Hesawhisownpalefacegoingawayfromthisolder，grimmerman。
\"Son，ifIcouldhavelookedforwardtoanythin’butbloodspillin’
I’dneverhavegivenyousuchanametouphold，\"continuedtherancher。
\"WhatI’mgoin’totellyounowismysecret。Myothersonsan’Annhaveneverheardit。JimBlaisdellsuspectsthere’ssomethin’strange，buthedoesn’tknow。I’llshorenevertellanyoneelsebutyou。
An’youmustpromisetokeepmysecretnowan’afterIamgone。\"
\"Ipromise，\"saidJean。
\"Wal，an’nowtogetitout，\"beganhisfather，breathinghard。
Hisfacetwitchedandhishandsclenched。\"ThesheepmanheahI
havetoreckonwithisLeeJorth，alifelongenemyofmine。Wewereborninthesametown，playedtogetheraschildren，an’foughtwitheachotherasboys。Wenevergotalongtogether。An’webothfellinlovewiththesamegirl。Itwasnipan’tuckforawhile。
EllenSuttonbelongedtooneoftheoldfamiliesoftheSouth。
Shewasabeauty，an’muchcourted，an’Ireckonitwashardforhertochoose。ButIwonheran’webecameengaged。Thenthewarbrokeout。IenlistedwithmybrotherJean。HeadvisedmetomarryEllenbeforeIleft。ButIwouldnot。Thatwastheblunderofmylife。
Soonafterourpartin’herlettersceasedtocome。ButIdidn’tdistrusther。Thatwasaterribletimean’allwasconfusion。
ThenIgotcrippledan’putinahospital。An’inabootayearIwassentbackhome。\"
AtthisjunctureJeanrefrainedfromfurthergazeathisfather’sface。
LeeJorthhadgottenoutofgoin’towar，\"wentontherancher，inlower，thickervoice。\"He’dmarriedmysweetheart，Ellen……
IknewthestorylongbeforeIgotwell。Hehadrunafterherlikeahoundafterahare……An’Ellenmarriedhim。Wal，whenIwasabletogetabootIwenttoseeJorthan’Ellen。Iconfrontedthem。
Ihadtoknowwhyshehadgonebackonme。LeeJorthhadn’tchangedanywithallhisgoodfortune。He’dmadeEllenbelieveinmydishonor。
But，Ireckon，liesornolies，EllenSuttonwasfaithless。Inmyabsencehehadwonherawayfromme。An’Isawthatshelovedhimassheneverhadme。Ireckonthatkilledallmygenerosity。Ifshe’dbeenimposeduponan’weanedawaybyhisliesan’hadregrettedmealittleI’dhaveforgiven，perhaps。Butsheworshipedhim。Shewashisslave。An’I，wal，Ilearnedwhathatewas。
\"ThewarruinedtheSuttons，sameassomanySoutherners。LeeJorthwentinforraisin’cattle。He’dgottentheSuttonrangean’afterafewyearshebegantoaccumulatestock。Inthosedayseverycattlemanwasalittlebitofathief。Everycattlemandroveinan’brandedcalveshecouldn’tswearwashis。Wal，theIsbelswerethestrongestcattleraisersinthatcountry。An’IlaidatrapforLeeJorth，caughthimintheactofbrandin’calvesofmineI’dmarked，an’I
provedhimathief。Imadehimarustler。Iruinedhim。Wemetonce。
ButJorthwasoneTexannotstrongonthedraw，atleastagainstanIsbel。Heleftthecountry。Hehadfriendsan’relativesan’theystartedhimatstockraisin’again。Buthebegantogamblean’hegotinwithashadycrowd。Hewentfrombadtoworsean’thenhecamebackhome。WhenIsawthechangeinproud，beautifulEllenSutton，an’howshestillworshipedJorth，itshoredrovemenearmadbetweenpityan’hate……Wal，IreckoninaTexanhateoutlivesanyotherfeelin’。Therecameastrangeturnofthewheelan’myfortuneschanged。
Likemostyoungbloodsoftheday，Idrankan’gambled。An’onenightIrunacrossJorthan’acard—sharpfriend。Hefleecedme。Wequarreled。
Gunswerethrown。Ikilledmyman……AbootthatperiodtheTexasRangershadcomeintoexistence……An’，son，whenIsaidIneverwasrunoutofTexasIwasn’tholdin’tostricttruth。Irodeoutonahoss。
