riders of the purple sage-第44章

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'　the　gold　beard　seemed　to　fade　dimmer　out　of　the　trail。　Only　twice　in　ten　years　did　I　find　a　trace　of　that　mysterious　man　who　had　visited　the　proselyter　at　my　home　village。　What　he　had　to　do　with　Milly's　fate　was　beyond　all　hope　for　me　to　learn；　unless　my　guidin'　spirit　led　me　to　him！　As　for　the　other　man；　I　knew；　as　sure　as　I　breathed　en'　the　stars　shone　en'　the　wind　blew；　that　I'd　meet　him　some　day。

〃Eighteen　years　I've　been　on　the　trail。　An'　it　led　me　to　the　last　lonely　villages　of　the　Utah　border。　Eighteen　years！。。。I　feel　pretty　old　now。　I　was　only　twenty　when　I　hit　that　trail。　Well；　as　I　told　you；　back　here　a　ways　a　Gentile　said　Jane　Withersteen　could　tell　me　about　Milly　Erne　an'　show　me　her　grave！〃

The　low　voice　ceased；　and　Lassiter　slowly　turned　his　sombrero　round　and　round；　and　appeared　to　be　counting　the　silver　ornaments　on　the　band。　Jane；　leaning　toward　him；　sat　as　if　petrified；　listening　intently；　waiting　to　hear　more。　She　could　have　shrieked；　but　power　of　tongue　and　lips　were　denied　her。　She　saw　only　this　sad；　gray；　passion…worn　man；　and　she　heard　only　the　faint　rustling　of　the　leaves。

〃Well；　I　came　to　Cottonwoods；〃　went　on　Lassiter；　〃an'　you　showed　me　Milly's　grave。　An'　though　your　teeth　have　been　shut　tighter　'n　them　of　all　the　dead　men　Iyin'　back　along　that　trail；　jest　the　same　you　told　me　the　secret　I've　lived　these　eighteen　years　to　hear！　Jane；　I　said　you'd　tell　me　without　ever　me　askin'。　I　didn't　need　to　ask　my　question　here。　The　day；　you　remember；　when　that　fat　party　throwed　a　gun　on　me　in　your　court；　an'〃

〃Oh！　Hush！〃　whispered　Jane；　blindly　holding　up　her　hands。

〃I　seen　in　your　face　that　Dyer；　now　a　bishop；　was　the　proselyter　who　ruined　Milly　Erne。〃

For　an　instant　Jane　Withersteen's　brain　was　a　whirling　chaos　and　she　recovered　to　find　herself　grasping　at　Lassiter　like　one　drowning。　And　as　if　by　a　lightning　stroke　she　sprang　from　her　dull　apathy　into　exquisite　torture。

〃It's　a　lie！　Lassiter！　No；　no！〃　she　moaned。　〃I　swearyou're　wrong！〃

〃Stop！　You'd　perjure　yourself！　But　I'll　spare　you　that。　You　poor　woman！　Still　blind！　Still　faithful！。。。Listen。　I　know。　Let　that　settle　it。　An'　I　give　up　my　purpose！〃

〃What　is　ityou　say？〃

〃I　give　up　my　purpose。　I've　come　to　see　an'　feel　differently。　I　can't　help　poor　Milly。　An'　I've　outgrowed　revenge。　I've　come　to　see　I　can　be　no　judge　for　men。　I　can't　kill　a　man　jest　for　hate。　Hate　ain't　the　same　with　me　since　I　loved　you　and　little　Fay。〃

〃Lassiter！　You　mean　you　won't　kill　him？〃　Jane　whispered。

〃No。〃

〃For　my　sake？〃

〃I　reckon。　I　can't　understand；　but　I'll　respect　your　feelin's。〃

〃Because　youoh；　because　you　love　me？。。。Eighteen　years！　You　were　that　terrible　Lassiter！　And　nowbecause　you　love　me？〃

