riders of the purple sage-第3部分

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〃Ah！〃　She　gave　him　a　grave；　thoughtful　look。　〃Then　you　will　break　bread　with　me？〃

Lassiter　had　no　ready　response；　and　he　uneasily　shifted　his　weight　from　one　leg　to　another；　and　turned　his　sombrero　round　and　round　in　his　hands。　〃Ma'am；〃　he　began；　presently；　〃I　reckon　your　kindness　of　heart　makes　you　overlook　things。　Perhaps　I　ain't　well　known　hereabouts；　but　back　up　North　there's　Mormons　who'd　rest　uneasy　in　their　graves　at　the　idea　of　me　sittin'　to　table　with　you。〃

〃I　dare　say。　Butwill　you　do　it；　anyway？〃　she　asked。

〃Mebbe　you　have　a　brother　or　relative　who　might　drop　in　an'　be　offended；　an'　I　wouldn't　want　to〃

〃I've　not　a　relative　in　Utah　that　I　know　of。　There's　no　one　with　a　right　to　question　my　actions。〃　She　turned　smilingly　to　Venters。　〃You　will　come　in；　Bern；　and　Lassiter　will　come　in。　We'll　eat　and　be　merry　while　we　may。〃

〃I'm　only　wonderin'　if　Tull　an'　his　men'll　raise　a　storm　down　in　the　village；〃　said　Lassiter；　in　his　last　weakening　stand。

〃Yes；　he'll　raise　the　stormafter　he　has　prayed；〃　replied　Jane。　〃Come。〃

She　led　the　way；　with　the　bridle　of　Lassiter's　horse　over　her　arm。　Thev　entered　a　grove　and　walked　down　a　wide　path　shaded　by　great　low…branching　cottonwoods。　The　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun　sent　golden　bars　through　the　leaves。　The　grass　was　deep　and　rich；　welcome　contrast　to　sage…tired　eyes。　Twittering　quail　darted　across　the　path；　and　from　a　tree…top　somewhere　a　robin　sang　its　evening　song；　and　on　the　still　air　floated　the　freshness　and　murmur　of　flowing　water。

The　home　of　Jane　Withersteen　stood　in　a　circle　of　cottonwoods；　and　was　a　flat；　long；　red…stone　structure　with　a　covered　court　in　the　center　through　which　flowed　a　lively　stream　of　amber…colored　water。　In　the　massive　blocks　of　stone　and　heavy　timbers　and　solid　doors　and　shutters　showed　the　hand　of　a　man　who　had　builded　against　pillage　and　time；　and　in　the　flowers　and　mosses　lining　the　stone…bedded　stream；　in　the　bright　colors　of　rugs　and　blankets　on　the　court　floor；　and　the　cozy　corner　with　hammock　and　books　and　the　clean…linened　table；　showed　the　grace　of　a　daughter　who　lived　for　happiness　and　the　day　at　hand。

Jane　turned　Lassiter's　horse　loose　in　the　thick　grass。　〃You　will　want　him　to　be　near　you；〃　she　said；　〃or　I'd　have　him　taken　to　the　alfalfa　fields。〃　At　her　call　appeared　women　who　began　at　once　to　bustle　about；　hurrying　to　and　fro；　setting　the　table。　Then　Jane；　excusing　herself；　went　within。

She　passed　through　a　huge　low　ceiled　chamber；　like　the　inside　of　a　fort；　and　into　a　smaller　one　where　a　bright　wood…fire　blazed　in　an　old　open　fireplace；　and　from　this　into　her　own　room。　It　had　the　same　comfort　as　was　manifested　in　the　home…like　outer　court；　moreover；　it　was　warm　and　rich　in　soft　hues。

Seldom　did　Jane　Withersteen　enter　her　room　without　looking　into　her　mirror。　She　knew　she　loved　the　reflection　of　that　beauty　which　since　early　childhood　she　had　never　been　allowed　to　forget。　Her　relatives　and　friends；　and　later　a　horde　of　Mormon　and　Gentile　suitors；　had　fanned　the　flame　of　natural　vanity　in　her。　So　that　at　twenty…eight　she　scarcely　thought　at　all　of　her　wonderful　influence　for　good　in　the　little　community　where　her　father　had　left　her　practically　its　beneficent　landlord；　but　cared　most　for　the　dream　and　the　assurance　and　the　allurement　of　her　beauty。　This　time；　however；　she　gazed　into　her　glass　with　more　than　the　usual　happy　motive；　without　the　usual　slight　conscious　smile。　For　she　was　thinking　of　more　than　the　desire　to　be　fair　in　her　own　eyes；　in　those　of　her　friend；　she　wondered　if　she　were　to　seem　fair　in　the　eyes　of　this　Lassiter；　this　man　whose　name　had　crossed　the　long；　wild　brakes　of　stone　and　plains　of　sage；　this　gentle…voiced；　sad…faced　man　who　was　a　hater　and　a　killer　of　Mormons。　It　was　not　now　her　usual　half…conscious　vain　obsession　that　actuated　her　as　she　hurriedly　changed　her　riding…dress　to　one　of　white；　and　then　looked　long　at　the　stately　form　with　its　gracious　contours；　at　the　fair　face　with　its　strong　chin　and　full　firm　lips；　at　the　dark…blue；　proud；　and　passionate　eyes。

