riders of the purple sage-第30部分

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〃Lassiter；　don't　tease　me　now。　I'm　miserablesick。　Bells　is　fast；　but　he　can't　stay　with　the　blacks；　and　you　know　it。　Only　Wrangle　can　do　that。〃

〃I'll　bet　that　big　raw…boned　brute　can　more'n　show　his　heels　to　your　black　racers。　Jane；　out　there　in　the　sage；　on　a　long　chase；　Wrangle　could　kill　your　favorites。〃

〃No；　no；〃　replied　Jane；　impatiently。　〃Lassiter；　why　do　you　say　that　so　often？　I　know　you've　teased　me　at　times；　and　I　believe　it's　only　kindness。　You're　always　trying　to　keep　my　mind　off　worry。　But　you　mean　more　by　this　repeated　mention　of　my　racers？〃

〃I　reckon　so。〃　Lassiter　paused；　and　for　the　thousandth　time　in　her　presence　moved　his　black　sombrero　round　and　round；　as　if　counting　the　silver　pieces　on　the　band。　〃Well；　Jane；　I've　sort　of　read　a　little　that's　passin'　in　your　mind。〃

〃You　think　I　might　fly　from　my　homefrom　Cottonwoodsfrom　the　Utah　border？〃

〃I　reckon。　An'　if　you　ever　do　an'　get　away　with　the　blacks　I　wouldn't　like　to　see　Wrangle　left　here　on　the　sage。　Wrangle　could　catch　you。　I　know　Venters　had　him。　But　you　can　never　tell。　Mebbe　he　hasn't　got　him　now。。。。Besidesthings　are　happenin'；　an'　somethin'　of　the　same　queer　nature　might　have　happened　to　Venters。〃

〃God　knows　you're　right！。。。Poor　Bern；　how　long　he's　gone！　In　my　trouble　I've　been　forgetting　him。　But；　Lassiter；　I've　little　fear　for　him。　I've　heard　my　riders　say　he's　as　keen　as　a　wolf。。。。

〃As　to　your　reading　my　thoughtswell；　your　suggestion　makes　an　actual　thought　of　what　was　only　one　of　my　dreams。　I　believe　I　dreamed　of　flying　from　this　wild　borderland；　Lassiter。　I've　strange　dreams。　I'm　not　always　practical　and　thinking　of　my　many　duties；　as　you　said　once。　For　instanceif　I　daredif　I　dared　I'd　ask　you　to　saddle　the　blacks　and　ride　away　with　meand　hide　me。〃

〃Jane！〃

The　rider's　sunburnt　face　turned　white。　A　few　times　Jane　had　seen　Lassiter's　cool　calm　brokenwhen　he　had　met　little　Fay；　when　he　had　learned　how　and　why　he　had　come　to　love　both　child　and　mistress；　when　he　had　stood　beside　Milly　Erne's　grave。　But　one　and　all　they　could　not　be　considered　in　the　light　of　his　present　agitation。　Not　only　did　Lassiter　turn　whitenot　only　did　he　grow　tense；　not　only　did　he　lose　his　coolness；　but　also　he　suddenly；　violently；　hungrily　took　her　into　his　arms　and　crushed　her　to　his　breast。

〃Lassiter！〃　cried　Jane；　trembling。　It　was　an　action　for　which　she　took　sole　blame。　Instantly；　as　if　dazed；　weakened；　he　released　her。　〃Forgive　me！〃　went　on　Jane。　〃I'm　always　forgetting　youryour　feelings。　I　thought　of　you　as　my　faithful　friend。　I'm　always　making　you　out　more　than　human。。。only；　let　me　sayI　meant　thatabout　riding　away。　I'm　wretched；　sick　of　thisthisOh；　something　hitter　and　black　grows　on　my　heart！〃

〃Jane；　the　hellof　it；〃　he　replied；　with　deep　intake　of　breath；　〃is　you　can't　ride　away。　Mebbe　realizin'　it　accounts　for　my　grabbin'　youthat　way；　as　much　as　the　crazy　boy's　rapture　your　words　gave　me。　I　don't　understand　myself。。。。But　the　hell　of　this　game　isyou　can't　ride　away。〃