〃That's　it；　Jane。〃

〃Oh；　you'll　make　me　love　you！　How　can　I　help　but　love　you？　My　heart　must　be　stone。　Butoh；　Lassiter；　wait；　wait！　Give　me　time。　I'm　not　what　I　was。　Once　it　was　so　easy　to　love。　Now　it's　easy　to　hate。　Wait！　My　faith　in　Godsome　Godstill　lives。　By　it　I　see　happier　times　for　you；　poor　passion…swayed　wanderer！　For　mea　miserable；　broken　woman。　I　loved　your　sister　Milly。　I　will　love　you。　I　can't　have　fallen　so　lowI　can't　be　so　abandoned　by　Godthat　I've　no　love　left　to　give　you。　Wait！　Let　us　forget　Milly's　sad　life。　Ah；　I　knew　it　as　no　one　else　on　earth！　There's　one　thing　I　shall　tell　youif　you　are　at　my　death…bed；　but　I　can't　speak　now。〃

〃I　reckon　I　don't　want　to　hear　no　more；〃　said　Lassiter。

Jane　leaned　against　him；　as　if　some　pent…up　force　had　rent　its　way　out；　she　fell　into　a　paroxysm　of　weeping。　Lassiter　held　her　in　silent　sympathy。　By　degrees　she　regained　composure；　and　she　was　rising；　sensible　of　being　relieved　of　a　weighty　burden；　when　a　sudden　start　on　Lassiter's　part　alarmed　her。

〃I　heard　hosseshosses　with　muffled　hoofs！〃　he　said；　and　he　got　up　guardedly。

〃Where's　Fay？〃　asked　Jane；　hurriedly　glancing　round　the　shady　knoll。　The　bright…haired　child；　who　had　appeared　to　be　close　all　the　time；　was　not　in　sight。

〃Fay！〃　called　Jane。

No　answering　shout　of　glee。　No　patter　of　flying　feet。　Jane　saw　Lassiter　stiffen。

〃FayohFay！〃　Jane　almost　screamed。

The　leaves　quivered　and　rustled；　a　lonesome　cricket　chirped　in　the　grass；　a　bee　hummed　by。　The　silence　of　the　waning　afternoon　breathed　hateful　portent。　It　terrified　Jane。　When　had　silence　been　so　infernal？

〃She'sonlystrayedoutof　earshot；〃　faltered　Jane；　looking　at　Lassiter。

Pale；　rigid　as　a　statue；　the　rider　stood；　not　in　listening；　searching　posture；　but　in　one　of　doomed　certainty。　Suddenly　he　grasped　Jane　with　an　iron　hand；　and；　turning　his　face　from　her　gaze；　he　strode　with　her　from　the　knoll。

〃SeeFay　played　here　lasta　house　of　stones　an'　sticks。。。。An'　here's　a　corral　of　pebbles　with　leaves　for　hosses；〃　said　Lassiter；　stridently；　and　pointed　to　the　ground。　〃Back　an'　forth　she　trailed　here。。。。See；　she's　buried　somethin'a　dead　grasshopperthere's　a　tombstone。。。　here　she　went；　chasin'　a　lizardsee　the　tiny　streaked　trail。。。she　pulled　bark　off　this　cottonwood。。。look　in　the　dust　of　the　paththe　letters　you　taught　hershe's　drawn　pictures　of　birds　en'　hosses　an'　people。。。。Look；　a　cross！　Oh；　Jane；　your　cross！〃

Lassiter　dragged　Jane　on；　and　as　if　from　a　book　read　the　meaning　of　little　Fay's　trail。　All　the　way　down　the　knoll；　through　the　shrubbery；　round　and　round　a　cottonwood；　Fay's　vagrant　fancy　left　records　of　her　sweet　musings　and　innocent　play。　Long　had　she　lingered　round　a　bird…nest　to　leave　therein　the　gaudy　wing　of　a　butterfly。　Long　had　she　played　beside　the　running　stream　sending　adrift　vessels　freighted　with　pebbly　cargo。　Then　she　had　wandered　through　the　deep　grass；　her　tiny　feet　scarcely　turning　a　fragile　blade；　and　she　had　dreamed　beside　some　old　faded　flowers。　Thus　her　steps　led　her　into　the　broad　lane。　The　little　dimpled　imprints　of　her　bare　feet　showed　clean…cut　in　the　dust　they　went　a　little　way　down　the　lane；　and　then；　at　a　point　where　they　stopped；　the　great　tracks　of　a　man　led　out　from　the　shrubbery　and　returned。



