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〃Not to change my mind nor my residence at present；〃 replied North；
coolly。
〃Do you mean to continue this folly all your life？〃
〃And have a coroner's inquest； and advertisements and all the facts in
the papers？〃
〃And have HER read the melancholy details； and know that you were
faithful and she was not？〃
This last shot was from the gentle Maria； who bit her lips as it glanced
from the immovable man。
〃I believe there is nothing more to say；〃 continued North； quietly。 〃I
am willing to believe your intentions are as worthy as your zeal。 Let us
say no more；〃 he added； with grave weariness； 〃the tide is rising； and your
coachman is signaling you from the bank。〃
There was no mistaking the unshaken positiveness of the man； which
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was all the more noticeable from its gentle but utter indifference to the
wishes of the party。 He turned his back upon them as they gathered
hurriedly around the elder gentleman； while the words； 〃He cannot be in
his right mind；〃 〃It's your duty to do it；〃 〃It's sheer insanity；〃 〃Look at his
eye！〃 all fell unconsciously upon his ear。
〃One word more； Mr。 North；〃 said the elder gentleman； a little
portentously； to conceal an evident embarrassment。 〃It may be that your
conduct might suggest to minds more practical than your own the
existence of some aberration of the intellectsome temporary maniathat
might force your best friends into a quasi…legal attitude of〃
〃Declaring me insane；〃 interrupted James North； with the slight
impatience of a man more anxious to end a prolix interview than to
combat an argument。 〃I think differently。 As my aunt's lawyer； you
know that within the last year I have deeded most of my property to her
and her family。 I cannot believe that so shrewd an adviser as Mr。
Edmund Carter would ever permit proceedings that would invalidate that
conveyance。〃
Maria burst into a laugh of such wicked gratification that James North；
for the first time； raised his eyes with something of interest to her face。
She colored under them； but returned his glance with another like a
bayonet flash。 The party slowly moved toward the door； James North
following。
〃Then this is your final answer？〃 asked Mrs。 North； stopping
imperiously on the threshold。
〃I beg your pardon？〃 queried North； half abstractedly。
〃Your final answer？〃
〃Oh； certainly。〃
Mrs。 North flounced away a dozen rods in rage。 This was
unfortunate for North。 It gave them the final attack in detail。 Dick began：
〃Come along！ You know you can advertise for her with a personal down
there and the old woman wouldn't object as long as you were careful and
put in an appearance now and then！〃
As Dick limped away； Mr。 Carter thought； in confidence； that the
whole mattereven to suit Mr。 North's sensitive naturemight be settled
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there。 〃SHE evidently expects you to return。 My opinion is that she
never left San Francisco。 You can't tell anything about these women。〃
With this last sentence on his indifferent ear； James North seemed to
be left free。 Maria had rejoined her mother； but as they crossed the ford；
and an intervening sand…hill hid the others from sight； that piquant young
lady suddenly appeared on the hill and stood before him。
〃And you're not coming back？〃 she said directly。
〃No。〃
〃Never？〃
〃I cannot say。〃
〃Tell me！ what is there about some women to make men love them
so？〃
〃Love；〃 replied North； quietly。
〃No； it cannot beit is not THAT！〃
North looked over the hill and round the hill； and looked bored。
〃Oh； I'm going now。 But one moment； Jem！ I didn't want to come。
They dragged me here。 Good…by。〃
She raised a burning face and eyes to his。 He leaned forward and
imprinted the perfunctory cousinly kiss of the period upon her cheek。
〃Not that way；〃 she said angrily； clutching his wrists with her long；
thin fingers； 〃you shan't kiss me in that way； James North。〃
With the faintest； ghost…like passing of a twinkle in the corners of his
sad eyes； he touched his lips to hers。 With the contact； she caught him
round the neck； pressed her burning lips and face to his forehead； his
cheeks； the very curves of his chin and throat； andwith a laugh was gone。
II
Had the kinsfolk of James North any hope that their visit might
revive some lingering desire he still combated to enter once more the
world they represented； that hope would have soon died。 Whatever effect
this episode had upon the solitary；and he had become so self…indulgent of
his sorrow； and so careless of all that came between him and it； as to meet
opposition with profound indifference；the only appreciable result was a
greater attraction for the solitude that protected him； and he grew even to
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love the bleak shore and barren sands that had proved so inhospitable to
others。 There was a new meaning to the roar of the surges； an honest；
loyal sturdiness in the unchanging persistency of the uncouth and
blustering trade…winds； and a mute fidelity in the shining sands；
treacherous to all but him。 With such bandogs to lie in wait for
trespassers； should he not be grateful？
If no bitterness was awakened by the repeated avowal of the
unfaithfulness of the woman he loved； it was because he had always made
the observation and experience of others give way to the dominance of his
own insight。 No array of contradictory facts ever shook his belief or
unbelief； like all egotists； he accepted them as truths controlled by a larger
truth of which he alone was cognizant。 His simplicity； which was but
another form of his egotism； was so complete as to baffle ordinary
malicious cunning； and so he was spared the experience and knowledge
that come to a lower nature； and help debase it。
Exercise and the stimulus of the few wants that sent him hunting or
fishing kept up his physical health。 Never a lover of rude freedom or
outdoor life his sedentary predilections and nice tastes kept him from
lapsing into barbarian excess； never a sportsman he followed the chase
with no feverish exaltation。 Even dumb creatures found out his secret；
and at times； stalking moodily over the upland； the brown deer and elk
would cross his path without fear or molestation； or； idly lounging in his
canoe within the river bar； flocks of wild fowl would settle within stroke
of his listless oar。 And so the second winter of his hermitage drew near
its close； and with it came a storm that passed into local history； and is still
remembered。 It uprooted giant trees along the river； and with them the
tiny rootlets of the life he was idly fostering。
The morning had been fitfully turbulent； the wind veering several
points south and west； with suspicions lulls； unlike the steady onset of the
regular southwest trades。 High overhead the long manes of racing cirro
stratus streamed with flying gulls and hurrying water…fowl； plover piped
incessantly； and a flock of timorous sand…pipers sought the low ridge of
his cabin； while a wrecking crew of curlew hastily manned the uprooted
tree that tossed wearily beyond the bar。 By noon the flying clouds
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huddled together in masses； and then were suddenly exploded in one vast