drop　on　your
face；　hang　on　to　the　chaparral；　and　don't　move！〃

In　another　instant；　with　a　coil　of　rope　around　his　arm；　he　was
dashing　down　the　almost　perpendicular　〃slide。〃　　When　he　had　nearly
reached　the　level　of　the　abandoned　trail；　he　fastened　one　end　of
the　rope　to　a　jutting　splinter　of　granite；　and　began　to　〃lay　out；〃
and　work　his　way　laterally　along　the　face　of　the　mountain。
Presently　he　struck　the　regular　trail　at　the　point　from　which　the
woman　must　have　diverged。

〃It　is　Rand；〃　she　said；　without　lifting　her　head。

〃It　is；〃　replied　Rand　coldly。　　〃Pass　the　rope　under　your　arms；　and
I'll　get　you　back　to　the　trail。〃

〃Where　is　Ruth？〃　she　demanded　again；　without　moving。　　She　was
trembling；　but　with　excitement　rather　than　fear。

〃I　don't　know；〃　returned　Rand　impatiently。　　〃Come！　the　ledge　is
already　crumbling　beneath　our　feet。〃

〃Let　it　crumble！〃　said　the　woman　passionately。

Rand　surveyed　her　with　profound　disgust；　then　passed　the　rope
around　her　waist；　and　half　lifted；　half　swung　her　from　her　feet。
In　a　few　moments　she　began　to　mechanically　help　herself；　and
permitted　him　to　guide　her　to　a　place　of　safety。　　That　reached；　she
sank　down　again。

The　rising　moon　shone　full　upon　her　face　and　figure。　　Through　his
growing　indignation　Rand　was　still　impressed　and　even　startled　with
the　change　the　few　last　m