\"IwenttoOregon。ThereImarriedsoon，an’thereBillan’Guywereborn。Theirmotherdidnotlivelong。An’nextImarriedyourmother，Jean。ShehadsomeIndianblood，which，forallIcouldsee，madeheronlythefiner。Shewasawonderfulwomanan’gavemetheonlyhappinessIeverknew。Yourememberher，ofcourse，an’thosehomedaysinOregon。IreckonImadeanothergreatblunderwhenImovedtoArizona。Butthecattlecountryhadalwayscalledme。IhadheardofthiswildTontoBasinan’howTexansweresettlin’there。An’JimBlaisdellsentmewordtocome——thatthisshorewasagardenspotoftheWest。Wal，itis。An’yourmotherwasgone——
\"ThreeyearsagoLeeJorthdriftedintotheTonto。An’，strangetome，alongabootayearorsoafterhiscomin’theHashKnifeGangrodeupfromTexas。Jorthwentinforraisin’sheep。AlongwithsomeothersheepmenhelivesupintheRimcanyons。Somewherebackinthewildbrakesisthehidin’placeoftheHashKnifeGang。Nobodybutme，Ireckon，associatesColonelJorth，ashe’scalled，withDaggsan’
hisgang。MaybeBlaisdellan’afewothershaveahunch。Butthat’snomatter。AsasheepmanJorthhasalegitimategrievancewiththecattlemen。Butwhatcouldbesettledbyasquareconsiderationforthegoodofallan’thefutureJorthwillneversettle。He’llneversettlebecauseheisnownolongeranhonestman。He’sinwithDaggs。
Icain’tprovethis，son，butIknowit。IsawitinJorth’sfacewhenImethimthatdaywithGreaves。Isawmore。Ishoresawwhatheisupto。He’dnevermeetmeatanevenbreak。He’sdeadsetonusin’thissheepan’cattlefeudtoruinmyfamilyan’me，evenasI
ruinedhim。Buthemeansmore，Jean。ThiswillbeawarbetweenTexans，an’abloodywar。TherearebadmeninthisTonto——someoftheworstthatdidn’tgetshotinTexas。Jorthwillhavesomeofthesefellows……Now，arewegoin’towaittobesheepedoffourrangean’tobemurderedfromambush？\"
\"No，wearenot，\"repliedJean，quietly。
\"Wal，comedowntothehouse，\"saidtherancher，andledthewaywithoutspeakinguntilhehaltedbythedoor。Thereheplacedhisfingeronasmallholeinthewoodatabouttheheightofaman’shead。
Jeansawitwasabulletholeandthatafewgrayhairsstucktoitsedges。Theranchersteppedclosertothedoor—post，sothathisheadwaswithinaninchofthewood。ThenhelookedatJeanwitheyesinwhichthereglinteddancingspecksoffire，likewildsparks。
\"Son，thissneakin’shotatmewasmadethreemawnin’sago。Irecollectmovin’myhaidjustwhenIheardthecrackofarifle。Shorewassurprised。ButIgotinsidequick。\"
Jeanscarcelyheardthelatterpartofthisspeech。Heseemeddoubledupinwardly，inhotandcoldconvulsionsofchangingemotion。A
terribleholduponhisconsciousnesswasabouttobreakandletgo。
ThefirstshothadbeenfiredandhewasanIsbel。Indeed，hisfatherhadmadehimtentimesanIsbel。Bloodwasthick。Hisfatherdidnotspeaktodullears。Thisstrifeofrisingtumultinhimseemedtheeffectofyearsofcalm，ofpeaceinthewoods，ofdreamywaitingforheknewnotwhat。Itwasthepassionateprimitivelifeinhimthathadawakenedtothecallofbloodties。
\"That’sabootall，son，\"concludedtherancher。\"YouunderstandnowwhyIfeelthey’regoin’tokillme。Ifeelitheah。\"Withsolemngestureheplacedhisbroadhandoverhisheart。\"An’，Jean，strangewhisperscometomeatnight。Itseemslikeyourmotherwascallin’
ortryin’towarnme。Icain’texplainthesequeerwhispers。ButI
knowwhatIknow。\"
\"Jorthhashisfollowers。Youmusthaveyours，\"repliedJean，tensely。
\"Shore，son，an’Icantakemychoiceofthebestmenheah，\"repliedtherancher，withpride。\"ButI’llnotdothat。I’lllaythedealbeforetheman’letthemchoose。Ireckonit’llnotbealong—windedfight。It’llbeshortanbloody，afterthewayofTexans。I’mlookin’
