riders of the purple sage-第43章

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u　seefeel　how　it　waits　here？　I　moved　it　once；　and　I'll　never　dare　again。　A　strong　heave　would　start　it。　Then　it　would　fall　and　bang；　and　smash　that　crag；　and　jar　the　walls；　and　close　forever　the　outlet　to　Deception　Pass！〃

〃Ah！　When　you　come　back　I'll　steal　up　here　and　push　and　push　with　all　my　might　to　roll　the　rock　and　close　forever　the　outlet　to　the　Pass！〃　She　said　it　lightly；　but　in　the　undercurrent　of　her　voice　was　a　heavier　note；　a　ring　deeper　than　any　ever　given　mere　play　of　words。

〃Bess！。。。You　can't　dare　me！　Wait　till　I　come　back　with　supplies　then　roll　the　stone。〃

〃Iwasinfun。〃　Her　voice　now　throbbed　low。　〃Always　you　must　be　free　to　go　when　you　will。　Go　now。。。this　place　presses　on　mestifles　me。〃

〃I'm　goingbut　you　had　something　to　tell　me？〃

〃Yes。。。。Will　youcome　back？〃

〃I'll　come　if　I　live。〃

〃Butbut　you　mightn't　come？〃

〃That's　possible；　of　course。　It'll　take　a　good　deal　to　kill　me。　A　man　couldn't　have　a　faster　horse　or　keener　dog。　And；　Bess；　I've　guns；　and　I'll　use　them　if　I'm　pushed。　But　don't　worry。〃

〃I've　faith　in　you。　I'll　not　worry　until　after　four　days。　Only　because　you　mightn't　comeI　must　tell　you〃

She　lost　her　voice。　Her　pale　face；　her　great；　glowing；　earnest　eyes；　seemed　to　stand　alone　out　of　the　gloom　of　the　gorge。　The　dog　whined；　breaking　the　silence。

〃I　must　tell　youbecause　you　mightn't　come　back；〃　she　whispered。　〃You　must　know　whatwhat　I　think　of　your　goodnessof　you。　Always　I've　been　tongue…tied。　I　seemed　not　to　be　grateful。　It　was　deep　in　my　heart。　Even　nowif　I　were　other　than　I　amI　couldn't　tell　you。　But　I'm　nothingonly　a　rustler's　girlnamelessinfamous。　You've　saved　me　and　I'mI'm　yours　to　do　with　as　you　like。。。。With　all　my　heart　and　soulI　love　you！〃



CHAPTER　XV。　SHADOWS　ON　THE　SAGE…SLOPE

In　the　cloudy；　threatening；　waning　summer　days　shadows　lengthened　down　the　sage…slope；　and　Jane　Withersteen　likened　them　to　the　shadows　gathering　and　closing　in　around　her　life。

Mrs。　Larkin　died；　and　little　Fay　was　left　an　orphan　with　no　known　relative。　Jane's　love　redoubled。　It　was　the　saving　brightness　of　a　darkening　hour。　Fay　turned　now　to　Jane　in　childish　worship。　And　Jane　at　last　found　full　expression　for　the　mother…longing　in　her　heart。　Upon　Lassiter；　too；　Mrs。　Larkin's　death　had　some　subtle　reaction。　Before；　he　had　often；　without　explanation；　advised　Jane　to　send　Fay　back　to　any　Gentile　family　that　would　take　her　in。　Passionately　and　reproachfully　and　wonderingly　Jane　had　refused　even　to　entertain　such　an　idea。　And　now　Lassiter　never　advised　it　again；　grew　sadder　and　quieter　in　his　contemplation　of　the　child；　and　infinitely　more　gentle　and　loving。　Sometimes　Jane　had　a　cold；　inexplicable　sensation　of　dread　when　she　saw　Lassiter　watching　Fay。　What　did　the　rider　see　in　the　future？　Why　did　he；　day　by　day；　grow　more　silent；　calmer；　cooler；　yet　sadder　in　prophetic　assurance　of　something　to　be？

No　doubt；　Jane　thought；　the　rider；　in　his　almost　superhuman　power　of　foresight；　saw　behind　the　horizon　the　dark；　lengthening　shadows　that　were　soon　to　crowd　and　gloom　over　him　and　her　and　little　Fay。　Jane　Withersteen　awaited　the　long…deferred　breaking　of　the　storm　with　a　courage　and　embittered　calm　that　had　come　to　her　in　her　extremity。　Hope　had　not　died。　Doubt　and　fear；　subservient　to　her　will；　no　longer　gave　her　sleepless　nights　and　tortured　days。　Love　remained。　All　that　she　had　loved　she　now　loved　the　more。　She　seemed　to　feel　that　she　was　defiantly　flinging　the　wealth　of　her　love　in　the　face　of　misfortune　and　of　hate。　No　day　passed　but　she　prayed　for　alland　most　fervently　for　her　enemies。　It　troubled　her　that　she　had　lost；　or　had　never　gained；　the　whole　control　of　her　mind。　In　some　measure　reason　and　wisdom　and　decision　were　locked　in　a　chamber　of　her　brain；　awaiting　a　key。　Power　to　think　of　some　things　was　taken　from　her。　Meanwhile；　abiding　a　day　of　judgment；　she　fought　ceaselessly　to　deny　the　bitter　drops　in　her　cup；　to　tear　back　the　slow；　the　intangibly　slow　growth　of　a　hot；　corrosive　lichen　eating　into　her　heart。

