riders of the purple sage-第65章

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Her　passion；　like　fire　at　white　heat；　consumed　itself　in　little　time。　Her　physical　strength　failed；　and　still　her　spirit　attempted　to　go　on　in　magnificent　denunciation　of　those　who　had　wronged　her。　Like　a　tree　cut　deep　into　its　roots；　she　began　to　quiver　and　shake；　and　her　anger　weakened　into　despair。　And　her　ringing　voice　sank　into　a　broken；　husky　whisper。　Then；　spent　and　pitiable；　upheld　by　Lassiter's　arm；　she　turned　and　hid　her　face　in　Black　Star's　mane。

Numb　as　Venters　was　when　at　length　Jane　Withersteen　lifted　her　head　and　looked　at　him；　he　yet　suffered　a　pang。

〃Jane；　the　girl　is　innocent！〃　he　cried。

〃Can　you　expect　me　to　believe　that？〃　she　asked；　with　weary；　bitter　eyes。

〃I'm　not　that　kind　of　a　liar。　And　you　know　it。　If　I　liedif　I　kept　silent　when　honor　should　have　made　me　speak；　it　was　to　spare　you。　I　came　to　Cottonwoods　to　tell　you。　But　I　couldn't　add　to　your　pain。　I　intended　to　tell　you　I　had　come　to　love　this　girl。　But；　Jane　I　hadn't　forgotten　how　good　you　were　to　me。　I　haven't　changed　at　all　toward　you。　I　prize　your　friendship　as　I　always　have。　But；　however　it　may　look　to　youdon't　be　unjust。　The　girl　is　innocent。　Ask　Lassiter。〃

〃Jane；　she's　jest　as　sweet　an'　innocent　as　little　Fay；〃　said　Lassiter。　There　was　a　faint　smile　upon　his　face　and　a　beautiful　light。

Venters　saw；　and　knew　that　Lassiter　saw；　how　Jane　Withersteen's　tortured　soul　wrestled　with　hate　and　threw　itwith　scorn　doubt；　suspicion；　and　overcame　all。

〃Bern；　if　in　my　misery　I　accused　you　unjustly；　I　crave　forgiveness；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　not　what　I　once　was。　Tell　mewho　is　this　girl？〃

〃Jane；　she　is　Oldring's　daughter；　and　his　Masked　Rider。　Lassiter　will　tell　you　how　I　shot　her　for　a　rustler；　saved　her　lifeall　the　story。　It's　a　strange　story；　Jane；　as　wild　as　the　sage。　But　it's　truetrue　as　her　innocence。　That　you　must　believe；〃

〃Oldring's　Masked　Rider！　Oldring's　daughter！〃　exclaimed　Jane　〃And　she's　innocent！　You　ask　me　to　believe　much。　If　this　girl　isis　what　you　say；　how　could　she　be　going　away　with　the　man　who　killed　her　father？〃

〃Why　did　you　tell　that？〃　cried　Venters；　passionately。

Jane's　question　had　roused　Bess　out　of　stupefaction。　Her　eyes　suddenly　darkened　and　dilated。　She　stepped　toward　Venters　and　held　up　both　hands　as　if　to　ward　off　a　blow。

〃Diddid　you　kill　Oldring？〃

〃I　did；　Bess；　and　I　hate　myself　for　it。　But　you　know　I　never　dreamed　he　was　your　father。　I　thought　he'd　wronged　you。　I　killed　him　when　I　was　madly　jealous。〃

For　a　moment　Bess　was　shocked　into　silence。

〃But　he　was　my　father！〃　she　broke　out；　at　last。　〃And　now　I　must　go　backI　can't　go　with　you。　It's　all　overthat　beautiful　dream。　Oh；　I　knew　it　couldn't　come　true。　You　can't　take　me　now。〃

〃If　you　forgive　me；　Bess；　it'll　all　come　right　in　the　end！〃　implored　Venters。

〃It　can't　be　right。　I'll　go　back。　After　all；　I　loved　him。　He　was　good　to　me。　I　can't　forget　that。〃

〃If　you　go　back　to　Oldring's　men　I'll　follow　you；　and　then　they'll　kill　me；〃　said　Venters；　hoarsely。

〃Oh　no；　Bern；　you'll　not　come。　Let　me　go。　It's　best　for　you　to　forget　mot　I've　brought　you　only　pain　and　dishonor。〃

She　did　not　weep。　But　the　sweet　bloom　and　life　died　out　of　her　face。　She　looked　haggard　and　sad；　all　at　once　stunted；　and　her　hands　dropped　listlessly；　and　her　head　drooped　in　slow；　final　acceptance　of　a　hopeless　fate。

〃Jane。　look　there！〃　cried　Venters；　in　despairing　grief。　〃Need　you　have　told　her？　Where　was　all　your　kindness　of　heart？　This　girl　has　had　a　wretched；　lonely　life。　And　I'd　found　a　way　to　make　her　happy。　You've　killed　it。　You've　killed　something　sweet　and　pure　and　hopeful；　just　as　sure　as　you　breathe。〃

〃Oh；　Bern！　It　was　a　slip。　I　never　thoughtI　never　thought！〃　replied　Jane。　〃How　could　I　tell　she　didn't　know？〃

Lassiter　suddenly　moved　forward；　and　with　the　beautiful　light　on　his　face　now　strangely　luminous；　he　looked　at　Jane　and　Venters　and　then　let　his　soft；　bright　gaze　rest　on　Bess。

〃Well；　I　reckon　you've　all　had　your　say；　an'　now　it's　Lassiter's　turn。　Why；　I　was　jest　praying　for　this　meetin'。　Bess；　jest　look　here。〃