toyou，Jean，toseethatanIsbelisthelastman！\"
\"MyGod——dad！istherenootherway？ThinkofmysisterAnn——ofmybrothers’wives——of——ofotherwomen！Dad，thesedamnedTexasfeudsarecruel，horrible！\"burstoutJean，inpassionateprotest。
\"Jean，woulditbeanyeasierforourwomenifweletthesemenshootusdownincoldblood？\"
\"Ohno——no，Isee，there’snohopeof——of……But，dad，Iwasn’tthinkin’aboutmyself。Idon’tcare。OncestartedI’ll——I’llbewhatyoubraggedIwas。Onlyit’ssohardto—togivein。\"
Jeanleanedanarmagainstthesideofthecabinand，bowinghisfaceoverit，hesurrenderedtotheirresistiblecontentionwithinhisbreast。Andasifwithawrenchthatstrangeinwardholdbroke。
Heletdown。Hewentback。Somethingthatwasboyishandhopeful——andinitsplaceslowlyrosethedarktideofhisinheritance，thesavageinstinctofself—preservationbequeathedbyhisIndianmother，andthefierce，feudalbloodlustofhisTexanfather。
Thenasheraisedhimself，grippedbyasickeningcoldnessinhisbreast，herememberedEllenJorth’sfaceasshehadgazeddreamilydownofftheRim——sosoft，sodifferent，withtremulouslips，sad，musing，withfar—seeingstareofdarkeyes，peeringintotheunknown，theinstinctoflifestillunlived。WithconfusedvisionandnamelesspainJeanthoughtofher。
\"Dad，it’shardon——the——theyoungfolks，\"hesaid，bitterly。\"Thesinsofthefather，youknow。An’theotherside。HowaboutJorth？
Hasheanychildren？\"
WhatacuriousgleamofsurpriseandconjectureJeanencounteredinhisfather’sgaze！
\"Hehasadaughter。EllenJorth。Namedafterhermother。ThefirsttimeIsawEllenJorthIthoughtshewasaghostofthegirlIhadlovedan’lost。Sightofherwaslikeabladeinmyside。Butthelooksofheran’whatsheis——theydon’tgibe。OldasIam，myheart——Bah！EllenJorthisadamnedhussy！\"
JeanIsbelwentoffaloneintothecedars。Surrenderandresignationtohisfather’screedshouldhaveendedhisperplexityandworry。
Hisinstantandburningresolvetobeashisfatherhadrepresentedhimshouldhaveopenedhismindtoslowcunning，tothecraftoftheIndian，tothedevelopmentofhate。Butthereseemedtobeanobstacle。
Acloudinthewayofvision。Afacelimnedonhismemory。
Thosedamningwordsofhisfather’shadbeenashock——howlittleorgreathecouldnottell。WasitonlyadaysincehehadmetEllenJorth？Whathadmadeallthedifference？Suddenlylikeabreaththefragranceofherhaircamebacktohim。Thenthesweetcoolnessofherlips！Jeantrembled。Helookedaroundhimasifhewerepursuedorsurroundedbyeyes，byinstincts，byfears，byincomprehensiblethings。
\"Ahuh！Thatmustbewhatailsme，\"hemuttered。\"Thelookofher——an’
thatkiss——they’vegonehardme。Ishouldneverhavestoppedtotalk。
An’I’mtokillherfatheran’leavehertoGodknowswhat。\"
Somethingwaswrongsomewhere。Jeanabsolutelyforgotthatwithinthehourhehadpledgedhismanhood，hislifetoafeudwhichcouldbeblottedoutonlyinblood。Ifhehadunderstoodhimselfhewouldhaverealizedthatthepledgewasnomorethrillingandunintelligibleinitspossibilitiesthanthisinstinctwhichdrewhimirresistibly。
\"EllenJorth！So——mydadcallsheradamnedhussy！So——thatexplainsthe——thewaysheacted——whysheneverhitmewhenIkissedher。An’
herwords，soeasyan’cool—like。Hussy？Thatmeansshe’sbad——bad！
Scornfulofme——maybedisappointedbecausemykisswasinnocent！
Itwas，Iswear。An’allshesaid:’Oh，I’vebeenkissedbefore。’\"