CHAPTER　XX。　LASSITER'S　WAY

Footprints　told　the　story　of　little　Fay's　abduction。　In　anguish　Jane　Withersteen　turned　speechlessly　to　Lassiter；　and；　confirming　her　fears；　she　saw　him　gray…faced；　aged　all　in　a　moment；　stricken　as　if　by　a　mortal　blow。

Then　all　her　life　seemed　to　fall　about　her　in　wreck　and　ruin。

〃It's　all　over；〃　she　heard　her　voice　whisper。　〃It's　ended。　I'm　goingI'm　going〃

〃Where？〃　demanded　Lassiter；　suddenly　looming　darkly　over　her。

〃Toto　those　cruel　men〃

〃Speak　names！〃　thundered　Lassiter。

〃To　Bishop　Dyerto　Tull；〃　went　on　Jane；　shocked　into　obedience。

〃Wellwhat　for？〃

〃I　want　little　Fay。　I　can't　live　without　her。　They've　stolen　her　as　they　stole　Milly　Erne's　child。　I　must　have　little　Fay。　I　want　only　her。　I　give　up。　I'll　go　and　tell　Bishop　DyerI'm　broken。　I'll　tell　him　I'm　ready　for　the　yokeonly　give　me　back　Fayandand　I'll　marry　Tull！〃

〃Never！〃　hissed　Lassiter。

His　long　arm　leaped　at　her。　Almost　running；　he　dragged　her　under　the　cottonwoods；　across　the　court；　into　the　huge　hall　of　Withersteen　House；　and　he　shut　the　door　with　a　force　that　jarred　the　heavy　walls。　Black　Star　and　Night　and　Bells；　since　their　return；　had　been　locked　in　this　hall；　and　now　they　stamped　on　the　stone　floor。

Lassiter　released　Jane　and　like　a　dizzy　man　swayed　from　her　with　a　hoarse　cry　and　leaned　shaking　against　a　table　where　he　kept　his　rider's　accoutrements。　He　began　to　fumble　in　his　saddlebags。　His　action　brought　a　clinking；　metallic　soundthe　rattling　of　gun…cartridges。　His　fingers　trembled　as　he　slipped　cartridges　into　an　extra　belt。　But　as　he　buckled　it　over　the　one　he　habitually　wore　his　hands　became　steady。　This　second　belt　contained　two　guns；　smaller　than　the　black　ones　swinging　low；　and　he　slipped　them　round　so　that　his　coat　hid　them。　Then　he　fell　to　swift　action。　Jane　Withersteen　watched　him；　fascinated　but　uncomprehending　and　she　saw　him　rapidly　saddle　Black　Star　and　Night。　Then　he　drew　her　into　the　light　of　the　huge　windows；　standing　over　her；　gripping　her　arm　with　fingers　like　cold　steel。

〃Yes；　Jane；　it's　endedbut　you're　not　goin'　to　Dyer！。。。I'm　goin'　instead！〃

Looking　at　himhe　was　so　terrible　of　aspectshe　could　not　comprehend　his　words。　Who　was　this　man　with　the　face　gray　as　death；　with　eyes　that　would　have　made　her　shriek　had　she　the　strength；　with　the　strange；　ruthlessly　bitter　lips？　Where　was　the　gentle　Lassiter？　What　was　this　presence　in　the　hall；　about　him；　about　herthis　cold；　invisible　presence？

