riders of the purple sage-第37部分

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tering　jealousy。　Strong　and　passionate　effort　of　will；　surprising　to　him；　held　back　the　poison　from　piercing　his　soul。

〃Wait！。。。Wait！〃　he　cried；　as　if　calling。　His　hand　pressed　his　breast；　and　he　might　have　called　to　the　pang　there。　〃Wait！　It's　all　so　strangeso　wonderful。　Anything　can　happen。　Who　am　I　to　judge　her？　I'll　glory　in　my　love　for　her。　But　I　can't　tell　itcan't　give　up　to　it。〃

Certainly　he　could　not　then　decide　her　future。　Marrying　her　was　impossible　in　Surprise　Valley　and　in　any　village　south　of　Sterling。　Even　without　the　mask　she　had　once　worn　she　would　easily　have　been　recognized　as　Oldring's　Rider。　No　man　who　had　ever　seen　her　would　forget　her；　regardless　of　his　ignorance　as　to　her　sex。　Then　more　poignant　than　all　other　argument　was　the　fact　that　he　did　not　want　to　take　her　away　from　Surprise　Valley。　He　resisted　all　thought　of　that。　He　had　brought　her　to　the　most　beautiful　and　wildest　place　of　the　uplands；　he　had　saved　her；　nursed　her　back　to　strength；　watched　her　bloom　as　one　of　the　valley　lilies；　he　knew　her　life　there　to　be　pure　and　sweetshe　belonged　to　him；　and　he　loved　her。　Still　these　were　not　all　the　reasons　why　he　did　not　want　to　take　her　away。　Where　could　they　go？　He　feared　the　rustlershe　feared　the　ridershe　feared　the　Mormons。　And　if　he　should　ever　succeed　in　getting　Bess　safely　away　from　these　immediate　perils；　he　feared　the　sharp　eyes　of　women　and　their　tongues；　the　big　outside　world　with　its　problems　of　existence。　He　must　wait　to　decide　her　future；　which；　after　all；　was　deciding　his　own。　But　between　her　future　and　his　something　hung　impending。　Like　Balancing　Rock；　which　waited　darkly　over　the　steep　gorge；　ready　to　close　forever　the　outlet　to　Deception　Pass；　that　nameless　thing；　as　certain　yet　intangible　as　fate；　must　fall　and　close　forever　all　doubts　and　fears　of　the　future。

〃I've　dreamed；〃　muttered　Venters；　as　he　rose。　〃Well；　why　not？。。。To　dream　is　happiness！　But　let　me　just　once　see　this　clearly　wholly；　then　I　can　go　on　dreaming　till　the　thing　falls。　I've　got　to　tell　Jane　Withersteen。　I've　dangerous　trips　to　take。　I've　work　here　to　make　comfort　for　this　girl。　She's　mine。　I'll　fight　to　keep　her　safe　from　that　old　life。　I've　already　seen　her　forget　it。　I　love　her。　And　if　a　beast　ever　rises　in　me　I'll　burn　my　hand　off　before　I　lay　it　on　her　with　shameful　intent。　And；　by　God！　sooner　or　later　I'll　kill　the　man　who　hid　her　and　kept　her　in　Deception　Pass！〃

As　he　spoke　the　west　wind　softly　blew　in　his　face。　It　seemed　to　soothe　his　passion。　That　west　wind　was　fresh；　cool；　fragrant；　and　it　carried　a　sweet；　strange　burden　of　far…off　thingstidings　of　life　in　other　climes；　of　sunshine　asleep　on　other　wallsof　other　places　where　reigned　peace。　It　carried；　too；　sad　truth　of　human　hearts　and　mysteryof　promise　and　hope　unquenchable。　Surprise　Valley　was　only　a　little　niche　in　the　wide　world　whence　blew　that　burdened　wind。　Bess　was　only　one　of　millions　at　the　mercy　of　unknown　motive　in　nature　and　life。　Content　had　come　to　Venters　in　the　valley；　happiness　had　breathed　in　the　slow；　warm　air；　love　as　bright　as　light　had　hovered　over　the　walls　and　descended　to　him；　and　now　on　the　west　wind　came　a　whisper　of　the　eternal　triumph　of　faith　over　doubt。

