Judith of the Godless Valley

break another. That's what Na

n Sp

all on Charleton. He found the crippled philosopher propped up in bed, reading the Atlantic M

after his disappointm

ng! Any new

ny news for a week ti

aid Doug, looking out the door at Little Marion, who was astride a

the trouble to show him he can't do it twice, can they, Marion?

s a wolf, if that's what

that you've tr

amused glance not un

a wolf would tackle a

around the homelike room. "You're a lu

up her sewing-basket.

s so awful lu

arleton, and light

post-office. Peter was sitting on the doorstep with Sister. The m

Doug," said Peter. "Wh

him to b

rotested Douglas. "Don'

talk to you. Make

ou want to go down and speak n

a conciliatory manner. Sister sniffed, growled, whimpered, then walked deliberately down the steps

p there for her special friends," sa

to see Charleton, and his wife said something that

ere. If the men were their equals, there wouldn't be a spot in the worl

wonder. He's l

in anything good. That's why he's unlucky. Don't let him influence you too much, Doug. I like Charleton but he'

g in most of my time

n doing anyt

would be easy. But, Peter, she cares a lot more for t

d. You'll have to

-" He hesitated, then went on. "I tell you, this cari

d answered seriously, "Yes, it is, Douglas. But I told you in June al

s Jimmy Day. Give me my mail, Peter, and I'll be

ts haunches. His dog, a mongrel collie, ran up the trail to meet the returning S

dal somewhere,"

," said Peter. "Sister

ate outside of a grey

nto the saddle while the Moo

Jimmy. "I'll swap this and a t

regular man's horse, Jimmy." Doug ligh

arkable man, Scott. Say, I was by there the other day and there sat Scott in the corral on Ginger cracking a black snake at t

rolling in the main corral with her arm about the neck of the bull Scott had given her

with him that way, Jude," said Douglas, eying the pa

of quivering aspens a silvery lavender; the great red bull; the young girl with her noble proportions, rubbing the brute's ferocious h

im right," said Judith. "Won't you, Sioux

oung rider, as he pulled the bridle over the

. W

harleton sure

leton

rs. "You ask Scott why," and

n, about a week after the return from the hunt, they met at the pos

back," s

eton smiled. "I found out who was

voice was so sharp that t

mation. Swapped him

lieve him?" Doug spoke

'm going to chec

d he say it was? P

ok suspiciously at Doug. "

speak that way to

ys it was that youn

t say anything to my father

'll talk to Jude, first." And

lked to her there Douglas engaged his father's atten

ive, I'll not speak to you ag

t told anybody. Did I

ou didn't but she won

rle

oug was the only one that kn

has broke loose?

ted something, Jud

had taken her hands out of the biscuit dough and

r the pretty names Jude has called me. It was Judith that helped Scott double

ither!" cried

hat sure-gawd is funny! Jude! O Lord!" And John burst into a to

course, it has its humorous side," said Charleton, as John's shouts died down. "But I've served notice o

right, too, Charleton. Jude, how'd

on come to do such a fo

d a right to run cattle

h Nel

dith!" exclai

" cried John. "Jude, I'm going to punish

red. If I run cattle, I'm punished!" Jude's fin

girl," replied John. "

arsons

re dead!" ex

must be getting back home." No one h

to punish Jude, Dad

my affairs from now on! I'll show you

you that I never

eton said you'd given me away. And, anyhow, I think more of Scott Parsons than I do of y

imself up, ang

me, miss, before I

what I want!"

her cheeks, begging the two to stop quarreling. John leaned

and lies with Scott?

ds on me, I'll shoot you

get you, miss

rral. Shortly, John returned, leading Swift. He pulled up in front of the door and dismounted. He kicked Swift in the haunch to make her turn, and before Judith could

Buster a dose," said John, standing t

oan, ran across the yard to the stable and climbed into the hay-loft. Douglas stood for a moment as if turned to stone. T

h those ch

on tighteni

pony that should have been shot

he fence like a swallow, and was gone.

