riders of the purple sage-第44节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


er　out　of　it　resulted　in　dismal　failure；　and　consequently　in　a　darkening　of　his　own　mood。　Hard　work　relieved　him；　still；　when　the　day　had　passed；　his　unrest　returned。　Then　he　set　to　deliberate　thinking；　and　there　came　to　him　the　startling　conviction　that　he　must　leave　Surprise　Valley　and　take　Bess　with　him。　As　a　rider　he　had　taken　many　chances；　and　as　an　adventurer　in　Deception　Pass　he　had　unhesitatingly　risked　his　life；　but　now　he　would　run　no　preventable　hazard　of　Bess's　safety　and　happiness；　and　he　was　too　keen　not　to　see　that　hazard。　It　gave　him　a　pang　to　think　of　leaving　the　beautiful　valley　just　when　he　had　the　means　to　establish　a　permanent　and　delightful　home　there。　One　flashing　thought　tore　in　hot　temptation　through　his　mindwhy　not　climb　up　into　the　gorge；　roll　Balancing　Rock　down　the　trail；　and　close　forever　the　outlet　to　Deception　Pass？　〃That　was　the　beast　in　meshowing　his　teeth！〃　muttered　Venters；　scornfully。　〃I'll　just　kill　him　good　and　quick！　I'll　be　fair　to　this　girl；　if　it's　the　last　thing　I　do　on　earth！〃

Another　day　went　by；　in　which　he　worked　less　and　pondered　more　and　all　the　time　covertly　watched　Bess。　Her　wistfulness　had　deepened　into　downright　unhappiness；　and　that　made　his　task　to　tell　her　all　the　harder。　He　kept　the　secret　another　day；　hoping　by　some　chance　she　might　grow　less　moody；　and　to　his　exceeding　anxiety　she　fell　into　far　deeper　gloom。　Out　of　his　own　secret　and　the　torment　of　it　he　divined　that　she；　too；　had　a　secret　and　the　keeping　of　it　was　torturing　her。　As　yet　he　had　no　plan　thought　out　in　regard　to　how　or　when　to　leave　the　valley；　but　he　decided　to　tell　her　the　necessity　of　it　and　to　persuade　her　to　go。　Furthermore；　he　hoped　his　speaking　out　would　induce　her　to　unburden　her　own　mind。

〃Bess；　what's　wrong　with　you？〃　he　asked。

〃Nothing；〃　she　answered；　with　averted　face。

Venters　took　hold　of　her　gently；　though　masterfully；　forced　her　to　meet　his　eyes。

〃You　can't　look　at　me　and　lie；〃　he　said。　〃Nowwhat's　wrong　with　you？　You're　keeping　something　from　me。　Well；　I've　got　a　secret；　too；　and　I　intend　to　tell　it　presently。〃

〃OhI　have　a　secret。　I　was　crazy　to　tell　you　when　you　came　back。　That's　why　I　was　so　silly　about　everything。　I　kept　holding　my　secret　backgloating　over　it。　But　when　Lassiter　came　I　got　an　ideathat　changed　my　mind。　Then　I　hated　to　tell　you。〃

〃Are　you　going　to　now？〃

〃Yesyes。　I　was　coming　to　it。　I　tried　yesterday；　but　you　were　so　cold。　I　was　afraid。　I　couldn't　keep　it　much　longer。〃

〃Very　well；　most　mysterious　lady；　tell　your　wonderful　secret。〃

〃You　needn't　laugh；〃　she　retorted；　with　a　first　glimpse　of　reviving　spirit。　〃I　can　take　the　laugh　out　of　you　in　one　second。〃

〃It's　a　go。〃

She　ran　through　the　spruces　to　the　cave；　and　returned　carrying　something　which　was　manifestly　heavy。　Upon　nearer　view　he　saw　that　whatever　she　held　with　such　evident　importance　had　been　bound　up　in　a　black　scarf　he　well　remembered。　That　alone　was　sufficient　to　make　him　tingle　with　curiosity。

〃Have　you　any　idea　what　I　did　in　your　absence？〃　she　asked。

〃I　imagine　you　lounged　about；　waiting　and　watching　for　me；〃　he　replied；　smiling。　〃I've　my　share　of　conceit；　you　know。〃

