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concern of masculine Excelsior in the charms of womankind。 The
few female figures about at that hour； or visible at window or
veranda； received his marked attention； he respectfully followed
the two auburn…haired daughters of Deacon Johnson on their way to
choir meeting to the door of the church。 Not content with that
act of discreet gallantry； after they had entered he managed to
slip unperceived behind them。
The memorial of the Excelsior gamblers' generosity was a modern
building； large and pretentious； for even Mr。 Wynn's popularity；
and had been good…humoredly known； in the characteristic language
of the generous donors； as one of the 〃biggest religious bluffs〃
on record。 Its groined rafters； which were so new and spicy that
they still suggested their native forest aisles； seldom covered
more than a hundred devotees； and in the rambling choir； with its
bare space for the future organ； the few choristers； gathered
round a small harmonium； were lost in the deepening shadow of
that summer evening。 The muleteer remained hidden in the
obscurity of the vestibule。 After a few moments' desultory
conversation； in which it appeared that the unexpected absence of
Miss Nellie Wynn； their leader； would prevent their practicing；
the choristers withdrew。 The stranger； who had listened eagerly；
drew back in the darkness as they passed out； and remained for a
few moments a vague and motionless figure in the silent church。
Then coming cautiously to the window； the flapping broad…brimmed
hat was put aside； and the faint light of the dying day shone in
the black eyes of Teresa！ Despite her face； darkened with dye
and disfigured with dust； the matted hair piled and twisted
around her head； the strange dress and boyish figure； one swift
glance from under her raised lashes betrayed her identity。
She turned aside mechanically into the first pew； picked up and
opened a hymn…book。 Her eyes became riveted on a name written on
the title…page； 〃Nellie Wynn。〃 HER name； and HER book。 The
instinct that had guided her here was right； the slight gossip of
her fellow…passengers was right； this was the clergyman's
daughter； whose praise filled all mouths。 This was the unknown
girl the stranger was seeking； but who in turn 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； 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。
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。〃
〃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。
〃It's all the blasted heat；〃 said Dunn； with a forced sm