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TheVirginianunlockedtheroominthehotelwherehekeptstoredhistent，hisblankets，hispack-saddles，andhismanyaccoutrementsforthebridaljourneyinthemountains。Outofthewindowhesawthemountainsblueinshadow，butsomecottonwoodsdistantintheflatbetweenwerestillbrightgreeninthesun。
Fromamonghispossessionshetookquicklyapistol，wipingandloadingit。Thenfromitsholsterheremovedthepistolwhichhehadtriedandmadesureofinthemorning。This，accordingtohiswontwhengoingintoarisk，heshovedbetweenhistrousersandhisshirtinfront。Theuntriedweaponheplacedintheholster，lettingithangvisiblyathiship。Heglancedoutofthewindowagain，andsawthemountainsofthesamedeepblue。Butthecottonwoodswerenolongerinthesunlight。Theshadowhadcomepastthem，nearerthetown；forfifteenofthefortyminutesweregone。“Thebishopiswrong，“hesaid。“Thereisnosenseintellingher。“Andheturnedtothedoor，justasshecametoitherself。
“Oh！“shecriedoutatonce，andrushedtohim。
Hesworeasheheldherclose。“Thefools！“hesaid。“Thefools！“
“Ithasbeensofrightfulwaitingforyou，“saidshe，leaningherheadagainsthim。
“Whohadtotellyouthis？“hedemanded。
“Idon’tknow。Somebodyjustcameandsaidit。
“Thisismeanluck，“hemurmured，pattingher。“Thisismeanluck。“
Shewenton:“Iwantedtorunoutandfindyou；butIdidn’t！I
didn’t！Istayedquietinmyroomtilltheysaidyouhadcomeback。“
“Itismeanluck。Mightymean，“herepeated。
“Howcouldyoubesolong？“sheasked。“Nevermind，I’vegotyounow。Itisover。“
Angerandsorrowfilledhim。“Imighthaveknownsomefoolwouldtellyou，“hesaid。
“It’sallover。Nevermind。“Herarmstightenedtheirholdofhim。Thenshelethimgo。“Whatshallwedo？“shesaid。“Whatnow？“
“Now？“heanswered。“Nothingnow。“
Shelookedathimwithoutunderstanding。
“Iknowitisaheapworseforyou，“hepursued，speakingslowly。
“Iknewitwouldbe。“
“Butitisover！“sheexclaimedagain。
Hedidnotunderstandhernow。Hekissedher。“Didyouthinkitwasover？“hesaidsimply。“Thereissomewaitingstillbeforeus。Iwishyoudidnothavetowaitalone。Butitwillnotbelong。“Hewaslookingdown，anddid；notseethehappinessgrowchilleduponherface，andthenfadeintobewilderedfear。“Ididmybest，hewenton。“IthinkIdid。IknowItried。Ilethimsaytomebeforethemallwhatnomanhaseversaid，oreverwillagain。Ikeptthinkinghardofyou——withallmymight，orI
reckonI’dhavekilledhimrightthere。AndIgavehimashowtochangehismind。Igaveittohimtwice。IspokeasquietasIamspeakingtoyounow。Buthestoodtoit。AndIexpectheknowshewenttoofarinthehearingofotherstogobackonhisthreat。
Hewillhavetogoontothefinishnow。“
“Thefinish？“sheechoed，almostvoiceless。
“Yes，“heansweredverygently。
Herdilatedeveswerefixeduponhim。“But——“shecouldscarceformutterance，“butyou？“
“Ihavegotmyselfready，“hesaid。“Didyouthink——why，whatdidyouthink？“
Sherecoiledastep。“Whatareyougoing——“Sheputhertwohandstoherhead。“Oh，God！“shealmostshrieked，“youaregoing——“Hemadeastep，andwouldhaveputhisarmroundher，butshebackedagainstthewall，staringspeechlessathim。
“Iamnotgoingtolethimshootme，“hesaidquietly。
“Youmean——youmean——butyoucancomeaway！“shecried。“It’snottoolateyet。Youcantakeyourselfoutofhisreach。Everybodyknowsthatyouarebrave。Whatishetoyou？Youcanleavehiminthisplace。I’llgowithyouanywhere。Toanyhouse，tothemountains，toanywhereaway。We’llleavethishorribleplacetogetherand——and——oh，won’tyoulistentome？“Shestretchedherhandstohim。“Won’tyoulisten？“
Hetookherhands。“Imuststayhere。“
Herhandsclungtohis。“No，no，no。There’ssomethingelse。
There’ssomethingbetterthansheddingbloodincoldblood。Onlythinkwhatitmeans！Onlythinkofhavingtoremembersuchathing！Why，it’swhattheyhangpeoplefor！It’smurder！“
Hedroppedherhands。“D