〃Lassiter！。。。What　on　earth　do　you　mean？　I'm　an　absolutely　free　woman。〃

〃You　ain't　absolutely　anythin'　of　the　kind。。。。I　reckon　I've　got　to　tell　you！〃

〃Tell　me　all。　It's　uncertainty　that　makes　me　a　coward。　It's　faith　and　hopeblind　love；　if　you　will；　that　makes　me　miserable。　Every　day　I　awake　believingstill　believing。　The　day　grows；　and　with　it　doubts；　fears；　and　that　black　bat　hate　that　bites　hotter　and　hotter　into　my　heart。　Then　comes　nightI　prayI　pray　for　all；　and　for　myselfI　sleepand　I　awake　free　once　more；　trustful；　faithful；　to　believeto　hope！　Then；　O　my　God！　I　grow　and　live　a　thousand　years　till　night　again！。。。But　if　you　want　to　see　me　a　woman；　tell　me　why　I　can't　ride　awaytell　me　what　more　I'm　to　losetell　me　the　worst。〃

〃Jane；　you're　watched。　There's　no　single　move　of　yours；　except　when　you're　hid　in　your　house；　that　ain't　seen　by　sharp　eyes。　The　cottonwood　grove's　full　of　creepin'；　crawlin'　men。　Like　Indians　in　the　grass。　When　you　rode；　which　wasn't　often　lately；　the　sage　was　full　of　sneakin'　men。　At　night　they　crawl　under　your　windows　into　the　court；　an'　I　reckon　into　the　house。　Jane　Withersteen；　you　know；　never　locked　a　door！　This　here　grove's　a　hummin'　bee…hive　of　mysterious　happenin's。　Jane；　it　ain't　so　much　that　these　soles　keep　out　of　my　way　as　me　keepin'　out　of　theirs。　They're　goin'　to　try　to　kill　me。　That's　plain。　But　mebbe　I'm　as　hard　to　shoot　in　the　back　as　in　the　face。　So　far　I've　seen　fit　to　watch　only。　This　all　means；　Jane；　that　you're　a　marked　woman。　You　can't　get　away　not　now。　Mebbe　later；　when　you're　broken；　you　might。　But　that's　sure　doubtful。　Jane；　you're　to　lose　the　cattle　that's　leftyour　home　en'　ranchen'　amber　Spring。　You　can't　even　hide　a　sack　of　gold！　For　it　couldn't　be　slipped　out　of　the　house；　day　or　night；　an'　hid　or　buried；　let　alone　be　rid　off　with。　You　may　lose　all。　I'm　tellin'　you；　Jane；　hopin'　to　prepare　you；　if　the　worst　does　come。　I　told　you　once　before　about　that　strange　power　I've　got　to　feel　things。〃

〃Lassiter；　what　can　I　do？〃

〃Nothin'；　I　reckon；　except　know　what's　comin'　an'　wait　an'　be　game。　If　you'd　let　me　make　a　call　on　Tull；　an'　a　long…deferred　call　on〃

〃Hush！。。。Hush！〃　she　whispered。

〃Well；　even　that　wouldn't　help　you　any　in　the　end。〃

〃What　does　it　mean？　Oh；　what　does　it　mean？　I　am　my　father's　daughtera　Mormon；　yet　I　can't　see！　I've　not　failed　in　religionin　duty。　For　years　I've　given　with　a　free　and　full　heart。　When　my　father　died　I　was　rich。　If　I'm　still　rich　it's　because　I　couldn't　find　enough　ways　to　become　poor。　What　am　I；　what　are　my　possessions　to　set　in　motion　such　intensity　of　secret　oppression？〃

〃Jane；　the　mind　behind　it　all　is　an　empire　builder。〃

〃But；　Lassiter；　I　would　give　freelyall　I　own　to　avert　thisthis　wretched　thing。　If　I　gavethat　would　leave　me　with　faith　still。　Surely　mymy　churchmen　think　of　my　soul？　If　I　lose　my　trust　in　them〃

〃Child；　be　still！〃　said　Lassiter；　with　a　dark　dignity　that　had　in　it　something　of　pity。　〃You　are　a　woman；　fine　en'　big　an'　strong；　an'　your　heart　matches　your　size。　But　in　mind　you're　a　child。　I'll　say　a　little　morethen　I'm　done。　I'll　never　mention　this　again。　Among　many　thousands　of　women　you're　one　who　has　bucked　against　your　churchmen。　They　tried　you　out；　an'　failed　of　persuasion；　an'　finally　of　threats。　You　meet　now　the　cold　steel　of　a　will　as　far　from　Christlike　as　the　universe　is　wide。　You're　to　be　broken。　Your　body's　to　be　held；　given　to　some　man；　made；　if　possible；　to　bring　children　into　the　world。　But　your　soul？。。。What　do　they　care　for　your　soul？〃



