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ditchand she's going to like Box Elder Creek better than Shawhan。 She's
the first I've ever loved。〃
〃Then I'd like to ask〃 I cried out。
〃Ask away！〃 he exclaimed； inattentively； in his enthusiasm。
〃When you〃 but I stopped； perceiving it impossible。 It was； of course；
not the many transient passions on which he had squandered his substance；
but the one where faith also had seemed to unite。 Had he not married once；
innocent of the woman's being already a wife？ But I stopped； for to trench
here was not for me or any one。
And my pause strangely flashed on him something of that I had in my
mind。
〃No；〃 he said； his eyes steady and serious upon me； 〃don't you ask
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about the things you're meaning。〃 Then his face grew radiant and rather
stern。 〃Do you suppose I don't know she's too good for me？ And that some
bygones can't ever be bygones？ But if you；〃 he said； 〃never come to look
away up to a woman from away down； and mean to win her just the same
as if you did deserve her； why； you'll make a turruble mess of the whole
business！〃
When we walked in silence for a long while； he lighted again with the
blossoming dawn of his sentiment。 I thought of the coarse yet taking
vagabond of twenty I had once chanced upon； and hunted and camped
with since through the years。 Decidedly he was not that boy to…day！ It is
not true that all of us rise through adversity； any more than that all plants
need shadow。 Some starve out of the sunshine； and I have seen misery
deaden once kind people to everything but selfalmost the saddest sight in
the world！ But Lin's character had not stood well the ordeal of happiness；
and for him certainly harsh days and responsibility had been needed to
ripen the spirit。 Yes； Jessamine Buckner would have been much too good
for him before that humiliation of his marriage； and this care of young
Billy with which he had loaded himself。 〃Lin；〃 said I； 〃I will drink your
health and luck。〃
〃I'm healthy enough；〃 said he； and we came back to the main street
and into the main saloon。
〃How d'ye； boys？〃 said some one； and there was Nate Buckner。 〃It's on
me to…day；〃 he continued； shoving whiskey along the bar； and I saw he
was a little drunk。 〃I'm setting 'em up；〃 he continued。 〃Why？ Why；
because〃he looked around for appreciation〃because it's not every son…
of…a…gun in Wyoming gets pardoned by Governor Barker。 I'm important； I
want you to understand；〃 he pursued to the cold bystanders。 〃They'll have
a picture of me in the Cheyenne paper。 'The Bronco…buster of Powder
River！' They can't do without me！ If any son…of…a…gun here thinks he
knows how to break a colt；〃 he shouted； looking around with the irrelevant
fierceness of drinkand then his challenge ebbed vacantly in laughter as
the subject blurred in his mind。 〃You're not drinking； Lin；〃 said he。
〃No；〃 said McLean； 〃I'm not。〃
〃Sworn off again？ Well； water never did agree with me。〃
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〃Yu' never gave water the chance；〃 retorted the cow…puncher； and we
left the place without my having drunk his health。
It was a grim beginning； this brag attempt to laugh his reputation down；
with the jail door scarce closed behind him。 〃Folks are not going to like
that；〃 said Lin； as we walked across the bridge again to the hotel。 Yet the
sister； left alone here after an hour at most of her brother's company； would
pretend it was a matter of course。 Nate was not in； she told us at once。 He
had business to attend to and friends to see he must get back to Riverside
and down in that country where colts were waiting for him。 He was the
only one the E。 K。 outfit would allow to handle their young stock。 Did we
know that？ And she was going to stay with a Mrs。 Pierce down there for a
while； near where Nate would be working。 All this she told us； but when
he did not return to dine with her on this first day； I think she found it hard
to sustain her wilful cheeriness。 Lin offered to take her driving to see the
military post and dress parade at retreat； and Cloud's Peak； and Buffalo's
various sights； but she made excuses and retired to her room。 Nate；
however； was at tea； shaven clean； with good clothes； and well conducted。
His tone and manner to Jessamine were confidential and caressing； and
offended Mr。 McLean； so that I observed to him that it was scarcely
reasonable to be jealous。
〃Oh； no jealousy！〃 said he。 〃But he comes in and kisses her； and he
kisses her good…night； and us strangers looking on！ It's such oncontrollable
affection； yu' see； after never writing for five years。 I expect she must have
some of her savings left。〃
It is true that the sister gave the brother money more than once； and as
our ways lay together； I had chances to see them both； and to wonder if her
joy at being with him once again was going to last。 On the road to
Riverside I certainly heard Jessamine beg him to return home with her；
and he ridiculed such a notion。 What proper life for a live man was that
dead place back East？ he asked her。 I thought he might have expressed
some regret that they must dwell so far apart； or some intention to visit her
now and then； but he said nothing of the sort； though he spoke volubly of
himself and his prospects。 I suppose this spectacle of brother and sister
had rubbed Lin the wrong way too much； for he held himself and Billy
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aloof； joining me on the road but once； and then merely to give me the
news that people here wanted no more of Nate Buckner； he would be run
out of the country； and respect for the sister was all that meanwhile saved
him。 But Buckner； like so many spared criminals； seemed brazenly
unaware he was disgraced； and went hailing loudly any riders or drivers
we met； while beside him his sister sat close and straight； her stanch
affection and support for the world to see。 For all she let appear； she might
have been bringing him back from some gallant heroism achieved； and as
I rode along the travesty seemed more and more pitiful； the outcome
darker and darker。
At all times is Riverside beautiful； but most beautiful when the sun
draws down through the openings of the hills。 From each one a stream
comes flowing clearly out into the plain； and fields spread green along the
margins。 It was beneath the long…slanted radiance of evening that we saw
Blue Creek and felt its coolness rise among the shifting veils of light。 The
red bluff eastward； the tall natural fortress； lost its stern masonry of shapes；
and loomed a soft towering enchantment of violet and amber and saffron
in the changing rays。 The cattle stood quiet about the levels； and horses
were moving among the restless colts。 These the brother bade his sister
look at； for with them was his glory； and I heard him boasting of his skill
truthful boasting； to be sure。 Had he been honest in his dealings； the good…
will that man's courage and dashing appearance