The Mysterious Rider

e divine spark had penetrated into that mysterious depth of her, to inflame and to illumine, so that when she arose from this ho

this?" she cried, flinging wide her arm

t, lass?"

, passionately, with her hands s

er goes back to a girl

ber or understand, I've waited for your very words. I was ready. It's as if I knew you in some other world, before I was born on this earth; and when you spoke to

strange an' terrible in life. An' beautiful, too, as you say.... Who knows? Maybe in some former state I was somethin'

lied Columbine. "I love most birds. B

eren't for the ugly an' the evil, we wouldn't know the beauti

ack to Wilson right no

at

an't come to-morrow, or ever afterwa

olumbine that her sharpened faculties sensed

," he said, presently. "Wilson's

to-morrow,"

twilight they rode do

s he reached his cabin. "An' rem

friend," she rep

see his foam-lashed horse. Jim appeared non-committal, almost surly. But Columbine

Pronto," he offered. "An'

living-room hearth. The ranc

usual amiability. "Been ridin' ag'in' the wind, he

wind stings. But I didn't ride fast nor

the boy?" asked Be

but--but I guess that's n

ds lookin'

wses and others. I'm glad to say his cab

send Lem or Wade up thar an' see i

replied Columbine, with her h

everybody in Kremmlin' wantin' to be invited

merrier," repl

on I'll not

not,

of mine, even on his weddin'-da

t'd Jack

did anythin'," an

can gamb

tting his big arm around her. "I w

ouched into the room, with his head banda

it," said the rancher, cheeri

ed Columbine, as she took her

been?" he ask

... I've been riding Pronto, the first time since he

, and growled something under his breath, and th

ll?" asked Columbine, with a solicitude

well," sna

mouth droops at the corners. You're very pale--and red in spots. And your

had always been so sweet and quiet and backward, was atteste

g fun of me?"

you? I only wanted to say how queer you look.

w! Haw!... By Golly! lass--I'd never believed thet was in you.... Jack, be game an' take your medicine.

lift, the spiritual advance, the rise above mere personal welfare, that had strangely come to her through Bent Wade. From their first meeting he had possessed a singular attraction for her that no

which had arisen in her, interpreting from Wade's rude words of

as to be a good wife, to bear with his faults, to strive always to help him by kindness, patience, loyalty, and such affection as was possible to her. Hate had to be reckoned with, an

ess, in the ordinary sense, might never be hers. Alas for her dreams! But there had been given her a glimpse of something higher than pleasure and contentment. Dreams were but dreams. But she could still dream of what had been, of what might have been, of the beauty and mystery

. That only did she fear to realize and to face, because it was an unknown factor, a threatening flame. Her s

murmured. "He shall have that!... T

loomed the bitterness! She could not know what hid in either of these acts until they were fulfilled. And the hours became long, and sl

e winding valley swift as the wind. But at the aspen grove, where Wade's keen, gentle voice had given her s

motion. The hunter would be inside and so she would not be compelled at once to confess her secret.

th joy and reproach, as she entered. The cowboy

is Ben?" excla

ade sure you'd backed out--weren't coming at all--and I couldn't eat.... Wade said he knew

s of his face were less marked. And at that moment no pain shadowed his eyes. They were soft, dark, eloquent. If Columbine had not come with her avowed resolutio

ter," she s

de found me asleep.... Collie, it's good of you to come. You look so--

she asked, dreamily, not occ

a contemp

reaching for her with

over her face. And as she swayed forward she shook viole

Heavens! Don't cry! I--I didn't mean anything

r was still pressed to her eyes. One moment longer would Columbine keep her secret--hide her ey

d himself of the trembling hand offered. "Collie, you act so strange.... Yo

from her eyes with a ge

-and gloriously happy," she sa

" he

thing I have to tell

is t

nt ove

you g

d his eyes burned

ss ... I dar

-forever, it seems--something I never dream

cried. "Don't

we quarreled so dreadfully--be

ould kiss you--an

pered, shyly, feeling

ed her face down to his, and, holding her in a close embrace, he kissed her li

her head down

ieve! Say it again!"

joy, the strange strength and power of his kisses, utterly changed her. Upon his breast she lay, without desire to lif

. It's true now. I know. It's

h utterance that would not come, and in the grip of a shuddering emotion that was reali

olumbine,"

e and rapt, and she bent to it, meeting his

lie--again!

ng his neck with her arms she hid her face and held

and that perhaps he dared not voice his fear. At any rate, he silently held her, waiting. That silent wait grew unendurable for Columbine. She wanted to prolong this mom

trings. She sat up, she wiped the tears from her eyes, she rose

artled Columbine. It came from Wade calling the

ck Belllounds on

as able. It was agonizing for Columbine to

o!" he

e," she replie

exclaimed

yes. I came to tell you.

me," he declared, transfixin

st as terr

omething of terror and horr

Columbine's side. She could not unrivet her gaze from Moore to look at her frien

for self-con

how can you marry Jack

mus

must

His heart is set upon my helping Jack to become a man.... Dad loves me,

assionately. "Belllounds is wrapped up in his son. He's

faltered

her. You can't love two men.... You'll give yourself.

re had vanished all her wonderful spirit? This fire

Wilson. "Mother of--them--when you l

id--I never did!"

mplored, wildly. "Dearest Collie, think! You w

hat can I say? I've

kill him befor

fought again--if anything ter

off!" he flashed,

weakening in strength, although her spirit held. She kne

ounds is no good on this earth! Collie dearest, don't think that's my jealousy. I am horribly jealous. But I know him. He's not worth you! No man is--and he the least. He'll break yo

umbine. "But it doesn't make any diff

he treats a horse or a

If he ever lay

t have. If he gets it, then right off he doesn't want it. Oh, I've known him since he was a kid.... Columbine, you've a mistaken sense of du

t--hard. You make no allowance for--for some possible good in ever

coward! Didn't he prove to you what he was when he jumped on me

olumbine. "Oh, I'm so sorry.... I oug

ly urged Wilson. "And he--he may lov

hold back speech, to fight something terr

passioned declaration of lo

sh of hot blood surged over her. "You don't love me any more than I love

upon the bed, sp

t'll mean for her to marry Belllounds. If that doesn't change her, then tell her what it'll mean to me. I'll never go home. I'l

r head.... Well, now, you an' Collie listen. You're right an' she's right. I reckon I never run across a deal with two peopl

t over a little, running a roughened hand through the scant hair that had begun to silver upon his head. Presently he looked up, and from that sallow face, with its lines and furrows,

ke save Columbine!"

Columbine, impelled beyond her

hange! Lookin' back over all the years I remember many boys like this Buster Jack, an' I remember how in the nature of their doin's they just hanged themselves. I've a queer foresight about people whose trouble I've made my own. It's somethin' that never fails. When their trouble's goin' to turn out bad then I fee