Motion Picture Classic (May 1921 - Dec 1927)

CLASSIC II Three months later Ruth sat before Ghent’s adobe cabin weaving baskets in the last rays of the setting sun. She was thin and pale and there was a wistful droop to her lips that had not been there a few months before. Xow and then her feverish fingers stopped their work and she cast a quick and apprehensive glance over her shoulder toward the open door behind her. But when Steve appeared at last on the threshold his step was so quiet that she never realized his presence until his hand on her shoulder made her start up, shaking nervously. “I expected to find you out on the bluff,” said Ghent softly. “One of the men told me you were there.” And as she said nothing, he went on pleadingly, “haven’t you one word of welcome for me, after five days?” But Ruth averted her head and looked steadily down the canon reddened by the last flash of the setting sun. “I’ve something to tell you,” she murmured at last. “It’s about this work you have been doing?” he asked. “How did you know ?” she looked startled and too late made an attempt to hide the basket. “I heard about it from the hotel p e o p 1 e in the valley. What made you do it? Have you wanted money ?” Speechless, she could only bend her head. “I thought you had enough. I have often begged you to take more.” “It wasn’t for myself,” burst out Ruth passionately. “I wanted it to buy back the chain with which you bought me.” Her trembling fingers drew the chain of nuggets from her dress. As if the bright gold burnt her fingers, she held it out to him in loathing. “Take it and let me go free.” Reluctantly Ghent took the chain from her and let it run thru his fingers. “Your price has risen,” he said at last. “This is not enough.” With a sudden gesture she was too slow to avoid he threw it about her slim neck and drew her to him by it. “You are mine, do you hear? Now and forever.” But at sight of her whitening face he released her as suddenly as he had seized her. “I thought . . .’’he began brokenly, “it seemed to me you had begun to care for me on our journey here?” “That night,” said Ruth slowly, clasping her hands tightly together, “when we rode away from the justice’s office at San Jacinto and the sky began to brighten over the desert, my heart began to melt in spite of me. And when the next night and the next day passed and still you treated me with beautiful rough chivalry, I said to myself, ‘He has heard my prayer to him. He knows what a girl’s heart is.’ It seemed as if you were leading me out of a world of little codes and customs into a great new world. — And then — and then — I woke and saw you standing in my tent door in the starlight ! I knew before you spoke that we were lost.” Before he could answer her a man’s voice i n terrupted them. “Ruth !” She turned toward the mountain path up which two men we're climbing. At sight of them she ran to them and hurled herself into her brother’s arms. “At last I’ve found you,” he said reproachfully, kissing her cheek with brotherly affection. “Win and I have had a hard time tracing you here.” Ruth motioned at Ghent. “My husband,” she said, u n steadily. But Philip Jordan made no effort to meet Ghent’s extended hand altho Winthrop took it momentarily in his. “I’m going to take you away from here,” said Philip, looking keenly from Ruth to Ghent. “I dont know by what ugly spell you have held her. but I wish to hear from her own lips that it is broken.” “No!” ,said Ghent, clenching his hands and staring pleadingly at Ruth. “Yes,” said Philip, measuring him with angry eyes. ( Continued on page 93) “Can you forgive me?” she whispered. “You have taken the good of our life and grown strong. I have taken the vile and grown weak unto death . . . teach me to live . . . as you do” 60