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and adornment。 A desk covered with papers； a shelf displaying a
ledger and account…books； another containing works of reference； a
table with a vase of flowers and a lady's riding…whip upon it； a
map of California flanked on either side by an embroidered silken
workbag and an oval mirror decked with grasses； a calendar and
interest…table hanging below two school…girl crayons of classic
heads with the legend； 〃Josephine Forsyth fecit；〃were part of its
incongruous accessories。 The young girl went to her desk； but
presently moved and turned towards the window thoughtfully。 The
last gleam had died from the steel…blue sky； a few lights like star
points began to prick out the lower valley。 The expression of
monotonous restraint and endurance had not yet faded from her face。
Yet she had been accustomed to scenes like the one she had just
passed though since her girlhood。 Five years ago； Alexander
Forsyth； her uncle； had brought her to this spotthen a mere log
cabin on the hillsideas a refuge from the impoverished and
shiftless home of his elder brother Thomas and his ill…tempered
wife。 Here Alexander Forsyth； by reason of his more dominant
character and business capacity； had prospered until he became a
rich and influential ranch owner。 Notwithstanding her father's
jealousy of Alexander's fortune； and the open rupture that followed
between the brothers； Josephine retained her position in the heart
and home of her uncle without espousing the cause of either； and
her father was too prudent not to recognize the near and
prospective advantages of such a mediator。 Accustomed to her
parents' extravagant denunciations； and her uncle's more repressed
but practical contempt of them； the unfortunate girl early
developed a cynical disbelief in the virtues of kinship in the
abstract； and a philosophical resignation to its effects upon her
personally。 Believing that her father and uncle fairly represented
the fraternal principle； she was quite prepared for the early
defection and distrust of her vagabond and dissipated brother
Stephen； and accepted it calmly。 True to an odd standard of
justice； which she had erected from the crumbling ruins of her own
domestic life； she was tolerant of everything but human perfection。
This quality； however fatal to her higher growth； had given her a
peculiar capacity for business which endeared her to her uncle。
Familiar with the strong passions and prejudices of men； she had
none of those feminine meannesses； a wholesome distrust of which
had kept her uncle a bachelor。 It was not strange； therefore； that
when he died two years ago it was found that he had left her his
entire property； real and personal； limited only by a single
condition。 She was to undertake the vocation of a 〃sole trader；〃
and carry on the business under the name of 〃J。 Forsyth。〃 If she
married； the estate and property was to be held distinct from her
husband's； inalienable under the 〃Married Woman's Property Act；〃
and subject during her life only to her own control and personal
responsibilities as a trader。
The intense disgust and discomfiture of her parents； who had
expected to more actively participate in their brother's fortune；
may be imagined。 But it was not equal to their fury when
Josephine； instead of providing for them a separate maintenance out
of her abundance； simply offered to transfer them and her brother
to her own house on a domestic but not a business equality。 There
being no alternative but their former precarious shiftless life in
their 〃played…out〃 claim in the valley； they wisely consented；
reserving the sacred right of daily protest and objurgation。 In
the economy of Burnt Ridge Ranch they alone took it upon themselves
to represent the shattered domestic altar and its outraged Lares
and Penates。 And so conscientiously did they perform their task as
even occasionally to impede the business visitor to the ranch； and
to cause some of the more practical neighbors seriously to doubt
the young girl's commercial wisdom。 But she was firm。 Whether she
thought her parents a necessity of respectable domesticity； or
whether she regarded their presence in the light of a penitential
atonement for some previous disregard of them； no one knew。 Public
opinion inclined to the latter。
The black line of ridge faded out with her abstraction； and she
turned from the window and lit the lamp on her desk。 The yellow
light illuminated her face and figure。 In their womanly graces
there was no trace of what some people believed to be a masculine
character； except a singularly frank look of critical inquiry and
patient attention in her dark eyes。 Her long brown hair was
somewhat rigidly twisted into a knot on the top of her head； as if
more for security than ornament。 Brown was also the prevailing
tint of her eyebrows； thickly…set eyelashes； and eyes； and was even
suggested in the slight sallowness of her complexion。 But her lips
were well…cut and fresh…colored and her hands and feet small and
finely formed。 She would have passed for a pretty girl； had she
not suggested something more。
She sat down； and began to examine a pile of papers before her with
that concentration and attention to detail which was characteristic
of her eyes； pausing at times with prettily knit brows； and her
penholder between her lips； in the semblance of a pout that was
pleasant enough to see。 Suddenly the rattle of hoofs and wheels
struck her with the sense of something forgotten； and she put down
her work quickly and stood up listening。 The sound of rough voices
and her father's querulous accents was broken upon by a cultivated
and more familiar utterance： 〃All right； I'll speak to her at once。
Wait there；〃 and the door opened to the well…known physician of
Burnt Ridge； Dr。 Duchesne。
〃Look here；〃 he said； with an abruptness that was only saved from
being brusque by a softer intonation and a reassuring smile； 〃I met
Miguel helping an accident into your buggy。 Your orders； eh？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Josephine； quietly。 〃A man I saw on the road。〃
〃Well； it's a bad case； and wants prompt attention。 And as your
house is the nearest I came with him here。〃
Certainly；〃 she said gravely。 〃Take him to the second room beyond
Steve's roomit's ready；〃 she explained to two dusky shadows in
the hall behind the doctor。
〃And look here；〃 said the doctor； partly closing the door behind
him and regarding her with critical eyes； 〃you always said you'd
like to see some of my queer cases。 Well； this is onea serious
one； too； in fact； it's just touch and go with him。 There's a
piece of the bone pressing on the brain no bigger than that； but as
much as if all Burnt Ridge was atop of him！ I'm going to lift it。
I want somebody here to stand by； some one who can lend a hand with
a sponge； eh？some one who isn't going to faint or scream； or even
shake a hair's…breadth； eh？〃
The color rose quickly to the girl's cheek； and her eyes kindled。
〃I'll come；〃 she said thoughtfully。 〃Who is he？〃
The doctor stared slightly at the unessential query。 〃Don't know；
one of the river miners； I reckon。 It's an urgent case。 I'll go
and get everything ready。 You'd better；〃 he added； with an ominous
glance at her gray frock； 〃put something over your dress。〃 The
suggestion made her grave； but did not alter her color。
A moment later she entered the room。 It was the one that had
always been set apart for her brother： the very bed on which the
unconscious man lay had been arranged that morning with her own
hands。 Something of this passed through her mind as she saw that
the doctor had wheeled it beneath the strong light in the centre of
the room； stripped its outer coverings with professional
thoughtfulness； and rearranged the mattresses。 But it did not seem
like the same room。 There was a pungent odor in the air from some
freshly…opened phial； an almost feminine neatness and luxur