Riders of the Purple Sage

ou be my rider?"

so," he ha

n who had led Milly Erne to Cottonwoods. In her fear she so controlled her mind that she did not whisper this Mormon's name to her own soul, she did not even think it. Besides, beyond this thing she regarded as a sacred obligation thrust upon her, was the need of a helper, of a friend, of a champion in this critical time. If she could rule this gun-man, as Venters

erd led out this slender, beautifully built horse Lassiter suddenly became all eyes. A rider's love of a thoroughbred shone in th

u. He'll love you, too. How can you resist him? Oh, Lassiter, but Bells can run! It's nip and tuck between hi

rned," said Lassiter. "I'll take him

never mind the ma'am.

incident with his part in Jane's affairs the days assumed their old tranquillity. Her intel

nd she, responsive to peace if not quick to forget, met him halfway with manner almost cheerful. He regretted the loss of her cattle; he assured he

is man Lassiter," Tull went on, severely.

king him my rider may turn out best in

to stay

-if I

an. That would be well, and would atone in

t better of him if he had picked up the threads of their quarrel where they had parted. Was Tull what he appeared to be? The question flung itself in-voluntarily over Jane Withersteen's inhibitive habit of faith without question. And she refused to answer it. Tull could not fight in the open. Venters had said, Lassiter had said, that her Elder shirked fight and worked in the dark. Just now in this meeting Tull had ignored the fact that he had sued, exhorted, demanded that she marry him. He made no mention of Venters. His

rs, and vegetables, all growing in happy confusion. And like these fresh green things were the dozens of babies, tots, toddlers, noisy urchins, lau

outside stone chimneys. There were many wooden-shuttered windows, and one pretentious window of glass proudly curtained in white. As this house ha

ilar ages, and plain-featured, and just at this moment anything but grave. The Bishop was rather tall, of stout build, with iron-gray hair and be

cked around h

r hand, "you have not been prodigal of your gracious self of lat

you and confess," Jane replied, lightly;

the Bishop, rubbing his hands.

s not cou

ot make haste I'll go a-courting

nd then mild talk of village affairs, after which he took

ad about the rustling of the cattle?

, telling much, yet holdi

you marry Tull

t love Tull," said

. We've all watched your affair with Venters in fear and trembling. Some dreadful thing will come of it. You don't want him hanged or shot-or treated worse, as that Gentile boy was treated in Glaze for fooling round a Mormon woman. Marry Tull. It's your duty as a Mormon. You

glad welcome as had Mary, lavished upon her the pent-up affection of Mormon women, and let

myself when, through all this, I remain

ty at the thought that they were her property, as was one of the three stores for which they freighted goods. The water that flowed along the path at her feet, and turned into each cottage-yard to nourish garden and orchard, also was hers, no less her private property because she chose to give it free

h their rude platform entrances, and the saloons where tired horses stood with bridles dragging, she was again assured of what was the bread and wine of life to her-that she was loved. Dirty boys play

pidated cottages. The fortunes of these inhabitants of Cottonwoods could be read in their abodes. Water they had in abundance, and therefore grass and fruit-trees and patches of alfalfa and vegetable gardens. Some of the men and b

poverty and idleness, with their attendant wretchedness and sorrow, always hurt her. That she could alleviate this distress more now than ever before proved the adage that it was an ill wind that blew nobody good. While her Mormon rid

ain and to the point! Now there's Judkins, he packs guns, and he can use them, and so can the daredevil

d chilling of the skin of h

e others rent these

Miss Withersteen. So

ok a day's labor for rent or a yearling c

store-keeper,

ack your goods and move your families up to my cabins in the grove. They're far more comfortable than thes

tongue and cursed. No gentle speech could ever have equaled that curse in eloquent expression

himself. "Miss Withersteen, there are things that you don

, Carson. Well, then, will you let

it means to you, and you know what it means to me. Thank you! And

trust God and have faith

ut, it had one floor. Round about it were a few scanty rows of vegetables, such as the hand of a weak woman had time and strength to cultivate. This little dwelling-place was just outside the village limits, and the widow who lived there had to carry her water from the nearest irrigation ditch.

ried Fay, as Jane kissed

w, Fay; but I

y. Red as cherries were her cheeks and lips; her eyes were violet blue, and the crown of her childish loveliness was the curling golden hair. All the children of Cottonwoods were Jane Withersteen's friends, she loved

Fay, leading Jane towa

, rather dark and bare, but it was cl

w are you?" aske

bad for a week, bu

re all alone-with no

hbors are kind. They

u send

everal

ord-no messages

word with your women that I wa

ed. But she had again caught a glimpse of dark underhand domination, running its secret lines this time into her own household. Like a spider in the blackness of night an unseen hand had begun to run these dark

Jane. "But may I not do something for you-a turn a

o you. This time I thought surely I'd die, and I was worried about Fay. Well, I'll be around all right shortly, but my strength's gone an

I'll be happy to have h

-sooner or later. I refused your

. "It's because you don't wan

hey know you, care for you, and they said for me to trust Fay to you. Women will talk, you know. It got to the ears of Mormons-gossip of your love for Fay and your wanting her. And it

le lie!" cried J

Mrs. Larkin, "but I never believed it

for her I thought only of that love.... Let me prove this. You and Fay come to live with me. I've such a big house, and I'm so lonely. I'll help nurse you, take care of you. When you're better you can work fo

orn face. "Jane Withersteen, may Heaven bless you! I've been deeply grateful to you. But because you're a Mormon I n