CHAPTER　XIII。　SOLITUDE　AND　STORM

In　his　hidden　valley　Venters　awakened　from　sleep；　and　his　ears　rang　with　innumerable　melodies　from　full…throated　mockingbirds；　and　his　eyes　opened　wide　upon　the　glorious　golden　shaft　of　sunlight　shining　through　the　great　stone　bridge。　The　circle　of　cliffs　surrounding　Surprise　Valley　lay　shrouded　in　morning　mist；　a　dim　blue　low　down　along　the　terraces；　a　creamy；　moving　cloud　along　the　ramparts。　The　oak　forest　in　the　center　was　a　plumed　and　tufted　oval　of　gold。

He　saw　Bess　under　the　spruces。　Upon　her　complete　recovery　of　strength　she　always　rose　with　the　dawn。　At　the　moment　she　was　feeding　the　quail　she　had　tamed。　And　she　had　begun　to　tame　the　mocking…birds。　They　fluttered　among　the　branches　overhead　and　some　left　off　their　songs　to　flit　down　and　shyly　hop　near　the　twittering　quail。　Little　gray　and　white　rabbits　crouched　in　the　grass；　now　nibbling；　now　laying　long　ears　flat　and　watching　the　dogs。

Venters's　swift　glance　took　in　the　brightening　valley；　and　Bess　and　her　pets；　and　Ring　and　Whitie。　It　swept　over　all　to　return　again　and　rest　upon　the　girl。　She　had　changed。　To　the　dark　trousers　and　blouse　she　had　added　moccasins　of　her　own　make；　but　she　no　longer　resembled　a　boy。　No　eye　could　have　failed　to　mark　the　rounded　contours　of　a　woman。　The　change　had　been　to　grace　and　beauty。　A　glint　of　warm　gold　gleamed　from　her　hair；　and　a　tint　of　red　shone　in　the　clear　dark　brown　of　cheeks。　The　haunting　sweetness　of　her　lips　and　eyes；　that　earlier　had　been　illusive；　a　promise；　had　become　a　living　fact。　She　fitted　harmoniously　into　that　wonderful　setting；　she　was　like　Surprise　Valleywild　and　beautiful。

Venters　leaped　out　of　his　cave　to　begin　the　day。

He　had　postponed　his　journey　to　Cottonwoods　until　after　the　passing　of　the　summer　rains。　The　rains　were　due　soon。　But　until　their　arrival　and　the　necessity　for　his　trip　to　the　village　he　sequestered　in　a　far　corner　of　mind　all　thought　of　peril；　of　his　past　life；　and　almost　that　of　the　present。　It　was　enough　to　live。　He　did　not　want　to　know　what　lay　hidden　in　the　dim　and　distant　future。　Surprise　Valley　had　enchanted　him。　In　this　home　of　the　cliff…dwellers　there　were　peace　and　quiet　and　solitude；　and　another　thing；　wondrous　as　the　golden　morning　shaft　of　sunlight；　that　he　dared　not　ponder　over　long　enough　to　understand。

The　solitude　he　had　hated　when　alone　he　had　now　come　to　love。　He　was　assimilating　something　from　this　valley　of　gleams　and　shadows。　From　this　strange　girl　he　was　assimilating　more。

The　day　at　hand　resembled　many　days　gone　before。　As　Venters　had　no　tools　with　which　to　build；　or　to　till　the　terraces；　he　remained　idle。　Beyond　the　cooking　of　the　simple　fare　there　were　no　tasks。　And　as　there　were　no　tasks；　there　was　no　system。　He　and　Bess　began　one　thing；　to　leave　it；　to　begin　another；　to　leave　that；　and　then　do　nothing　but　lie　under　the　spruces　and　watch　the　great　cloud…sails　majestically　move　along　the　ramparts；　and　dream　and　dream。　The　valley　was　a　golden；　sunlit　world。　It　was　silent。　The　sighing　wind　and　the　twittering　quail　and　the　singing　birds；　even　the　rare　and　seldom…occurring　hollow　crack　of　a　sliding　weathered　stone；　only　thickened　and　deepened　that　insulated　silence。

Venters　and　Bess　had　vagrant　minds。

〃Bess；　did　I　tell　you　about　my　horse　Wrangle？〃　inquired　Venters。

〃A　hundred　times；〃　she　replied。

〃Oh；　have　I？　I'd　forgotten。　I　want　you　to　see　him。　He'll　carry　us　both。〃

〃I'd　like　to　ride　him。　Can　he　run？〃

〃Run？　He's　a　demon。　Swiftest　horse　on　the　sage！　I　hope　he'll　stay　in　that　canyon。

〃He'll　stay。〃

They　left　camp　to　wander　along　the　terraces；　into　the　aspen　ravines；　under　the　gleaming　walls。　Ring　and　Whitie　wandered　in　the　fore；　often　turning；　often　trotting　back；　open…mouthed　and