Tharon of Lost Valley Part 40

"Nor fer that one kiss, Tharon--it's my one treasure for life, so help me, G.o.d--that you give me that night. An' over all I want to thank you fer--fer--killin' th' Pomo half-breed in th' Cup o' G.o.d--_fer you done that trick fer me_! Th' one stain on your dear hands--fer me--the _only_ one, fer Fate killed Courtrey, not you. His neck was clean broke when they picked him up.... That memory will keep me alive, will save th' beauty of th' stars at night fer me, will make th' rest worth livin'.... That one kiss."

He stopped again and stood for a long time looking at her as if he would fix forever in his memory the beauty of her, the fire, the spirit, the elusive quality that was Tharon Last herself.

Then he sighed and smiled and gently shook the hand he held.

"Come--tell me good-bye, Tharon, dear," he said softly.

For answer the mistress of Last's once again reached out her arms and drew his head to her heart--once more pressed her lips upon his own.

"Oh, Billy," she said with a sound of tears in her voice, "Kenset's th' one man--that's true, an' I'm helpless before th' fact--but there'll never be another can take your place in my heart--there'll never be no one to ride with me in th' Big Shadow in just th' same way, Billy--to hold my hand as we come home to Last's with that same sweet, honest friends.h.i.+p, that don't need words! I've got my life-love, but I've lost my life-friend--an' my heart's sore--sore with pain!"

The rider lifted his face and it was glorified in the first rays of the sun that was rising over the eastern mountains. His gayly studded belt and riding cuffs, his spurs and the vanity of silver on his wide hat caught the glow and sparkled brightly. Joy became paramount over sadness.

"Don't you fret, Tharon," he said, still in that soft voice, "I'm always at your shoulder in spirit--in body, too, if you ever want me or need me. So long."

And he kissed both the hands he held, dropped them, turned and mounted Golden, waved a hand to all the Holding, and putting the horse to a run, went down the sounding-board as if he dared not look back.

Until horse and rider were a tiny speck on the living green--until they pa.s.sed the Silver Hollow and the mouth of Black Coulee, Tharon Last stood in the western door and watched them with dim blue eyes.

Ail the wide expanse of Lost Valley was still and sweet with dawn, smiling as if with a new and wondrous peace, the Vestal's Veil s.h.i.+mmered on the Rockface, the distant peaks above the Canon Country cut the skies.

She scanned the little world about and felt this peace press down upon her soul--as if the questions all were answered, the duty done.

Never in all her life before had Last's Holding seemed to her so secure and settled, so sweet and to be desired....

Within it lay her destiny--the man in the cool south room.

Without in the great Valley lay a future.

Love was with her--friends.h.i.+p would be with her always in memory, one glowing with its vital presence, the other softened and doubly sweet with the sorrow of absence.

She raised her hand and made the sign of the Cross between herself and that disappearing speck, then she turned and followed old Anita carrying gruels to that dim south room.

THE END