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“Thisracewillnotbepulled，“saidMcLean。
“Bewithyouatthefinish，“saidScipio。
Andtheypassedon。Theydidnotseemlikerealpeopletohim。
Trampaslookedatthewallsandwindowsofthehouses。Weretheyreal？Washehere，walkinginthisstreet？Somethinghadchanged。
Helookedeverywhere，andfeelingiteverywhere，wonderedwhatthiscouldbe。Thenheknew:itwasthesunthathadgoneentirelybehindthemountains，andhedrewouthispistol。
TheVirginian，forprecaution，didnotwalkoutofthefrontdoorofthehotel。Hewentthroughbackways，andpausedonce。Againsthisbreasthefelttheweddingringwherehehaditsuspendedbyachainfromhisneck。Hishandwentuptoit，andhedrewitoutandlookedatit。Hetookitoffthechain，andhisarmwentbacktohurlitfromhimasfarashecould。Buthestoppedandkisseditwithonesob，andthrustitinhispocket。Thenhewalkedoutintotheopen，watching。Hesawmenhereandthere，andtheylethimpassasbefore，withoutspeaking。Hesawhisthreefriends，andtheysaidnowordtohim。Buttheyturnedandfollowedinhisrearatalittledistance，becauseitwasknownthatShortyhadbeenfoundshotfrombehind。TheVirginiangainedapositionsoonwherenoonecouldcomeathimexceptfrominfront；andthesightofthemountainswasalmostmorethanhecouldendure，becauseitwastherethathehadbeengoingto-morrow。
“Itisquiteawhileaftersunset，“heheardhimselfsay。
Awindseemedtoblowhissleeveoffhisarm，andherepliedtoit，andsawTrampaspitchforward。HesawTrampasraisehisarmfromthegroundandfallagain，andlietherethistime，still。A
littlesmokewasrisingfromthepistolontheground，andhelookedathisown，andsawthesmokeflowingupwardoutofit。
“Iexpectthat’sall，“hesaidaloud。
ButashecamenearerTrampas，hecoveredhimwithhisweapon。Hestoppedamoment，seeingthehandonthegroundmove。Twofingerstwitched，andthenceased；foritwasall。TheVirginianstoodlookingdownatTrampas。
“Bothofminehit，“hesaid，oncemorealoud“Hismusthavegonemightyclosetomyarm。Itoldheritwouldnotbeme。“
Hehadscarcelynoticedthathewasbeingsurroundedandcongratulated。Hishandwasbeingshaken，andhesawitwasScipiointears。Scipio’sjoymadehisheartlikeleadwithinhim。Hewasneartellinghisfriendeverything，buthedidnot。
“Ifanybodywantsmeaboutthis，“hesaid，“Iwillbeatthehotel。“
“Who’llwantyou？“saidScipio。“Threeofussawhisgunout。“
Andheventedhisadmiration。“Youwerethatcool！Thatquick！“
“I’llseeyouboysagain，“saidtheVirginian，heavily；andhewalkedaway。
Scipiolookedafterhim，astonished。“Yu’mightsupposehewasinpoorluck，“hesaidtoMcLean。
TheVirginianwalkedtothehotel，andstoodonthethresholdofhissweetheart’sroom。Shehadheardhisstep，andwasuponherfeet。Herlipswereparted，andhereyesfixedonhim，nordidshemove，orspeak。
“Yu’havetoknowit，“saidhe。“IhavekilledTrampas。“
“Oh，thankGod！“shesaid；andhefoundherinhisarms。Longtheyembracedwithoutspeaking，andwhattheywhisperedthenwiththeirkisses，mattersnot。
ThusdidherNewEnglandconsciencebattletotheend，and，intheend，capitulatetolove。Andthenextday，withthebishop’sblessing，andMrs。Taylor’sbroadestsmile，andtheringonherfinger，theVirginiandepartedwithhisbrideintothemountains。
Fortheirfirstbridalcamphechoseanisland。Longweeksbeforehandhehadthoughtofthisplace，andsethisheartuponit。Onceestablishedinhismind，thethoughtbecameapicturethathesawwakingandsleeping。Hehadstoppedattheislandmanytimesalone，andinallseasons；butatthisspecialmomentoftheyearhelikeditbest。Oftenhehadaddedseveralneedlessmilestohisjourneythathemightfinishthedayatthispoint，mightcatchthetroutforhissupperbesideacertainrockuponitsedge，andfallasleephearingthestreamoneithersideofhim。
Alwaysforhimthefirstsignsthathehadgainedthetrueworldofthemountainsbeganattheisland。Thefirstpinetreesstooduponit；thefirstwhitecolumbinegrewintheirshade；anditseemedtohimthathealwaysmetherethefirstofthetruemountainair——thecoolnessandthenewfragrance。Below，therewereonlythec