e of Falkner's Peak until the Moose was winded, then he dismounted and led him up and up until they both were exhauste

g to do. Nothing that would adequately punish his father, n

o change life as it is. Douglas, biting his nails and railing at the heavens, was draining one of lif

leave home for a while. He was going to work for Charleton, who was greatly in need o

the open door lay Judith, her face dimly outlined in the moonlight. She was still sobbing in her sleep. Douglas stood looking down on her till his own eyes were tear-

in the morning before his father,

Charleton till things a

ug

. "Charleton," he said, "you made a

ned?" asked

as to

d Charleton. "I just thought he'd l

a while, Charleton. I'm

will

n't ask

issis. Little Marion's visiting at Lone Bend. Maybe my wife will think it's too much cooking for two m

day or so after Doug's departure, John returned Douglas' muttered greeting with a silent, ugly stare. There was comment and conjectur

and Douglas' eighteenth birthday passed unnoticed. The snows were too deep to allow Charleton to undertake any of those mysterious missions for which he was so much admired, and Elijah Nelson was allowed to flourish unmole

ug at all realized, was deeply troubled by what he

one Sunday afternoon early in April, when he and the you

ken to me since last August

!" grunt

Look at the couples round here and point me out any of 'em that's been married over

ideas in the last twenty years. You've worked for him long enough, anyhow. Better go b

I'm going after wild horses with Charleton. And yo

with his skin off, we'd find he gets happiness and sorrow out of the

o let anything get him

much, Douglas." Then he added soberly, "You're disappointi

ose she thought I'd come running back to her,

k at Douglas' face. "I know you. You are breaking your heart this minu

d to her?" asked Douglas quickly

ting too many of Inez' ideas in her head. She says John

ime? I'll admit I'm unhappy, but at least it's peaceful at Charleton's. He and his wife

want, Douglas

," muttered t

found in this valley, an ideal fine enough to save your soul alive. You come of stock that

berly for a few minutes. "Have you got

there was one. Work yourself out a plan, Doug, that is based on something fi

, "is something to take away

ere enough. Maybe they are for a man like your father, though I doubt it. But a man like you or me isn't built for promiscuity either i

time that Douglas stir

learn diffe

any suggestions or advice, and arriving at middle life with my mind and

he world I can do with myself," he said hea

of poetry. There were several of Shakespeare's plays around the cabin and these Douglas read again and again. He did not see much of Little Marion, who was a great gad-about, and who, when she was at home, was mon

he postmaster's comments on Charleton. Very early one morning Charleto

h the Moose in a sweating lather. When he banged on the door, G

!" she snapped. "Is

es

let me

andma! Charleton s

on and drink my coffee, no matter how Charleton Falk

before Grandma appeared, plump and calm. Nor would sh

d eyes close as I have, you'll quit hurrying," she said

bursting over the top of the Indian ra

he door. "Where in the b

a! I've been

s, you keep this lunatic outside, no matter what he says or does. It's just the way

he chores!" su

res! Don't y

"Come on and get the milking done. Are you a

harleton. "You poor

, as they rested for a time on the corral gate, t

g," said Cha

y, Charleton!" she shrieked. "A fine

. Then he said, "Charleton Falkner, Jr.! Charleton Falkner, Jr.! All my life I've been waiting for thi

nwound his long legs from the fence and cros

ow's his wife and

and telephone us? You tell him she did fine like she always does e

eter till I see the b

rle

slammed

ce," said Douglas, established ag

y n

to stay by myself, just take a rid

kner, Jr.! I'll tell you, Doug, you'll never know what happiness

What's all this talk you've been giving me f

leton Falkner, Jr.!" he was murmu

morsel of humanity that Little Marion proudly brought into the kitchen for their inspection. But Charleton was maudlin with admiration

filled with an embarrassed consternation at last beholdin

as a son, bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh, to carry on his name. And yet what had Charleton ever done to that name except to

enly, "do you want the kid to

isten, Doug, old-timer, I'm going to spend the rest of m

espair and went out

; and Douglas, feeling particularly lonely and unsettled, rode up the south trail after three of Charleton's young mule