He turned very pale。 He had consoled himself always for his
complicity in Ruth's absence； that he was taking good care of
Mornie； orwhat is considered by most selfish natures an
equivalentpermitting or encouraging some one else to 〃take good
care of her；〃 but here was a contingency utterly unforeseen。 It
did not occur to him that this 〃taking good care〃 of her could
result in anything but a perfect solution of her troubles； or that
there could be any future to her condition but one of recovery。
But what if she should die？ A sudden and helpless sense of his
responsibility to Ruth； to HER； brought him trembling to his feet。
He hurried to the cabin； where Mrs。 Sol left him with a word of
caution： 〃You'll find her changed and quiet；very quiet。 If I was
you； I wouldn't say anything to bring back her old self。〃
The change which Rand saw was so great； the face that was turned to
him so quiet； that； with a new fear upon him； he would have
preferred the savage eyes and reckless mien of the old Mornie whom
he hated。 With his habitual impulsiveness he tried to say
something that should express that fact not unkindly； but faltered；
and awkwardly sank into the chair by her bedside。
〃I don't wonder you stare at me now；〃 she said in a far…off voice。
〃It seems to you strange to see me lying here so quiet。 You are
thinking how wild I was when I came here that night。 I must have
been crazy； I think。 I dreamed that I said dreadful things to you；
but you must forgive me； and not mind it。 I was crazy then。〃 She
stopped； and folded the blanket between her thin fingers。 〃I
didn't ask you to come here to tell you that； or to remind you of
it； butbut when I was crazy； I said so many worse； dreadful
things of HIM； and youYOU will be left behind to tell him of it。〃
Rand was vaguely murmuring something to the effect that 〃he knew
she didn't mean anything；〃 that 〃she musn't think of it again；〃
that 〃he'd forgotten all about it；〃 when she stopped him with a
tired gesture。
〃Perhaps I was wrong to think； that； after I am gone； you would
care to tell him anything。 Perhaps I'm wrong to think of it at
all； or to care what he will think of me； except for the sake of
the childhis child； Randthat I must leave behind me。 He will
know that IT never abused him。 No； God bless its sweet heart！ IT
never was wild and wicked and hateful； like its cruel； crazy
mother。 And he will love it； and you； perhaps； will love it too
just a little； Rand！ Look at it！〃 She tried to raise the helpless
bundle beside her in her arms； but failed。 〃You must lean over；〃
she said faintly to Rand。 〃It looks like him； doesn't it？〃
Rand； with wondering； embarrassed eyes； tried to see some
resemblance； in the little blue…red oval； to the sad； wistful face
of his brother； which even then was haunting him from some
mysterious distance。 He kissed the child's forehead； but even then
so vaguely and perfunctorily； that the mother sighed； and drew it
closer to her breast。
〃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' rou