〃How　much　better　I　am　for　what　has　come　to　me！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I'll　let　the　future　take　care　of　itself。　Whatever　falls；　I'll　be　ready。〃

Venters　retraced　his　steps　along　the　terrace　back　to　camp；　and　found　Bess　in　the　old　familiar　seat；　waiting　and　watching　for　his　return。

〃I　went　off　by　myself　to　think　a　little；〃　he　explained。

〃You　never　looked　that　way　before。　Whatwhat　is　it？　Won't　you　tell　me？〃

〃Well；　Bess；　the　fact　is　I've　been　dreaming　a　lot。　This　valley　makes　a　fellow　dream。　So　I　forced　myself　to　think。　We　can't　live　this　way　much　longer。　Soon　I'll　simply　have　to　go　to　Cottonwoods。　We　need　a　whole　pack　train　of　supplies。　I　can　get〃

〃Can　you　go　safely？〃　she　interrupted。

〃Why；　I'm　sure　of　it。　I'll　ride　through　the　Pass　at　night。　I　haven't　any　fear　that　Wrangle　isn't　where　I　left　him。　And　once　on　himBess；　just　wait　till　you　see　that　horse！〃

〃Oh；　I　want　to　see　himto　ride　him。　Butbut；　Bern；　this　is　what　troubles　me；〃　she　said。　〃Willwill　you　come　back？〃

〃Give　me　four　days。　If　I'm　not　back　in　four　days　you'll　know　I'm　dead。　For　that　only　shall　keep　me。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Bess；　I'll　come　back。　There's　dangerI　wouldn't　lie　to　youbut　I　can　take　care　of　myself。〃

〃Bern；　I'm　sureoh；　I'm　sure　of　it！　All　my　life　I've　watched　hunted　men。　I　can　tell　what's　in　them。　And　I　believe　you　can　ride　and　shoot　and　see　with　any　rider　of　the　sage。　It's　notnot　that　Ifear。〃

〃Well；　what　is　it；　then？〃

〃Whywhywhy　should　you　come　back　at　all？〃

〃I　couldn't　leave　you　here　alone。〃

〃You　might　change　your　mind　when　you　get　to　the　villageamong　old　friends〃

〃I　won't　change　my　mind。　As　for　old　friends〃　He　uttered　a　short；　expressive　laugh。

〃Thentherethere　must　be　aa　woman！〃　Dark　red　mantled　the　clear　tan　of　temple　and　cheek　and　neck。　Her　eyes　were　eyes　of　shame；　upheld　a　long　moment　by　intense；　straining　search　for　the　verification　of　her　fear。　Suddenly　they　drooped；　her　head　fell　to　her　knees；　her　hands　flew　to　her　hot　cheeks。

〃Besslook　here；〃　said　Venters；　with　a　sharpness　due　to　the　violence　with　which　he　checked　his　quick；　surging　emotion。

As　if　compelled　against　her　willanswering　to　an　irresistible　voice　Bess　raised　her　head；　looked　at　him　with　sad；　dark　eyes；　and　tried　to　whisper　with　tremulous　lips。

〃There's　no　woman；〃　went　on　Venters；　deliberately　holding　her　glance　with　his。　〃Nothing　on　earth；　barring　the　chances　of　life；　can　keep　me　away。〃

Her　face　flashed　and　flushed　with　the　glow　of　a　leaping　joy；　but　like　the　vanishing　of　a　gleam　it　disappeared　to　leave　her　as　he　had　never　beheld　her。

〃I　am　nothingI　am　lostI　am　nameless！〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to　come　back？〃　he　asked；　with　sudden　stern　coldness。　〃Maybe　you　want　to　go　back　to　Oldring！〃

That　brought　her　erect；　trembling　and　ashy　pale；　with　dark；　proud　eyes　and　mute　lips　refuting　his　insinuation。

〃Bess；　I　beg　your　pardon。　I　shouldn't　have　said　that。　But　you　angered　me。　I　intend　to　workto　make　a　home　for　you　hereto　be　aa　brother　to　you　as　long　as　ever　you　need　me。　And　you　must　forget　what　you　are　wereI　mean；　and　be　happy。　When　you　remember　that　old　life　you　are　bitter；　and　it　hurts　me。〃