〃If　by　some　means　I　can　keep　him　here　a　few　days；　a　weekhe　will　never　kill　another　Mormon；〃　she　mused。　〃Lassiter！。。。I　shudder　when　I　think　of　that　name；　of　him。　But　when　I　look　at　the　man　I　forget　who　he　isI　almost　like　him。　I　remember　only　that　he　saved　Bern。　He　has　suffered。　I　wonder　what　it　wasdid　he　love　a　Mormon　woman　once？　How　splendidly　he　championed　us　poor　misunderstood　souls！　Somehow　he　knowsmuch。〃

Jane　Withersteen　joined　her　guests　and　bade　them　to　her　board。　Dismissing　her　woman；　she　waited　upon　them　with　her　own　hands。　It　was　a　bountiful　supper　and　a　strange　company。　On　her　right　sat　the　ragged　and　half…starved　Venters；　and　though　blind　eyes　could　have　seen　what　he　counted　for　in　the　sum　of　her　happiness；　yet　he　looked　the　gloomy　outcast　his　allegiance　had　made　him；　and　about　him　there　was　the　shadow　of　the　ruin　presaged　by　Tull。　On　her　left　sat　black…leather…garbed　Lassiter　looking　like　a　man　in　a　dream。　Hunger　was　not　with　him；　nor　composure；　nor　speech；　and　when　he　twisted　in　frequent　unquiet　movements　the　heavy　guns　that　he　had　not　removed　knocked　against　the　table…legs。　If　it　had　been　otherwise　possible　to　forget　the　presence　of　Lassiter　those　telling　little　jars　would　have　rendered　it　unlikely。　And　Jane　Withersteen　talked　and　smiled　and　laughed　with　all　the　dazzling　play　of　lips　and　eyes　that　a　beautiful；　daring　woman　could　summon　to　her　purpose。

When　the　meal　ended；　and　the　men　pushed　back　their　chairs；　she　leaned　closer　to　Lassiter　and　looked　square　into　his　eyes。

〃Why　did　you　come　to　Cottonwoods？〃

Her　question　seemed　to　break　a　spell。　The　rider　arose　as　if　he　had　just　remembered　himself　and　had　tarried　longer　than　his　wont。

〃Ma'am；　I　have　hunted　all　over　the　southern　Utah　and　Nevada　for　somethin'。　An'　through　your　name　I　learned　where　to　find　ithere　in　Cottonwoods。〃

〃My　name！　Oh；　I　remember。　You　did　know　my　name　when　you　spoke　first。　Well；　tell　me　where　you　heard　it　and　from　whom？〃

〃At　the　little　villageGlaze；　I　think　it's　calledsome　fifty　miles　or　more　west　of　here。　An'　I　heard　it　from　a　Gentile；　a　rider　who　said　you'd　know　where　to　tell　me　to　find〃

〃What？〃　she　demanded；　imperiously；　as　Lassiter　broke　off。

〃Milly　Erne's　grave；〃　he　answered　low；　and　the　words　came　with　a　wrench。

Venters　wheeled　in　his　chair　to　regard　Lassiter　in　amazement；　and　Jane　slowly　raised　herself　in　white；　still　wonder。

〃Milly　Erne's　grave？〃　she　echoed；　in　a　whisper。　〃What　do　you　know　of　Milly　Erne；　my　best…beloved　friendwho　died　in　my　arms？　What　were　you　to　her？〃

〃Did　I　claim　to　be　anythin'？〃　he　inquired。　〃I　know　peoplerelatives　who　have　long　wanted　to　know　where　she's　buried；　that's　all。〃

〃Relatives？　She　never　spoke　of　relatives；　except　a　brother　who　was　shot　in　Texas。　Lassiter；　Milly　Erne's　grave　is　in　a　secret　burying…ground　on　my　property。〃

〃Will　you　take　me　there？。。。You'll　be　offendin'　Mormons　worse　than　by　breakin'　bread　with　me。〃