Jeangrewfuriouswithhimselfforthespreadingofanewsensationinhisbreastthatseemednowtoache。Hadhebecomeinfatuated，allinaday，withthisEllenJorth？Washejealousofthemenwhohadtheprivilegeofherkisses？No！Buthisreplywashotwithshame，withuncertainty。Thethingthatseemedwrongwasoutsideofhimself。
Ablunderwasnocrime。Tobeattractedbyaprettygirlinthewoods——toyieldtoanimpulsewasnodisgrace，norwrong。Hehadbeenfoolishoveragirlbefore，thoughnottosucharashextent。EllenJorthhadstuckinhisconsciousness，andwithherasenseofregret。
Thenswiftlyranghisfather’sbitterwords，therevealing:\"Butthelooksofheran’whatsheis——theydon’tgibe！\"Intheimportofthesewordshidthemeaningofthewrongthattroubledhim。
Broodinglyheponderedoverthem。
\"Thelooksofher。Yes，shewaspretty。Butitdidn’tdawnonmeatfirst。I——Iwassortofexcited。Ilikedtolookather，butdidn’tthink。\"Andnowconsciouslyherfacewascalledup，infinitelysweetandmoreimpellingforthedeliberatememory。Flashofbrownskin，smoothandclear;levelgazeofdark，wideeyes，steady，bold，unseeing;
redcurvedlips，sadandsweet;herstrong，clean，finefacerosebeforeJean，eagerandwistfulonemoment，softenedbydreamymusingthought，andthenextstormilypassionate，fullofhate，fulloflonging，butthemoremysteriousandbeautiful。
Shelookslikethat，butshe’sbad，\"concludedJean，withbitterfinality。\"ImighthavefalleninlovewithEllenJorthif——ifshe’dbeendifferent。\"
ButtheconvictionforceduponJeandidnotdispelthehauntingmemoryofherfacenordiditwhollysilencethedeepandstubbornvoiceofhisconsciousness。Laterthatafternoonhesoughtamomentwithhissister。
\"Ann，didyouevermeetEllenJorth？\"heasked。
\"Yes，butnotlately，\"repliedAnn。
\"Well，ImetherasIwasridin’alongyesterday。Shewasherdin’
sheep，\"wentonJean，rapidly。\"IaskedhertoshowmethewaytotheRim。An’shewalkedwithmeamileorso。Ican’tsaythemeetin’
wasnotinterestin’，atleasttome……Willyoutellmewhatyouknowabouther？\"
\"Sure，Jean，\"repliedhissister，withherdarkeyesfixedwonderinglyandkindlyonhistroubledface。\"I’veheardagreatdeal，butinthisTontoBasinIdon’tbelieveallIhear。WhatIknowI’lltellyou。
IfirstmetEllenJorthtwoyearsago。Wedidn’tknoweachother’snamesthen。ShewastheprettiestgirlIeversaw。Ilikedher。
Shelikedme。Sheseemedunhappy。Thenexttimewemetwasataround—up。Therewereothergirlswithmeandtheysnubbedher。
ButIleftthemandwentaroundwithher。Thatsnubcuthertotheheart。Shewaslonely。Shehadnofriends。Shetalkedaboutherself——howshehatedthepeople，butlovedArizona。Shehadnothin’
fittowear。Ididn’tneedtobetoldthatshe’dbeenusedtobetterthings。Justwhenitlookedasifweweregoin’tobefriendsshetoldmewhoshewasandaskedmemyname。Itoldher。Jean，I
couldn’thavehurthermoreifI’dslappedherface。Sheturnedwhite。Shegasped。Andthensheranoff。ThelasttimeIsawherwasaboutayearago。Iwasridin’ashort—cuttrailtotheranchwhereafriendlived。AndImetEllenJorthridin’withamanI’dneverseen。Thetrailwasovergrownandshady。Theywereridin’
closeanddidn’tseemerightoff。Themanhadhisarmroundher。
Shepushedhimaway。Isawherlaugh。Thenhegotholdofheragainandwaskissin’herwhenhishorseshiedatsightofmine。Theyrodebymethen。EllenJorthheldherheadhighandneverlookedatme。\"
\"Ann，doyouthinkshe’sabadgirl？\"demandedJean，bluntly。
\"Bad？Oh，Jean！\"exclaimedAnn，insurpriseandembarrassment。
\"Dadsaidshewasadamnedhussy。\"
\"Jean，dadhatestheJorths。\"
\"Sister，I’maskin’youwhatyouthinkofEllenJorth。Wouldyoubefriendswithherifyoucould？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Thenyoudon’tbelieveshe’sbad。\"