〃You're　wrong。　I　worked。　Look　at　my　hands。〃　She　dropped　on　her　knees　close　to　where　he　sat；　and；　carefully　depositing　the　black　bundle；　she　held　out　her　hands。　The　palms　and　inside　of　her　fingers　were　white；　puckered；　and　worn。

〃Why；　Bess；　you've　been　fooling　in　the　water；〃　he　said。

〃Fooling？　Look　here！〃　With　deft　fingers　she　spread　open　the　black　scarf；　and　the　bright　sun　shone　upon　a　dull；　glittering　heap　of　gold。

〃Gold！〃　he　ejaculated。

〃Yes；　gold！　See；　pounds　of　gold！　I　found　itwashed　it　out　of　the　streampicked　it　out　grain　by　grain；　nugget　by　nugget！〃

〃Gold！〃　he　cried。

〃Yes。　Nownow　laugh　at　my　secret！〃

For　a　long　minute　Venters　gazed。　Then　he　stretched　forth　a　hand　to　feel　if　the　gold　was　real。

〃Gold！〃　he　almost　shouted。　〃Bess；　there　are　hundredsthousands　of　dollars'　worth　here！〃

He　leaned　over　to　her；　and　put　his　hand；　strong　and　clenching　now；　on　hers。

〃Is　there　more　where　this　came　from？〃　he　whispered。

〃Plenty　of　it；　all　the　way　up　the　stream　to　the　cliff。　You　know　I've　often　washed　for　gold。　Then　I've　heard　the　men　talk。　I　think　there's　no　great　quantity　of　gold　here；　but　enough　forfor　a　fortune　for　you。〃

〃Thatwasyoursecret！　〃

〃Yes。　I　hate　gold。　For　it　makes　men　mad。　I've　seen　them　drunk　with　joy　and　dance　and　fling　themselves　around。　I've　seen　them　curse　and　rave。　I've　seen　them　fight　like　dogs　and　roll　in　the　dust。　I've　seen　them　kill　each　other　for　gold。〃

〃Is　that　why　you　hated　to　tell　me？〃

〃Notnot　altogether。〃　Bess　lowered　her　head。　〃It　was　because　I　knew　you'd　never　stay　here　long　after　you　found　gold。〃

〃You　were　afraid　I'd　leave　you？〃

〃Yes。

〃Listen！。。。You　great；　simple　child！　Listen。。。You　sweet；　wonderful；　wild；　blue…eyed　girl！　I　was　tortured　by　my　secret。　It　was　that　I　knew　wewe　must　leave　the　valley。　We　can't　stay　here　much　longer。　I　couldn't　think　how　we'd　get　awayout　of　the　countryor　how　we'd　live；　if　we　ever　got　out。　I'm　a　beggar。　That's　why　I　kept　my　secret。　I'm　poor。　It　takes　money　to　make　way　beyond　Sterling。　We　couldn't　ride　horses　or　burros　or　walk　forever。　So　while　I　knew　we　must　go；　I　was　distracted　over　how　to　go　and　what　to　do。　Now！　We've　gold！　Once　beyond　Sterling；　well　be　safe　from　rustlers。　We've　no　others　to　fear。

〃Oh！　Listen！　Bess！〃　Venters　now　heard　his　voice　ringing　high　and　sweet；　and　he　felt　Bess's　cold　hands　in　his　crushing　grasp　as　she　leaned　toward　him　pale；　breathless。　〃This　is　how　much　I'd　leave　you！　You　made　me　live　again！　I'll　take　you　awayfar　away　from　this　wild　country。　You'll　begin　a　new　life。　You'll　be　happy。　You　shall　see　cities；　ships；　people。　You　shall　have　anything　your　heart　craves。　All　the　shame　and　sorrow　of　your　life　shall　be　forgottenas　if　they　had　never　been。　This　is　how　much　I'd　leave　you　here　aloneyou　sad…eyed　girl。　I　love　you！　Didn't　you　know　it？　How　could　you　fail　to　know　it？　I　love　you！　I'm　free！　I'm　a　man　a　man　you've　madeno　more　a　beggar！。。。Kiss　me！　This　is　how　much　I'd　leave　you　here　aloneyou　beautiful；　strange；　unhappy　girl。　But　I'll　make　you　happy。　Whatwhat　do　I　care　foryour　past！　I　love　you！　I'll　take　you　home　to　Illinoisto　my　mother。　Then　I'll　take　you　to　far　places。　I'll　make　up　all　you've　lost。　Oh；　I　know　you　love　meknew　it　before　you　told　me。　And　it　changed　my　life。　And　you'll　go　with　me；　not　as　my　companion　as　you　are　here；　nor　my　sister；　but；　Bess；　darling！。。。As　my　wife！〃



