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or actin' po'tryand that's Rest！〃
THE CHATELAINE OF BURNT RIDGE
CHAPTER I
It had grown dark on Burnt Ridge。 Seen from below； the whole
serrated crest that had glittered in the sunset as if its
interstices were eaten by consuming fires； now； closed up its ranks
of blackened shafts and became again harsh and sombre chevaux de
frise against the sky。 A faint glow still lingered over the red
valley road； as if it were its own reflection； rather than any
light from beyond the darkened ridge。 Night was already creeping
up out of remote canyons and along the furrowed flanks of the
mountain； or settling on the nearer woods with the sound of home…
coming and innumerable wings。 At a point where the road began to
encroach upon the mountain…side in its slow winding ascent the
darkness had become so real that a young girl cantering along the
rising terrace found difficulty in guiding her horse； with eyes
still dazzled by the sunset fires。
In spite of her precautions； the animal suddenly shied at some
object in the obscured roadway； and nearly unseated her。 The
accident disclosed not only the fact that she was riding in a man's
saddle； but also a foot and ankle that her ordinary walking…dress
was too short to hide。 It was evident that her equestrian exercise
was extempore； and that at that hour and on that road she had not
expected to meet company。 But she was apparently a good horsewoman；
for the mischance which might have thrown a less practical or more
timid rider seemed of little moment to her。 With a strong hand and
determined gesture she wheeled her frightened horse back into the
track； and rode him directly at the object。 But here she herself
slightly recoiled； for it was the body of a man lying in the road。
As she leaned forward over her horse's shoulder； she could see by
the dim light that he was a miner； and that； though motionless； he
was breathing stertorously。 Drunk； no doubt！an accident of the
locality alarming only to her horse。 But although she cantered
impatiently forward； she had not proceeded a hundred yards before
she stopped reflectively； and trotted back again。 He had not
moved。 She could now see that his head and shoulders were covered
with broken clods of earth and gravel； and smaller fragments lay at
his side。 A dozen feet above him on the hillside there was a foot
trail which ran parallel with the bridle…road； and occasionally
overhung it。 It seemed possible that he might have fallen from the
trail and been stunned。
Dismounting； she succeeded in dragging him to a safer position by
the bank。 The act discovered his face； which was young； and
unknown to her。 Wiping it with the silk handkerchief which was
loosely slung around his neck after the fashion of his class； she
gave a quick feminine glance around her and then approached her own
and rather handsome face near his lips。 There was no odor of
alcohol in the thick and heavy respiration。 Mounting again； she
rode forward at an accelerated pace； and in twenty minutes had
reached a higher tableland of the mountain； a cleared opening in
the forest that showed signs of careful cultivation； and a large；
rambling； yet picturesque…looking dwelling； whose unpainted red…
wood walls were hidden in roses and creepers。 Pushing open a
swinging gate； she entered the inclosure as a brown…faced man；
dressed as a vaquero； came towards her as if to assist her to
alight。 But she had already leaped to the ground and thrown him
the reins。
〃Miguel；〃 she said； with a mistress's quiet authority in her boyish
contralto voice； 〃put Glory in the covered wagon； and drive down
the road as far as the valley turning。 There's a man lying near
the right bank； drunk； or sick； may be； or perhaps crippled by a
fall。 Bring him up here； unless somebody has found him already； or
you happen to know who he is and where to take him。〃
The vaquero raised his shoulders； half in disappointed expectation
of some other command。 〃And your brother； senora； he has not
himself arrived。〃
A light shadow of impatience crossed her face。 〃No；〃 she said；
bluntly。 〃Come； be quick。〃
She turned towards the house as the man moved away。 Already a
gaunt…looking old man had appeared in the porch； and was awaiting
her with his hand shadowing his angry； suspicious eyes； and his
lips moving querulously。
〃Of course； you've got to stand out there and give orders and 'tend
to your own business afore you think o' speaking to your own flesh
and blood；〃 he said aggrievedly。 〃That's all YOU care！〃
〃There was a sick man lying in the road； and I've sent Miguel to
look after him；〃 returned the girl； with a certain contemptuous
resignation。
〃Oh； yes！〃 struck in another voice； which seemed to belong to the
female of the first speaker's species； and to be its equal in age
and temper； 〃and I reckon you saw a jay bird on a tree； or a
squirrel on the fence； and either of 'em was more important to you
than your own brother。〃
〃Steve didn't come by the stage； and didn't send any message；〃
continued the young girl； with the same coldly resigned manner。
〃No one had any news of him； and； as I told you before； I didn't
expect any。〃
〃Why don't you say right out you didn't WANT any？〃 said the old
man； sneeringly。 〃Much you inquired！ No； I orter hev gone myself；
and I would if I was master here； instead of me and your mother
bein' the dust of the yearth beneath your feet。〃
The young girl entered the house； followed by the old man； passing
an old woman seated by the window； who seemed to be nursing her
resentment and a large Bible which she held clasped against her
shawled bosom at the same moment。 Going to the wall； she hung up
her large hat and slightly shook the red dust from her skirts as
she continued her explanation； in the same deep voice； with a
certain monotony of logic and possibly of purpose and practice
also。
〃You and mother know as well as I do； father； that Stephen is no
more to be depended upon than the wind that blows。 It's three
years since he has been promising to come； and even getting money
to come； and yet he has never showed his face； though he has been a
dozen times within five miles of this house。 He doesn't come
because he doesn't want to come。 As to YOUR going over to the
stage…office； I went there myself at the last moment to save you
the mortification of asking questions of strangers that they know
have been a dozen times answered already。〃
There was such a ring of absolute truthfulness； albeit worn by
repetition； in the young girl's deep honest voice that for one
instant her two more emotional relatives quailed before it； but
only for a moment。
〃That's right！〃 shrilled the old woman。 〃Go on and abuse your own
brother。 It's only the fear you have that he'll make his fortune
yet and shame you before the father and mother you despise。〃
The young girl remained standing by the window； motionless and
apparently passive； as if receiving an accepted and usual
punishment。 But here the elder woman gave way to sobs and some
incoherent snuffling； at which the younger went away。 Whether she
recognized in her mother's tears the ordinary deliquescence of
emotion； or whether； as a woman herself； she knew that this mere
feminine conventionality could not possibly be directed at her； and
that the actual conflict between them had ceased； she passed slowly
on to an inner hall； leaving the male victim； her unfortunate
father； to succumb； as he always did sooner or later； to their
influence。 Crossing the hall； which was decorated with a few elk
horns； Indian trophies； and mountain pelts； she entered another
room； and closed the door behind her with a gesture of relief。
The room； which looked upon a porch； presented a singular
combination of masculine business occupations and feminine taste
and adornment。 A desk covered with papers； a shel