riders of the purple sage-第18节

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〃Oh　no！　My　women　neighbors　are　kind。　They　take　turns　coming　in。〃

〃Did　you　send　for　me？〃

〃Yes；　several　times。〃

〃But　I　had　no　wordno　messages　ever　got　to　me。〃

〃I　sent　the　boys；　and　they　left　word　with　your　women　that　I　was　ill　and　would　you　please　come。〃

A　sudden　deadly　sickness　seized　Jane。　She　fought　the　weakness；　as　she　fought　to　be　above　suspicious　thoughts；　and　it　passed；　leaving　her　conscious　of　her　utter　impotence。　That；　too；　passed　as　her　spirit　rebounded。　But　she　had　again　caught　a　glimpse　of　dark　underhand　domination；　running　its　secret　lines　this　time　into　her　own　household。　Like　a　spider　in　the　blackness　of　night　an　unseen　hand　had　begun　to　run　these　dark　lines；　to　turn　and　twist　them　about　her　life；　to　plait　and　weave　a　web。　Jane　Withersteen　knew　it　now；　and　in　the　realization　further　coolness　and　sureness　came　to　her；　and　the　fighting　courage　of　her　ancestors。

〃Mrs。　Larkin；　you're　better；　and　I'm　so　glad；〃　said　Jane。　〃But　may　I　not　do　something　for　youa　turn　at　nursing；　or　send　you　things；　or　take　care　of　Fay？〃

〃You're　so　good。　Since　my　husband's　been　gone　what　would　have　become　of　Fay　and　me　but　for　you？　It　was　about　Fay　that　I　wanted　to　speak　to　you。　This　time　I　thought　surely　I'd　die；　and　I　was　worried　about　Fay。　Well；　I'll　be　around　all　right　shortly；　but　my　strength's　gone　and　I　won't　live　long。　So　I　may　as　well　speak　now。　You　remember　you've　been　asking　me　to　let　you　take　Fay　and　bring　her　up　as　your　daughter？〃

〃Indeed　yes；　I　remember。　I'll　be　happy　to　have　her。　But　I　hope　the　day…　…〃

〃Never　mind　that。　The　day'll　comesooner　or　later。　I　refused　your　offer；　and　now　I'll　tell　you　why。〃

〃I　know　why；〃　interposed　Jane。　〃It's　because　you　don't　want　her　brought　up　as　a　Mormon。〃

〃No；　it　wasn't　altogether　that。〃　Mrs。　Larkin　raised　her　thin　hand　and　laid　it　appealingly　on　Jane's。　〃I　don't　like　to　tell　you。　Butit's　this：　I　told　all　my　friends　what　you　wanted。　They　know　you；　care　for　you；　and　they　said　for　me　to　trust　Fay　to　you。　Women　will　talk；　you　know。　It　got　to　the　ears　of　Mormonsgossip　of　your　love　for　Fay　and　your　wanting　her。　And　it　came　straight　back　to　me；　in　jealousy；　perhaps；　that　you　wouldn't　take　Fay　as　much　for　love　of　her　as　because　of　your　religious　duty　to　bring　up　another　girl　for　some　Mormon　to　marry。〃

〃That's　a　damnable　lie！〃　cried　Jane　Withersteen。

〃It　was　what　made　me　hesitate；〃　went　on　Mrs。　Larkin；　〃but　I　never　believed　it　at　heart。　And　now　I　guess　I'll　let　you〃

〃Wait！　Mrs。　Larkin；　I　may　have　told　little　white　lies　in　my　life；　but　never　a　lie　that　mattered；　that　hurt　any　one。　Now　believe　me。　I　love　little　Fay。　If　I　had　her　near　me　I'd　grow　to　worship　her。　When　I　asked　for　her　I　thought　only　of　that　love。。。。Let　me　prove　this。　You　and　Fay　come　to　live　with　me。　I've　such　a　big　house；　and　I'm　so　lonely。　I'll　help　nurse　you；　take　care　of　you。　When　you're　better　you　can　work　for　me。　I'll　keep　little　Fay　and　bring　her　upwithout　Mormon　teaching。　When　she's　grown；　if　she　should　want　to　leave　me；　I'll　send　her；　and　not　empty…handed；　back　to　Illinois　where　you　came　from。　I　promise　you。〃