〃Indeed　yes；　but　I'll　do　it。　Only　we　must　go　unseen。　To…morrow；　perhaps。〃

〃Thank　you；　Jane　Withersteen；〃　replied　the　rider；　and　he　bowed　to　her　and　stepped　backward　out　of　the　court。

〃Will　you　not　staysleep　under　my　roof？〃　she　asked。

〃No；　ma'am；　an'　thanks　again。　I　never　sleep　indoors。　An'　even　if　I　did　there's　that　gatherin'　storm　in　the　village　below。　No；　no。　I'll　go　to　the　sage。　I　hope　you　won't　suffer　none　for　your　kindness　to　me。〃

〃Lassiter；〃　said　Venters；　with　a　half…bitter　laugh；　〃my　bed　too；　is　the　sage。　Perhaps　we　may　meet　out　there。〃

〃Mebbe　so。　But　the　sage　is　wide　an'　I　won't　be　near。　Good　night。〃

At　Lassiter's　low　whistle　the　black　horse　whinnied；　and　carefully　picked　his　blind　way　out　of　the　grove。　The　rider　did　not　bridle　him；　but　walked　beside　him；　leading　him　by　touch　of　hand　and　together　they　passed　slowly　into　the　shade　of　the　cottonwoods。

〃Jane；　I　must　be　off　soon；〃　said　Venters。　〃Give　me　my　guns。　If　I'd　had　my　guns〃

〃Either　my　friend　or　the　Elder　of　my　church　would　be　lying　dead；〃　she　interposed

〃Tull　would　besurely。〃

〃Oh；　you　fierce…blooded；　savage　youth！　Can't　I　teach　you　forebearance；　mercy？　Bern；　it's　divine　to　forgive　your　enemies。　'Let　not　the　sun　go　down　upon　thy　wrath。'〃

〃Hush！　Talk　to　me　no　more　of　mercy　or　religionafter　to…day。　To…day　this　strange　coming　of　Lassiter　left　me　still　a　man；　and　now　I'll　die　a　man！。。。Give　me　my　guns。〃

Silently　she　went　into　the　house；　to　return　with　a　heavy　cartridge…belt　and　gun…filled　sheath　and　a　long　ride；　these　she　handed　to　him；　and　as　he　buckled　on　the　belt　she　stood　before　him　in　silent　eloquence。

〃Jane；〃　he　said；　in　gentler　voice；　〃don't　look　so。　I'm　not　going　out　to　murder　your　churchman。　I'll　try　to　avoid　him　and　all　his　men。　But　can't　you　see　I've　reached　the　end　of　my　rope？　Jane；　you're　a　wonderful　woman。　Never　was　there　a　woman　so　unselfish　and　good。　Only　you're　blind　in　one　way。。。。Listen！〃

From　behind　the　grove　came　the　clicking　sound　of　horses　in　a　rapid　trot。

〃Some　of　your　riders；〃　he　continued。　〃It's　getting　time　for　the　night　shift。　Let　us　go　out　to　the　bench　in　the　grove　and　talk　there。〃

It　was　still　daylight　in　the　open；　but　under　the　spreading　cottonwoods　shadows　were　obscuring　the　lanes。　Venters　drew　Jane　off　from　one　of　these　into　a　shrub…lined　trail；　just　wide　enough　for　the　two　to　walk　abreast；　and　in　a　roundabout　way　led　her　far　from　the　house　to　a　knoll　on　the　edge　of　the　grove。　Here　in　a　secluded　nook　was　a　bench　from　which；　through　an　opening　in　the　tree…tops；　could　be　seen　the　sage…slope　and　the　wall　of　rock　and　the　dim　lines　of　canyons。　Jane　had　not　spoken　since　Venters　had　shocked　her　with　his　first　harsh　speech；　but　all　the　way　she　had　clung　to　his　arm；　and　now；　as　he　stopped　and　laid　his　rifle　against　the　bench；　she　still　clung　to　him。

〃Jane；　I'm　afraid　I　must　leave　you。〃

〃Bern！〃　she　cried。

〃Yes；　it　looks　that　way。　My　position　is　not　a　happy　oneI　can't　feel　rightI've　lost　all〃

〃I'll　give　you　anything　you〃

〃Listen；　please。　When　I　say　loss　I　don't　mean　what　you　think。　I　mean　loss　of　good…will；　good　namethat　which　would　have　enabled　me　to　stand　up　in　this　village　without　bitterness。　Well；　it's　too　late。。。。Now；　as　to　the　future；　I　think　you'd　do　best　to　give　me　up。　Tull　is　implacable。　You　ought　to　see　from　his　inten