On　the　morning　of　August　10th；　Jane；　while　waiting　in　the　court　for　Lassiter；　heard　a　clear；　ringing　report　of　a　rifle。　It　came　from　the　grove；　somewhere　toward　the　corrals。　Jane　glanced　out　in　alarm。　The　day　was　dull；　windless；　soundless。　The　leaves　of　the　cottonwoods　drooped；　as　if　they　had　foretold　the　doom　of　Withersteen　House　and　were　now　ready　to　die　and　drop　and　decay。　Never　had　Jane　seen　such　shade。　She　pondered　on　the　meaning　of　the　report。　Revolver　shots　had　of　late　cracked　from　different　parts　of　the　grovespies　taking　snap…shots　at　Lassiter　from　a　cowardly　distance！　But　a　rifle　report　meant　more。　Riders　seldom　used　rifles。　Judkins　and　Venters　were　the　exceptions　she　called　to　mind。　Had　the　men　who　hounded　her　hidden　in　her　grove；　taken　to　the　rifle　to　rid　her　of　Lassiter；　her　last　friend？　It　was　probableit　was　likely。　And　she　did　not　share　his　cool　assumption　that　his　death　would　never　come　at　the　hands　of　a　Mormon。　Long　had　she　expected　it。　His　constancy　to　her；　his　singular　reluctance　to　use　the　fatal　skill　for　which　he　was　famed　both　now　plain　to　all　Mormonslaid　him　open　to　inevitable　assassination。　Yet　what　charm　against　ambush　and　aim　and　enemy　he　seemed　to　bear　about　him！　No；　Jane　reflected；　it　was　not　charm；　only　a　wonderful　training　of　eye　and　ear；　and　sense　of　impending　peril。　Nevertheless　that　could　not　forever　avail　against　secret　attack。

That　moment　a　rustling　of　leaves　attracted　her　attention；　then　the　familiar　clinking　accompaniment　of　a　slow；　soft；　measured　step；　and　Lassiter　walked　into　the　court。

〃Jane；　there's　a　fellow　out　there　with　a　long　gun；〃　he　said；　and；　removing　his　sombrero；　showed　his　head　bound　in　a　bloody　scarf。

〃I　heard　the　shot；　I　knew　it　was　meant　for　you。　Let　me　seeyou　can't　be　badly　injured？〃

〃I　reckon　not。　But　mebbe　it　wasn't　a　close　call！。。。I'll　sit　here　in　this　corner　where　nobody　can　see　me　from　the　grove。〃　He　untied　the　scarf　and　removed　it　to　show　a　long；　bleeding　furrow　above　his　left　temple。

〃It's　only　a　cut；〃　said　Jane。　〃But　how　it　bleeds！　Hold　your　scarf　over　it　just　a　moment　till　I　come　back。〃

She　ran　into　the　house　and　returned　with　bandages；　and　while　she　bathed　and　dressed　the　wound　Lassiter　talked。

〃That　fellow　had　a　good　chance　to　get　me。　But　he　must　have　flinched　when　he　pulled　the　trigger。　As　I　dodged　down　I　saw　him　run　through　the　trees。　He　had　a　rifle。　I've　been　expectin'　that　kind　of　gun　play。　I　reckon　now　I'll　have　to　keep　a　little　closer　hid　myself。　These　fellers　all　seem　to　get　chilly　or　shaky　when　they　draw　a　bead　on　me；　but　one　of　them　might　jest　happen　to　hit　me。〃

〃Won't　you　go　awayleave　Cottonwoods　as　I've　begged　you　tobefore　some　one　does　happen　to　hit　you？〃　she　appealed　to　him。

〃I　reckon　I'll　stay。〃

〃But；　oh；　Lassiteryour　blood　will　be　on　my　hands！〃

〃See　here；　lady；　look　at　your　hands　now；　right　now。　Aren't　they　fine；　firm；　white　hands？　Aren't　they　bloody　now？　Lassiter's　blood！　That's　a　queer　thing　to　stain　your　beautiful　hands。　But　if　you　could　only　see　deeper　you'd　find　a　redder　color　of　blood。　Heart　color；　Jane！〃

〃Oh！。。。My　friend！〃

〃No；　Jane；　I'm　not　one　to　quit　when　the　game　grows　hot；　no　more　than　you。　This　game；　though；　is　new　to　me；　an'　I　don't　know　the　moves　yet；　else　I　wouldn't　have　stepped　in　front　of　that　bullet。〃

〃Have　you　no　desire　to　hunt　the　man　who　fired　at　youto　find　himand　and　kill　him？〃

〃Well；　I　reckon　I　haven't　any　great　hankerin'　for　that。〃

〃Oh；　the　wonder　of　it！。。。I　knewI　prayedI　trusted。　Lassiter；　I　almost　gaveall　myself　to　soften　you　to　Mormons。　Thank　God；　and　thank　you；　my　friend。。。。But；　selfish　woman　that　＇　am；　this　is　no　great　test。　What's　the　life　of　one　of　those　sneaking　cowards　to　such　a　man　as　you？　I　think　of　your　great　hate　toward　him　whoI　think　of　your　life's　implacable　purpose。　Can　it　be〃

〃Wait！。。。Listen！〃　he　whispered。　〃I　hear　a　hoss。〃

He　rose　noiselessly；　with　his　ear　to　the　breeze。　Suddenly　he　pulled　his　sombrero　down　over　his　bandaged　head　and；　swinging　his　gun…sheaths　round　in　front；　he　stepped　into　the　alcove。

〃It　s　a　hosscomin'　fast；〃　he　added。

Jane's　listening　ear　soon　caught　a　faint；　rapid；　rhythmic　beat　of　hoofs。　It　came　from　the　sage。　It　gave　her　a　thrill　that　she　was　at　a　loss　to　understand。　The　so