\"No。EllenJorthislonely，unhappy。Shehasnomother。Shelivesaloneamongroughmen。Suchagirlcan’tkeepmenfromhandlin’herandkissin’her。Maybeshe’stoofree。Maybeshe’swild。Butshe’shonest，Jean。Youcantrustawomantotell。Whensherodepastmethatdayherfacewaswhiteandproud。ShewasaJorthandIwasanIsbel。Shehatedherself——shehatedme。Butnobadgirlcouldlooklikethat。Sheknowswhat’ssaidofherallaroundthevalley。
Butshedoesn’tcare。She’dencouragegossip。\"
\"Thankyou，Ann，\"repliedJean，huskily。\"Pleasekeepthis——thismeetin’ofminewithheralltoyourself，won’tyou？\"
\"Why，Jean，ofcourseIwill。\"
Jeanwanderedawayagain，peculiarlygratefultoAnnforrevivingandupholdingsomethinginhimthatseemedawaveringpartofthebestofhim——achivalrythathaddemandedtobekilledbyjudgmentofarighteouswoman。Hewasconsciousofanuplift，agladdeningofhisspirit。Yettheacheremained。Morethanthat，hefoundhimselfplungeddeeperintoconjecture，doubt。HadnottheEllenJorthincidentended？Hedeniedhisfather’sindictmentofherandacceptedthefaithofhissister。\"Reckonthat’sabootall，asdadsays，\"hesoliloquized。Yetwasthatall？Hepacedunderthecedars。
Hewatchedthesunset。Helistenedtothecoyotes。Helingeredthereafterthecallforsupper;untiloutofthetumultofhisconflictingemotionsandponderingsthereevolvedthestaggeringconsciousnessthathemustseeEllenJorthagain。
CHAPTERIV
EllenJorthhurriedbackintotheforest，hotlyresentfuloftheaccidentthathadthrownherincontactwithanIsbel。
Disgustfilledher——disgustthatshehadbeenamiabletoamemberofthehatedfamilythathadruinedherfather。Thesurpriseofthismeetingdidnotcometoherwhileshewasunderthespellofstrongerfeeling。Shewalkedunderthetrees，swiftly，withheaderect，lookingstraightbeforeher，andeverystepseemedarelief。
Uponreachingcamp，herattentionwasdistractedfromherself。Pepe，theMexicanboy，withthetwoshepherddogs，wastryingtodrivesheepintoacloserbunchtosavethelambsfromcoyotes。Ellenlovedthefleecy，totteringlittlelambs，andatthisseasonshehatedalltheprowlingbeastoftheforest。Fromthistimeonforweekstheflockwouldbebesiegedbywolves，lions，bears，thelastofwhichwereoftenboldanddangerous。Theoldgrizzliesthatkilledtheewestoeatonlythemilk—bagswereparticularlydreadedbyEllen。Shewasagoodshotwitharifle，buthadordersfromherfathertoletthebearsalone。Fortunately，suchsheep—killingbearswerebutfew，andwerelefttobehuntedbymenfromtheranch。Mexicansheepherderscouldnotbedependedupontoprotecttheirflocksfrombears。
EllenhelpedPepedriveinthestragglers，andshetookseveralshotsatcoyotesskulkingalongtheedgeofthebrush。Theopengladeintheforestwasfavorableforherdingthesheepatnight，andthedogscouldbedependedupontoguardtheflock，andinmostcasestodrivepredatorybeastsaway。
Afterthistask，whichbroughtthetimetosunset，Ellenhadsuppertocookandeat。Darknesscame，andacoolnightwindsetin。
Hereandtherealambbleatedplaintively。Withherworkdonefortheday，Ellensatbeforearuddycampfire，andfoundherthoughtsagaincenteringaroundthesingularadventurethathadbefallenher。
Disdainfullyshestrovetothinkofsomethingelse。ButtherewasnothingthatcoulddispeltheinterestofhermeetingwithJeanIsbel。