〃Yes；　it's　ended；　Jane；〃　he　was　saying；　so　awfully　quiet　and　cool　and　implacable；　〃an'　I'm　goin'　to　make　a　little　call。　I'll　lock　you　in　here；　an'　when　I　get　back　have　the　saddle…bags　full　of　meat　an　bread。　An'　be　ready　to　ride！〃

〃Lassiter！〃　cried　Jane。

Desperately　she　tried　to　meet　his　gray　eyes；　in　vain；　desperately　she　tried　again；　fought　herself　as　feeling　and　thought　resurged　in　torment；　and　she　succeeded；　and　then　she　knew。

〃Nonono！〃　she　wailed。　〃You　said　you'd　foregone　your　vengeance。　You　promised　not　to　kill　Bishop　Dyer。〃

〃If　you　want　to　talk　to　me　about　himleave　off　the　Bishop。　I　don't　understand　that　name；　or　its　use。〃

〃Oh；　hadn't　you　foregone　your　vengeance　onon　Dyer？　Butyour　actionsyour　wordsyour　gunsyour　terrible　looks！。。。　They　don't　seem　foregoing　vengeance？〃

〃Jane；　now　it's　justice。〃

〃You'llkill　him？〃

〃If　God　lets　me　live　another　hour！　If　not　Godthen　the　devil　who　drives　me！〃

〃You'll　kill　himfor　yourselffor　your　vengeful　hate？〃

〃No！〃

〃For　Milly　Erne's　sake？〃

〃No。〃

〃For　little　Fay's？〃

〃No！〃

〃Ohfor　whose？〃

〃For　yours！〃

〃His　blood　on　my　soul！〃　whispered　Jane；　and　she　fell　to　her　knees。　This　was　the　long…pending　hour　of　fruition。　And　the　habit　of　yearsthe　religious　passion　of　her　lifeleaped　from　lethargy；　and　the　long　months　of　gradual　drifting　to　doubt　were　as　if　they　had　never　been。　〃If　you　spill　his　blood　it'll　be　on　my　souland　on　my　father's。　Listen。〃　And　she　clasped　his　knees；　and　clung　there　as　he　tried　to　raise　her。　〃Listen。　Am　I　nothing　to　you？'

〃Womandon't　trifle　at　words！　I　love　you！　An'　I'll　soon　prove　it。〃

〃I'll　give　myself　to　youI'll　ride　away　with　youmarry　you；　if　only　you'll　spare　him？〃

His　answer　was　a　cold；　ringing；　terrible　laugh。

〃LassiterI'll　love　you。　Spare　him！〃

She　sprang　up　in　despairing；　breaking　spirit；　and　encircled　his　neck　with　her　arms；　and　held　him　in　an　embrace　that　he　strove　vainly　to　loosen。　〃Lassiter；　would　you　kill　me？　I'm　fighting　my　last　fight　for　the　principles　of　my　youthlove　of　religion；　love　of　father。　You　don't　knowyou　can't　guess　the　truth；　and　I　can't　speak　ill。　I'm　losing　all。　I'm　changing。　All　I've　gone　through　is　nothing　to　this　hour。　Pity　me　help　me　in　my　weakness。　You're　strong　againoh；　so　cruelly；　coldly　strong！　You're　killing　me。　I　see　youfeel　you　as　some　other　Lassiter！　My　master；　be　mercifulspare　him！〃

His　answer　was　a　ruthless　smile。

She　clung　the　closer　to　him；　and　leaned　her　panting　breast　on　him；　and　lifted　her　face　to　his。　〃Lassiter；　I　do　love　you！　It's　leaped　out　of　my　agony。　It　comes　suddenly　with　a　terrible　blow　of　truth。　You　are　a　man！　I　never　knew　it　till　now。　Some　wonderful　change　came　to　me　when　you　buckled　on　these　guns　and　showed　that　gray；　awful　face。　I　loved　you　then。　All　my　life　I've　loved；　but　never　as　now。　No　woman　can　love　like　a　broken　woman。　If　it