〃I　was　happyI　shall　be　very　happy。　Oh；　you're　so　good　thatthat　it　kills　me！　If　I　think；　I　can't　believe　it。　I　grow　sick　with　wondering　why。　I'm　only　a　let　me　say　itonly　a　lost；　namelessgirl　of　the　rustlers。　Oldring's　Girl；　they　called　me。　That　you　should　save　mebe　so　good　and　kindwant　to　make　me　happywhy；　it's　beyond　belief。　No　wonder　I'm　wretched　at　the　thought　of　your　leaving　me。　But　I'll　be　wretched　and　bitter　no　more。　I　promise　you。　If　only　I　could　repay　you　even　a　little〃

〃You've　repaid　me　a　hundredfold。　Will　you　believe　me？〃

〃Believe　you！　I　couldn't　do　else。〃

〃Then　listen！。。。Saving　you；　I　saved　myself。　Living　here　in　this　valley　with　you；　I've　found　myself。　I've　learned　to　think　while　I　was　dreaming。　I　never　troubled　myself　about　God。　But　God；　or　some　wonderful　spirit；　has　whispered　to　me　here。　I　absolutely　deny　the　truth　of　what　you　say　about　yourself。　I　can't　explain　it。　There　are　things　too　deep　to　tell。　Whatever　the　terrible　wrongs　you've　suffered；　God　holds　you　blameless。　I　see　thatfeel　that　in　you　every　moment　you　are　near　me。　I've　a　mother　and　a　sister　'way　back　in　Illinois。　If　I　could　I'd　take　you　to　themto…morrow。〃

〃If　it　were　true！　Oh；　I　mightI　might　lift　my　head！〃　she　cried。

〃Lift　it　thenyou　child。　For　I　swear　it's　true。〃

She　did　lift　her　head　with　the　singular　wild　grace　always　a　part　of　her　actions；　with　that　old　unconscious　intimation　of　innocence　which　always　tortured　Venters；　but　now　with　something　morea　spirit　rising　from　the　depths　that　linked　itself　to　his　brave　words。

〃I've　been　thinkingtoo；〃　she　cried；　with　quivering　smile　and　swelling　breast。　〃I've　discovered　myselftoo。　I'm　youngI'm　aliveI'm　so　fulloh！　I'm　a　woman！〃

〃Bess；　I　believe　I　can　claim　credit　of　that　last　discoverybefore　you；〃　Venters　said；　and　laughed。

〃Oh；　there's　morethere's　something　I　must　tell　you。〃

〃Tell　it；　then。〃

〃When　will　you　go　to　Cottonwoods？〃

〃As　soon　as　the　storms　are　past；　or　the　worst　of　them。〃

〃I'll　tell　you　before　you　go。　I　can't　now。　I　don't　know　how　I　shall　then。　But　it　must　be　told。　I'd　never　let　you　leave　me　without　knowing。　For　in　spite　of　what　you　say　there's　a　chance　you　mightn't　come　back。〃

Day　after　day　the　west　wind　blew　across　the　valley。　Day　after　day　the　clouds　clustered　gray　and　purple　and　black。　The　cliffs　sang　and　the　caves　rang　with　Oldring's　knell；　and　the　lightning　flashed；　the　thunder　rolled；　the　echoes　crashed　and　crashed；　and　the　rains　flooded　the　valley。　Wild　flowers　sprang　up　everywhere；　swaying　with　the　lengthening　grass　on　the　terraces；　smiling　wanly　from　shady　nooks；　peeping　wondrously　from　year…dry　crevices　of　the　walls。　The　valley　bloomed　into　a　paradise。　Every　single　moment；　from　the　breaking　of　the　gold　bar　through　the　bridge　at　dawn　on　to　the　reddening　of　rays　over　the　western　wall；　was　one　of　colorful　change。　The　valley　swam　in　thick；　transparent　haze；　golden　at　dawn；　warm　and　white　at　noon；　purple　in　the　twilight。　At　the　end　of　ever