Thereuponsheimpatientlysurrenderedtoit，andrecalledeverywordandactionwhichshecouldremember。Andintheprocessofthismeditationshecametoanactionofhers，recollectionofwhichbroughtthebloodtinglingtoherneckandcheeks，sounusuallyandburninglythatshecoveredthemwithherhands。\"Whatdidhethinkofme？\"shemused，doubtfully。Itdidnotmatterwhathethought，butshecouldnothelpwondering。Andwhenshecametothememoryofhiskissshesufferedmorethanthesensationofthrobbingscarletcheeks。Scornfullyandbitterlysheburstout，\"Shorehecouldn’thavethoughtmuchgoodofme。\"
Thehalfhourfollowingthisreminiscencewasfarfrombeingpleasant。
Proud，passionate，strong—willedEllenJorthfoundherselfavictimofconflictingemotions。Theeventofthedaywastooclose。Shecouldnotunderstandit。DisgustanddisdainandscorncouldnotmakethismeetingwithJeanIsbelasifithadneverbeen。Pridecouldnoteffaceitfromhermind。Themoreshereflected，thehardershetriedtoforget，thestrongergrewasignificanceofinterest。Andwhenahintofthisdawneduponherconsciousnesssheresenteditsoforciblythatshelosthertemper，scatteredthecampfire，andwentintothelittleteepeetenttorollinherblankets。
Thussettledsnugandwarmforthenight，withashepherddogcurledattheopeningofhertent，sheshuthereyesandconfidentlybadesleependherperplexities。Butsleepdidnotcomeatherinvitation。
Shefoundherselfwideawake，keenlysensitivetothesputteringofthecampfire，thetinklingofbellsontherams，thebleatingoflambs，thesoughofwindinthepines，andthehungrysharpbarkofcoyotesoffinthedistance。Darknesswasnorespecterofherpride。Thelonesomenightwithitsemphasisofsolitudeseemedtoinduceclamoringandstrangethoughts，aconfusingensembleofallthosethathadannoyedherduringthedaytime。Notforlonghoursdidsheerwearinessbringhertoslumber。
Ellenawakenedlateandfailedofherusualalacrity。BothPepeandtheshepherddogappearedtoregardherwithsurpriseandsolicitude。
Ellen’sspiritwaslowthismorning;herbloodransluggishly;shehadtofightamournfultendencytofeelsorryforherself。Andatfirstshewasnotverysuccessful。Thereseemedtobesomekindofpleasureinrevelinginmelancholywhichhercommonsensetoldherhadnoreasonforexistence。Butstatesofmindpersistedinspiteofcommonsense。
\"Pepe，whenisAntoniocomin’back？\"sheasked。
Theboycouldnotgiveherasatisfactoryanswer。Ellenhadwillinglytakenthesheepherder’splaceforafewdays，butnowshewasimpatienttogohome。Shelookeddownthegreen—and—brownaislesoftheforestuntilshewastired。Antoniodidnotreturn。Ellenspentthedaywiththesheep;andinthemanifoldtaskofcaringforathousandnew—bornlambssheforgotherself。Thisdaysawtheendoflambing—timeforthatseason。Theforestresoundedtoababelofbaasandbleats。Whennightcameshewasgladtogotobed，forwhatwithlossofsleep，andwearinessshecouldscarcelykeephereyesopen。
Thefollowingmorningsheawakenedearly，bright，eager，expectant，fullofboundinglife，strangelyawareofthebeautyandsweetnessofthescentedforest，strangelyconsciousofsomenamelessstimulustoherfeelings。
NotlongwasElleninassociatingthisnewanddelightfulvarietyofsensationswiththefactthatJeanIsbelhadsetto—dayforhisrideuptotheRimtoseeher。Ellen’sjoyousnessfled;hersmilesfaded。
Thespringmorninglostitsmagicradiance。
\"Shorethere’snosenseinmylyin’tomyself，\"shesoliloquized，thoughtfully。\"It’squeerofme——feelin’gladaboothim——withoutknowin’。Lord！Imustbelonesome！Tobegladofseein’anIsbel，evenifheisdifferent！\"