〃I　knew　it　was　a　lie；〃　replied　the　mother；　and　she　sank　back　upon　her　pillow　with　something　of　peace　in　her　white；　worn　face。　〃Jane　Withersteen；　may　Heaven　bless　you！　I've　been　deeply　grateful　to　you。　But　because　you're　a　Mormon　I　never　felt　close　to　you　till　now。　I　don't　know　much　about　religion　as　religion；　but　your　God　and　my　God　are　the　same。〃



CHAPTER　VIII。　SURPRISE　VALLEY

Back　in　that　strange　canyon；　which　Venters　had　found　indeed　a　valley　of　surprises；　the　wounded　girl's　whispered　appeal；　almost　a　prayer；　not　to　take　her　back　to　the　rustlers　crowned　the　events　of　the　last　few　days　with　a　confounding　climax。　That　she　should　not　want　to　return　to　them　staggered　Venters。　Presently；　as　logical　thought　returned；　her　appeal　confirmed　his　first　impressionthat　she　was　more　unfortunate　than　bad　and　he　experienced　a　sensation　of　gladness。　If　he　had　known　before　that　Oldring's　Masked　Rider　was　a　woman　his　opinion　would　have　been　formed　and　he　would　have　considered　her　abandoned。　But　his　first　knowledge　had　come　when　he　lifted　a　white　face　quivering　in　a　convulsion　of　agony；　he　had　heard　God's　name　whispered　by　blood…stained　lips；　through　her　solemn　and　awful　eyes　he　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　soul。　And　just　now　had　come　the　entreaty　to　him；　〃Don'ttakemebackthere！〃

Once　for　all　Venters's　quick　mind　formed　a　permanent　conception　of　this　poor　girl。　He　based　it；　not　upon　what　the　chances　of　life　had　made　her；　but　upon　the　revelation　of　dark　eyes　that　pierced　the　infinite；　upon　a　few　pitiful；　halting　words　that　betrayed　failure　and　wrong　and　misery；　yet　breathed　the　truth　of　a　tragic　fate　rather　than　a　natural　leaning　to　evil。

〃What's　your　name？〃　he　inquired。

〃Bess；〃　she　answered。

〃Bess　what？〃

〃That's　enoughjust　Bess。〃

The　red　that　deepened　in　her　cheeks　was　not　all　the　flush　of　fever。　Venters　marveled　anew；　and　this　time　at　the　tint　of　shame　in　her　face；　at　the　momentary　drooping　of　long　lashes。　She　might　be　a　rustler's　girl；　but　she　was　still　capable　of　shame；　she　might　be　dying；　but　she　still　clung　to　some　little　remnant　of　honor。

〃Very　well；　Bess。　It　doesn't　matter；〃　he　said。　〃But　this　matterswhat　shall　I　do　with　you？〃

〃Areyoua　rider？〃　she　whispered。

〃Not　now。　I　was　once。　I　drove　the　Withersteen　herds。　But　T　lost　my　placelost　all　I　ownedand　now　I'mI'm　a　sort　of　outcast。　My　name's　Bern　Venters。〃

〃You　won'ttake　meto　Cottonwoodsor　Glaze？　I'd　behanged。〃

〃No；　indeed。　But　I　must　do　something　with　you。　For　it's　not　safe　for　me　here。　I　shot　that　rustler　who　was　with　you。　Sooner　or　later　he'll　be　found；　and　then　my　tracks。　I　must　find　a　safer　hiding…place　where　I　can't　be　trailed。〃

〃Leave　mehere。〃

〃Aloneto　die！〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　will　not。〃　Venters　spoke　shortly　with　a　kind　of　ring　in　his　voice。

〃Whatdo　you　wantto　dowith　me？〃　Her　whispering　grew　difficult；　so　low　and　faint　that　Venters　had　to　stoop　to　hear　her。

〃Why；　let's　see；〃　he　replied；　slowly。　〃I'd　like　to　take　you　some　place　where　I　could　watch　by　you；　nurse　you；　till　you're　all　right。〃

