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perhaps had been seeking Lowthe girl who absorbed his fancythe
secret of his absences； his preoccupation； his coldness！ This was the girl
whom to see； perhaps in his arms； she was now periling her liberty and her
life unknown to him！ A slight odor； some faint perfume of its owner；
came from the book； it was the same she had noticed in the dress Low had
given her。 She flung the volume to the ground； and； throwing her arms
over the back of the pew before her； buried her face in her hands。
In that light and attitude she might have seemed some rapt acolyte
abandoned to self…communion。 But whatever yearning her soul might
have had for higher sympathy or deeper consolation； I fear that the
spiritual Tabernacle of Excelsior and the Reverend Mr。 Wynn did not meet
that requirement。 She only felt the dry； oven…like heat of that vast shell；
empty of sentiment and beauty； hollow in its pretense and dreary in its
desolation。 She only saw in it a chief altar for the glorification of this girl
who had absorbed even the pure worship of her companion； and converted
and degraded his sublime paganism to her petty creed。 With a woman's
withering contempt for her own art displayed in another woman； she
thought how she herself could have touched him with the peace that the
majesty of their woodland aislesso unlike this pillared shamhad taught
her own passionate heart； had she but dared。 Mingling with this
imperfect theology； she felt she could have proved to him also that a
brunette and a woman of her experience was better than an immature
blonde。 She began to loathe herself for coming hither； and dreaded to
meet his face。 Here a sudden thought struck her。 What if he had not
come here？ What if she had been mistaken？ What if her rash
interpretation of his absence from the wood that night was simple madness？
What if he should returnif he had already returned？ She rose to her feet；
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whitening yet joyful with the thought。 She could return at once； what
was the girl to her now？ Yet there was time to satisfy herself if he were
at HER house。 She had been told where it was； she could find it in the
dark； an open door or window would betray some sign or sound of the
occupants。 She rose； replaced her hat over her eyes； knotted her flaunting
scarf around her throat； groped her way to the door； and glided into the
outer darkness。
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CHAPTER VII
It was quite dark when Mr。 Jack Brace stopped before Father Wynn's
open door。 The windows were also invitingly open to the wayfarer； as
were the pastoral counsels of Father Wynn； delivered to some favored
guest within； in a tone of voice loud enough for a pulpit。 Jack Brace
paused。 The visitor was the convalescent sheriff； Jim Dunn； who had
publicly commemorated his recovery by making his first call upon the
father of his inamorata。 The Reverend Mr。 Wynn had been expatiating
upon the unremitting heat of a possible precursor of forest fires； and
exhibiting some catholic knowledge of the designs of a Deity in that
regard； and what should be the policy of the Legislature； when Mr。 Brace
concluded to enter。 Mr。 Wynn and the wounded man； who occupied an
arm…chair by the window； were the only occupants of the room。 But in
spite of the former's ostentatious greeting； Brace could see that his visit
was inopportune and unwelcome。 The sheriff nodded a quick； impatient
recognition； which； had it not been accompanied by an anathema on the
heat； might have been taken as a personal insult。 Neither spoke of Miss
Nellie； although it was patent to Brace that they were momentarily
expecting her。 All of which went far to strengthen a certain wavering
purpose in his mind。
〃Ah； ha！ strong language； Mr。 Dunn；〃 said Father Wynn； referring to
the sheriff's adjuration； 〃but 'out of the fullness of the heart the mouth
speaketh。' Job； sir； cursed； we are told； and even expressed himself in
vigorous Hebrew regarding his birthday。 Ha； ha！ I'm not opposed to that。
When I have often wrestled with the spirit I confess I have sometimes said；
'Dn you。' Yes； sir； 'Dn you。'〃
There was something so unutterably vile in the reverend gentleman's
utterance and emphasis of this oath that the two men； albeit both easy and
facile blasphemers； felt shocked； as the purest of actresses is apt to overdo
the rakishness of a gay Lothario； Father Wynn's immaculate conception of
an imprecation was something terrible。 But he added； 〃The law ought to
interfere with the reckless use of camp…fires in the woods in such weather
by packers and prospectors。〃
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〃It isn't so much the work of white men；〃 broke in Brace； 〃as it is of
Greasers； Chinamen； and Diggers； especially Diggers。 There's that blasted
Low； ranges the whole Carquinez Woods as if they were his。 I reckon he
ain't particular just where he throws his matches。〃
〃But he's not a Digger； he's a Cherokee； and only a half…breed at that；〃
interpolated Wynn。 〃Unless；〃 he added； with the artful suggestion of the
betrayed trust of a too credulous Christian； 〃he deceived me in this as in
other things。〃
In what other things Low had deceived him he did not say； but； to the
astonishment of both men； Dunn growled a dissent to Brace's proposition。
Either from some secret irritation with that possible rival； or impatience at
the prolonged absence of Nellie； he had 〃had enough of that sort of hog…
wash ladled out to him for genuine liquor。〃 As to the Carquinez Woods；
he ＇Dunn＇ 〃didn't know why Low hadn't as much right there as if he'd
grabbed it under a preemption law and didn't live there。〃 With this hint at
certain speculations of Father Wynn in public lands for a homestead； he
added that 〃If they ＇Brace and Wynn＇ could bring him along any older
American settler than an Indian； they might rake down his ＇Dunn's＇ pile。〃
Unprepared for this turn in the conversation； Wynn hastened to explain
that he did not refer to the pure aborigine； whose gradual extinction no one
regretted more than himself； but to the mongrel； who inherited only the
vices of civilization。 〃There should be a law； sir； against the mingling of
races。 There are men； sir； who violate the laws of the Most High by
living with Indian womensquaw men； sir； as they are called。〃
Dunn rose with a face livid with weakness and passion。 〃Who dares
say that？ They are a dd sight better than sneaking Northern
Abolitionists； who married their daughters to buck niggers like〃 But a
spasm of pain withheld this Parthian shot at the politics of his two
companions； and he sank back helplessly in his chair。
An awkward silence ensued。 The three men looked at each other in
embarrassment and confusion。 Dunn felt that he had given way to a
gratuitous passion； Wynn had a vague presentiment that he had said
something that imperiled his daughter's prospects； and Brace was divided
between an angry retort and the secret purpose already alluded to。
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〃It's all the blasted heat；〃 said Dunn； with a forced smile； pushing
away the whisky which Wynn had ostentatiously placed before him。
〃Of course；〃 said Wynn hastily； 〃only it's a pity Nellie ain't here to
give you