Soberlysheacceptedtheastoundingreality。Herconfidencediedwithhergayety;hervanitybegantosuffer。AndshecaughtatheradmissionthatJeanIsbelwasdifferent;sheresenteditinamaze;
sheridiculedit;shelaughedathernaiveconfession。Shecouldarriveatnoconclusionotherthanthatshewasaweak—minded，fluctuating，inexplicablelittlefool。
Butforallthatshefoundhermindhadbeenmadeupforher，withoutconsentordesire，beforeherwillhadbeenconsulted;andthatinevitablyandunalterablyshemeanttoseeJeanIsbelagain。
Longshebattledwiththisstrangedecree。Onemomentshewonavictoryover，thisnewcuriousself，onlytoloseitthenext。
Andatlastoutofherconflictthereemergedafewconvictionsthatleftherwithsomeshredsofpride。ShehatedallIsbels，shehatedanyIsbel，andparticularlyshehatedJeanIsbel。Shewasonlycurious——intenselycurioustoseeifhewouldcomeback，andifhedidcomewhathewoulddo。Shewantedonlytowatchhimfromsomecovert。Shewouldnotgonearhim，notlethimseeherorguessofherpresence。
Thussheassuagedherhurtvanity——thusshestifledhermiserabledoubts。
Longbeforethesunhadbeguntoslantwestwardtowardthemid—afternoonJeanIsbelhadsetasameetingtimeEllendirectedherstepsthroughtheforesttotheRim。Shefeltashamedofhereagerness。Shehadaguiltyconsciencethatnostrangethrillscouldsilence。Itwouldbefuntoseehim，towatchhim，tolethimwaitforher，tofoolhim。
LikeanIndian，shechosethesoftpine—needlematstotreadupon，andherlight—moccasinedfeetleftnotrace。LikeanIndianalsoshemadeawidedetour，andreachedtheRimaquarterofamilewestofthespotwhereshehadtalkedwithJeanIsbel;andhere，turningeast，shetookcaretosteponthebarestones。Thiswasanadventure，seeminglythefirstshehadeverhadinherlife。AssuredlyshehadneverbeforecomedirectlytotheRimwithouthaltingtolook，towonder，toworship。
Thistimeshescarcelyglancedintotheblueabyss。Allabsorbedwassheinhidinghertracks。Notonechanceinathousandwouldsherisk。
TheJorthprideburnedevenwhilethefemininesideofherdominatedheractions。Shehadsomedifficultrockypointstocross，thenwindfallstoround，andatlengthreachedthecovertshedesired。
AruggedyellowpointoftheRimstoodsomewhathigherthanthespotEllenwantedtowatch。Adensethicketofjackpinesgrewtotheveryedge。ItaffordedanambushthateventheIndianeyesJeanIsbelwascreditedwithcouldneverpenetrate。Moreover，ifbyaccidentshemadeanoiseandexcitedsuspicion，shecouldretreatunobservedandhideinthehugerocksbelowtheRim，whereaferretcouldnotlocateher。
Withherplandecidedupon，Ellenhadnothingtodobutwait，sosherepairedtotheothersideofthepinethicketandtotheedgeoftheRimwhereshecouldwatchandlisten。SheknewthatlongbeforeshesawIsbelshewouldhearhishorse。Itwasaltogetherunlikelythathewouldcomeonfoot。
\"Shore，EllenJorth，y’u’reaqueergirl，\"shemused。\"IreckonI
wasn’twellacquaintedwithy’u。\"
Beneathheryawnedawonderfuldeepcanyon，ruggedandrockywithbutfewpinesonthenorthslope，thickwithdarkgreentimberonthesouthslope。Yellowandgraycrags，liketurretedcastles，stoodupoutoftheslopingforestonthesideoppositeher。Thetreeswereallsharp，spearpointed。Patchesoflightgreenaspensshowedstrikinglyagainstthedenseblack。ThegreatslopebeneathEllenwasserratedwithnarrow，deepgorges，almostcanyonsinthemselves。
Shadowsalternatedwithclearbrightspaces。Themile—widemouthofthecanyonopenedupontheBasin，downintoaworldofwildtimberedrangesandravines，valleysandhills，thatrolledandtumbledindark—greenwavestotheSierraAnchas。
