Riders of the Purple Sage

and died away, and clouds of yellow dust drift

r had just left her and it was his message that held her thoughtful and almost sad, awa

southern Utah and that he had left it to her. She owned all the ground and many of the cottages. Withersteen House was hers, and the great ranch, with its thousands of cattle, and the swiftest horses of the sage.

Stone Bridge-Sterling, villages to the north, had risen against the invasion of Gentile settlers and the forays of rustlers. There

the Gentiles of the community would make her unhappy. She was Mormon-born, and she was a friend to poor and unfortunate Gentiles. She wished only to go on doing good and being happy. And she thought of what that great ranch meant to her. She loved i

ground sloped up to the west. Dark, lonely cedar-trees, few and far between, stood out strikingly, and at long distances ruins of red rocks. Farther on, up the gradual slope, rose a broken wall, a huge monument, looming dark purple and stretching its solitary, mystic way, a wavering line that faded in the north. Here to the west

of riders cantered up the lane, dismounted, and threw their bridles. They were seve

y message?" he

repli

Venters half an hour to come down

d Jane. "I didn't tell him. I

is Ve

m in the c

his men, "take the gang and fetch Ven

rs clanked noisily into the grove of c

f you do arrest him it will be adding insult to injury. It's absurd to accuse Venters of being mixed up in that shooting fray in the village last ni

ed Tull. "But first tell me why

I shouldn't champion him and every reason why I should. It's no little shame to me, Elder Tull, that through my friendship he

and that you intend to adopt her. But-Ja

en any less because I love a Gentile child. I sh

ick of seeing this fellow Venters hang around you. I'm going to put a stop to it. You've so m

wer could not be brooked and with the passion of a

and anger stir her heart. "I'd never thought of that.

Venters unless you deny th

hes were those of an outcast. But he stood tall and straight, his wide shoulders flung back, wit

t. She wondered if she would love this splendid youth. Then h

ottonwoods at once and for

ejoined

e I ord

ughed in c

ed to Tull's

t means your ruin,

r. I had horses and cattle of my own. I had a good name in Cottonwoods. And now when I come into the village to see thi

ou leav

teen being friendly to a poor Gentile. You want her all yourself. You're a wiving Mormon. Yo

d, and rioting blood cor

re. Will

N

ife," replied Tull, harshly. "I'll turn you out in t

ace grew coldly set

rward. "Oh! Elder Tull!" sh

shaking fing

d your head. You haven't yet come to see the place of Mormon women. We've reasoned with you, borne with you. We've patiently waited. We've let you have your fling, which is more than I ever s

astardly!" implored Jane, with slo

ich she did not possess. He loomed up now in different guise, not as a jealous suitor, bu

the sage?" asked Tull. He smiled a flinty smile that was more than inhuma

you'd better kill me outright. That'll be a dear whipping for

tion of exalted duty. But there was something more in him, barely hidden, a something personal and sinister, a deep of

her, the long habit of obedience, of humility, as well as ago

him now," replie

mething new and unintelligible. Once more her strained gaze sought the sage-slopes. Jane Withersteen loved that wild and purple wilderness. In times of sorrow it had been her strength, in happiness its beauty was her continual delight. In her extremity she found hersel

ddenly quieted down. Then followed a lo

one, pointing

rid

coming riding out of the sage. He had ridden down from the left, in the golden gla

any one know him?" ques

ooked, and one by on

from far,

ine hoss,"

ange r

black leather,"

silence, Tull stepped forward in su

round in one long step. It was a peculiar movement in its quickness and inasmuch that while per

ions. "He packs two black-butted guns-low down-

ther. "Fellers, careful no

it or the cramped short steps of a rider unused to walking; yet, as well,

l. No welcome was in this gre

cast a dark shade over his face. For a moment he closely regarded Tull

to Jane, and removed his s

e sun, and the set changelessness that came from years of silence and solitude. But it was not these which held her, rather the intensity of his gaze, a strained weariness, a piercing wistfu

teen, ma'am?"

she r

er here

es

water m

. There's

his glance on the listening men. "Mebbe you wouldn't l

re. Water your horse. And if you are t

t accept for myself-bu

tless movements on the part of Tull's men broke up

somethin'-for a few moments,

Withersteen, with

then she saw him look at the bound Venters,

n' gun-throwers an' all-round no-good men jest happen to be Gentiles

one of them. He'

OW that

s-y

e done to get ti

l as well as for Jane Withersteen, stilled the

ied Jane, her v

in which he had approached, and the fact that his action placed her wholly to

speak up," he s

rence. You've been asked to drink and eat. That's more than you'd have got i

in addressing Jane, he had been mild and gentle, now, with his first speech to Tull, he was dry, cool, biting. "I've lest stumbled onto

none of your busin

n's word was law. I ain't

between ama

different from woman's whim-Mormon law!

ith your M

Tull and his companions. The leader gasped and staggered backward at a blasphemous affront to an institution he held most sacred. The man Jerry,

an. What have you done

"I've done no wrong. I've offended this Mo

rider of Jane, but his quiveringly alert e

rfectly true,"

o such a woman would be what you wouldn't want to help

p me. You know what

replied the

o repress her mounting agitations, with Venters standing pale and still, the tension of the moment tighten

, men!"

en turned agai

you do nothing

e to save him-fro

? I beg

t dream who y

I pray you

e Mormons

save him. For I-

secrets. There'll be a way to teach you what

ung man stays,"

his voice

ha

, hotly. "Stranger, again I tell you-don't mix

!... He

any shadow of doubt, breath

u? We are s

ngular in that it left him somewhat crouched, arms bent and

SSI

t bridged the fateful connection between the

ath. But death, while it hovered over him, did not descend, for the rider waited for the twitching fingers, the downwar