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“She’sa-crying，“saidhe。
Iwithheldfromquestions，andashekeptalongbymysidehesaid：“I’msorry。Doyouthinkshe’smadwithLinforwhathe’stoldher？Shejustsat，andwhenshestartedcryinghemademegoaway。“
“Idon’tbelieveshe’smad，“ItoldBilly；andIsatdownonmyblanket，hebesideme，talkingwhilethemoongrewsmallasitroseovertheplain，andthelightsteadilyshoneinJessamine’swindow。SoonyoungBillyfellasleep，andIlookedathim，thinkinghowinawayitwashewhohadbroughtthistroubleonthemanwhohadsavedhimandlovedhim。
Butthatmanhadnosuchuntenderthoughts。Oncemorethedooropened，anditwashewhocamethistime，alonealso。Shedidnotfollowhimandstandtowatchhimfromthethreshold，thoughheforgottoclosethedoor，and，comingovertome，stoodlookingdown。
“What？“Isaidatlength。
Idon’tknowthatheheardme。HestoopedoverBillyandshookhimgently。“Wake，son，“saidhe。“YouandImustgettoourcampnow。“
“Now？“saidBilly。“Can’twewaittillmorning？“
“No，son。Wecan’twaithereanymore。Goandgetthehorsesandputthesaddleson。“AsBillyobeyed，Linlookedatthelightedwindow。“Sheisinthere，“hesaid。“She’sinthere。Sonear。“Helooked，andturnedtothehotel，fromwhichhebroughthischapsandspursandputthemon。“I
understandherwords，“hecontinued。“Herwords，themeaningofthem。Butnotwhatshemeans，Iguess。Itwilltakestudyin’over。Why，shedon’tblameme!“hesuddenlysaid，speakingtomeinsteadoftohimself。
“Lin，“Ianswered，“shehasonlyjustheardthis，yousee。Waitawhile。“
“That’snotthetrouble。SheknowswhatkindofmanIhavebeen，andsheforgivesthatjustthewayshedidherbrother。AndsheknowshowI
didn’tintentionallyconcealanything。Billyhasn’tbeenaround，andsheneverrealizedabouthismotherandme。We’vetalkedawfulopen，butthatwasnotpleasanttospeakof，andthewholecountryknewitsolong——andIneverthought!Shedon’tblameme。Shesayssheunderstands；butshesaysIhaveawifelivin’。“
“Thatisnonsense，“Ideclared。
“Yu’mustn’tsaythat，“saidhe。“Shedon’tclaimshe’sawife，either。
ShejustshakesherheadwhenIaskedherwhyshefeelsso。Itmustbedifferenttoyouandmefromthewayitseemstoher。Idon’tseeherview；maybeInevercanseeit；butshe’smademefeelshehasit，andthatshe’shonest，andlovesmetrue——“Hisvoicebrokeforamoment。
“Shesaidshe’dwait。“
“Youcan’thaveamarriagebrokenthatwasnevertied，“Isaid。“ButperhapsGovernorBarkerorJudgeHenry——“
“No，“saidthecow-puncher。“Lawcouldn’tfoolher。She’sthinkingofsomethingbackoflaw。Shesaidshe’dwait——always。AndwhenItookitinthatthiswasalloveranddone，andwhenIthoughtofmyranchandthechickens——well，Icouldn’tthinkofthingsatall，andIcameandwakedBillytoclearoutandquit。“
“Whatdidyoutellher？“Iasked。
“Tellher？Nothin’，Iguess。Idon’tremembergettingoutoftheroom。
Why，here’sactuallyherpistol，andshe’sgotmine!“
“Man，man!“saidI，“gobackandtellhertokeepit，andthatyou’llwaittoo——always!“
“Wouldyu’？“
“Look!“IpointedtoJessaminestandinginthedoor。
Isawhisfaceasheturnedtoher，andIwalkedtowardBillyandthehorses。PresentlyIheardstepsonthewoodenstation，andfromitsblack，briefshadowthetwocamewalking，Linandhissweetheart，intothemoonlight。Theywerenotspeaking，butmerelywalkedtogetherintheclearradiance，handinhand，liketwochildren。Isawthatshewasweeping，andthatbeneaththetyrannyofherresolutionherwholeloving，amplenaturewaswrung。Butthestrange，narrowfibreinherwouldnotyield!Isawthemgotothehorses，andJessaminestoodwhileBillyandLinmounted。Thenquicklythecow-punchersprangdownagainandfoldedherinhisarms。
“Lin，dearLin!dearneighbor!“shesobbed。Shecouldnotwithholdthislastgood-bye。
Idonotthinkhespoke。Inamomentthehorsesstartedandweregone，flying，rushingawayintothegreatplain，untilsightandsoundofthemwerelost，andonlythesage