〃Andthen？〃

〃Well；　it'll　be　time　to　think　of　that　when　you're　cured　of　your　wound。　It's　a　bad　one。　AndBess；　if　you　don't　want　to　liveif　you　don't　fight　for　lifeyou'll　never〃

〃Oh！　I　wantto　live！　I'm　afraidto　die。　But　I'd　ratherdiethan　go　backtoto〃

〃To　Oldring？〃　asked　Venters；　interrupting　her　in　turn。

Her　lips　moved　in　an　affirmative。

〃I　promise　not　to　take　you　back　to　him　or　to　Cottonwoods　or　to　Glaze。〃

The　mournful　earnestness　of　her　gaze　suddenly　shone　with　unutterable　gratitude　and　wonder。　And　as　suddenly　Venters　found　her　eyes　beautiful　as　he　had　never　seen　or　felt　beauty。　They　were　as　dark　blue　as　the　sky　at　night。　Then　the　flashing　changed　to　a　long；　thoughtful　look；　in　which　there　was　a　wistful；　unconscious　searching　of　his　face；　a　look　that　trembled　on　the　verge　of　hope　and　trust。

〃I'll　tryto　live；〃　she　said。　The　broken　whisper　just　reached　his　ears。　〃Do　whatyou　wantwith　me。〃

〃Rest　thendon't　worrysleep；〃　he　replied。

Abruptly　he　arose；　as　if　words　had　been　decision　for　him；　and　with　a　sharp　command　to　the　dogs　he　strode　from　the　camp。　Venters　was　conscious　of　an　indefinite　conflict　of　change　within　him。　It　seemed　to　be　a　vague　passing　of　old　moods；　a　dim　coalescing　of　new　forces；　a　moment　of　inexplicable　transition。　He　was　both　cast　down　and　uplifted。　He　wanted　to　think　and　think　of　the　meaning；　but　he　resolutely　dispelled　emotion。　His　imperative　need　at　present　was　to　find　a　safe　retreat；　and　this　called　for　action。

So　he　set　out。　It　still　wanted　several　hours　before　dark。　This　trip　he　turned　to　the　left　and　wended　his　skulking　way　southward　a　mile　or　more　to　the　opening　of　the　valley；　where　lay　the　strange　scrawled　rocks。　He　did　not；　however；　venture　boldly　out　into　the　open　sage；　but　clung　to　the　right…hand　wall　and　went　along　that　till　its　perpendicular　line　broke　into　the　long　incline　of　bare　stone。

Before　proceeding　farther　he　halted；　studying　the　strange　character　of　this　slope　and　realizing　that　a　moving　black　object　could　be　seen　far　against　such　background。　Before　him　ascended　a　gradual　swell　of　smooth　stone。　It　was　hard；　polished；　and　full　of　pockets　worn　by　centuries　of　eddying　rain…water。　A　hundred　yards　up　began　a　line　of　grotesque　cedar…trees；　and　they　extended　along　the　slope　clear　to　its　most　southerly　end。　Beyond　that　end　Venters　wanted　to　get；　and　he　concluded　the　cedars；　few　as　they　were；　would　afford　some　cover。

Therefore　he　climbed　swiftly。　The　trees　were　farther　up　than　he　had　estimated；　though　he　had　from　long　habit　made　allowance　for　the　deceiving　nature　of　distances　in　that　country。　When　he　gained　the　cover　of　cedars　he　paused　to　rest　and　look；　and　it　was　then　he　saw　how　the　trees　sprang　from　holes　in　the　bare　rock。　Ages　of　rain　had　run　down　the　slope；　circling；　eddying　in　depressions；　wearing　deep　round　holes。　There　had　been　dry　seasons；　accumulations　of　dust；　wind…blown　seeds；　and　cedars　rose　wonderfully　out　of　solid　rock。　But　these　were　not　beautiful　cedars。　They　were　gnarled；　twisted　into　weird　contortions；　as　if　growth　were　torture；　dead　at　the　tops；　shrunken；　gray；　and　old。　Theirs　had　been　a　bitter　fight；　and　Venters　felt　a　strange　sympathy