CHAPTER　XVII。　WRANGLE'S　RACE　RUN

The　plan　eventually　decided　upon　by　the　lovers　was　for　Venters　to　go　to　the　village；　secure　a　horse　and　some　kind　of　a　disguise　for　Bess；　or　at　least　less　striking　apparel　than　her　present　garb；　and　to　return　post…haste　to　the　valley。　Meanwhile；　she　would　add　to　their　store　of　gold。　Then　they　would　strike　the　long　and　perilous　trail　to　ride　out　of　Utah。　In　the　event　of　his　inability　to　fetch　back　a　horse　for　her；　they　intended　to　make　the　giant　sorrel　carry　double。　The　gold；　a　little　food；　saddle　blankets；　and　Venters's　guns　were　to　compose　the　light　outfit　with　which　they　would　make　the　start。

〃I　love　this　beautiful　place；〃　said　Bess。　〃It's　hard　to　think　of　leaving　it。〃

〃Hard！　Well；　I　should　think　so；〃　replied　Venters。　〃Maybein　years〃　But　he　did　not　complete　in　words　his　thought　that　might　be　possible　to　return　after　many　years　of　absence　and　change。

Once　again　Bess　bade　Venters　farewell　under　the　shadow　of　Balancing　Rock；　and　this　time　it　was　with　whispered　hope　and　tenderness　and　passionate　trust。　Long　after　he　had　left　her；　all　down　through　the　outlet　to　the　Pass；　the　clinging　clasp　of　her　arms；　the　sweetness　of　her　lips；　and　the　sense　of　a　new　and　exquisite　birth　of　character　in　her　remained　hauntingly　and　thrillingly　in　his　mind。　The　girl　who　had　sadly　called　herself　nameless　and　nothing　had　been　marvelously　transformed　in　the　moment　of　his　avowal　of　love。　It　was　something　to　think　over；　something　to　warm　his　heart；　but　for　the　present　it　had　absolutely　to　be　forgotten　so　that　all　his　mind　could　be　addressed　to　the　trip　so　fraught　with　danger。

He　carried　only　his　rifle；　revolver；　and　a　small　quantity　of　bread　and　meat；　and　thus　lightly　burdened；　he　made　swift　progress　down　the　slope　and　out　into　the　valley。　Darkness　was　coming　on；　and　he　welcomed　it。　Stars　were　blinking　when　he　reached　his　old　hiding…place　in　the　split　of　canyon　wall；　and　by　their　aid　he　slipped　through　the　dense　thickets　to　the　grassy　enclosure。　Wrangle　stood　in　the　center　of　it　with　his　head　up；　and　he　appeared　black　and　of　gigantic　proportions　in　the　dim　light。　Venters　whistled　softly；　began　a　slow　approach；　and　then　called。　The　horse　snorted　and；　plunging　away　with　dull；　heavy　sound　of　hoofs；　he　disappeared　in　the　gloom。　〃Wilder　than　ever！〃　muttered　Venters。　He　followed　the　sorrel　into　the　narrowing　split　between　the　walls；　and　presently　had　to　desist　because　he　could　not　see　a　foot　in　advance。　As　he　went　back　toward　the　open　Wrangle　jumped　out　of　an　ebony　shadow　of　cliff　and　like　a　thunderbolt　shot　huge　and　black　past　him　down　into　the　starlit　glade。　Deciding　that　all　attempts　to　catch　Wrangle　at　night　would　be　useless；　Venters　repaired　to　the　shelving　rock　where　he　had　hidden　saddle　and　b