Gently　he　touched　her　arm　and　turned　her　to　face　the　others；　and　then　outspread　his　great　hand　to　disclose　a　shiny；　battered　gold　locket。

〃Open　it；〃　he　said；　with　a　singularly　rich　voice。

Bess　complied；　but　listlessly。

〃JaneVenterscome　closer；〃　went　on　Lassiter。　〃Take　a　look　at　the　picture。　Don't　you　know　the　woman？〃

Jane；　after　one　glance；　drew　back。

〃Milly　Erne！〃　she　cried；　wonderingly。

Venters；　with　tingling　pulse；　with　something　growing　on　him；　recognized　in　the　faded　miniature　portrait　the　eyes　of　Milly　Erne。

〃Yes；　that's　Milly；〃　said　Lassiter；　softly。　〃Bess；　did　you　ever　see　her　facelook　hardwith　all　your　heart　an'　soul？〃

〃The　eyes　seem　to　haunt　me；〃　whispered　Bess。　〃Oh；　I　can't　remember　they're　eyes　of　my　dreamsbutbut〃

Lassiter's　strong　arm　went　round　her　and　he　bent　his　head。

〃Child；　I　thought　you'd　remember　her　eyes。　They're　the　same　beautiful　eyes　you'd　see　if　you　looked　in　a　mirror　or　a　clear　spring。　They're　your　mother's　eyes。　You　are　Milly　Erne's　child。　Your　name　is　Elizabeth　Erne。　You're　not　Oldring's　daughter。　You're　the　daughter　of　Frank　Erne；　a　man　once　my　best　friend。　Look！　Here's　his　picture　beside　Milly's。　He　was　handsome；　an'　as　fine　an'　gallant　a　Southern　gentleman　as　I　ever　seen。　Frank　came　of　an　old　family。　You　come　of　the　best　of　blood；　lass；　and　blood　tells。〃

Bess　slipped　through　his　arm　to　her　knees　and　hugged　the　locket　to　her　bosom；　and　lifted　wonderful；　yearning　eyes。

〃Itcan'tbetrue！〃

〃Thank　God；　lass；　it　is　true；〃　replied　Lassiter。　〃Jane　an'　Bern　herethey　both　recognize　Milly。　They　see　Milly　in　you。　They're　so　knocked　out　they　can't　tell　you；　that's　all。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　whispered　Bess。

〃I　reckon　I'm　Milly's　brother　an'　your　uncle！。。。Uncle　Jim！　Ain't　that　fine？〃

〃Oh；　I　can't　believeDon't　raise　me！　Bern；　let　me　kneel。　I　see　truth　in　your　facein　Miss　Withersteen's。　But　let　me　hear　it　allall　on　my　knees。　Tell　me　how　it's　true！〃

〃Well；　Elizabeth；　listen；〃　said　Lassiter。　〃Before　you　was　born　your　father　made　a　mortal　enemy　of　a　Mormon　named　Dyer。　They　was　both　ministers　an'　come　to　be　rivals。　Dyer　stole　your　mother　away　from　her　home。　She　gave　birth　to　you　in　Texas　eighteen　years　ago。　Then　she　was　taken　to　Utah；　from　place　to　place；　an'　finally　to　the　last　border　settlementCottonwoods。　You　was　about　three　years　old　when　you　was　taken　away　from　Milly。　She　never　knew　what　had　become　of　you。　But　she　lived　a　good　while　hopin'　and　prayin'　to　have　you　again。　Then　she　gave　up　an'　died。　An'　I　may　as　well　put　in　here　your　father　died　ten　years　ago。　Well；　I　spent　my　time　tracin'　Milly；　an'　some　months　back　I　landed　in　Cottonwoods。　An'　jest　lately　I　learned　all　about　you。　I　had　a　talk　with　Oldrin'　an'　told　him　you　was　dead；　an'　he　told　me　what　I　had　so　long　been　wantin'　to　know。　It　was　Dyer；　of　course；　who　stole　you　from　Milly。　Part　reason　he　was　sore　because　Milly　refused　to　give　you　Mormon　teachin'；　but　mostly　he　still　hated　Frank　Erne　so　infernally　that　he　made　a　deal　with　Oldrin'　to　take　you　an'　bring　you　up　as　an　infamous　rustler　an'　rustler's　girl。　The　idea　was　to　break　Frank　Erne's　heart　if　he　ever　came　to　Utahto　show　him　his　daughter　with　a　band　of　low　rustlers。　WellOldrin'　took　you；　brought　you　up　from　childhood；　an'　then　made　you　his　Masked　Rider。　He　made　you　infamous。　He　kept　that　part　of　the　contract；　but　he　learned　to　love　you　as　a　daughter　an'　never　let　any　but　his　own　men　know　you　was　a　girl。　I　heard　him　say　that　with　my　own　ears；　an'　I　saw　his　big　eyes　grow　dim。　He　told　me　how　he　had　guarded　you　always；　kept　you　locked　up　in　his　absence；　was　always　at　your　side　or　near　you　on　those　rides　that　made　you　famous　on　the　sage。　He　said　he　an'　an　old　rustler　whom　he　trusted　had　taught　you　how　to　read　an'　write。　They　selected　the　books　for　you。　Dyer　had　wanted　you　brought　up　the　vilest　of　the　vile！　An'　Oldrin'　brought　you　up　the　innocentest　of　the　innocent。　He　said　you　didn't　know　what　vileness　was。　I　can　hear　his　big　voice　tremble　now　as　he　said　it。　He　told　me　how　the　menrustlers　an'　outlawswho　from　time　to　time　tried　to　approach　you　familiarlyhe　told　me　how　he　shot　them　dead。　I'm　tellin'　you　this　'specially　because　you've　showed　such　shamesayin'　you　was　nameless