ButMissBucknerinterposed。“Oh，well，“saidshe，“nexttime；ifhedoesitnexttime。It’ssolateto-night!You’llnotfrightenusthatwayagainifheletsyouoff？“sheaskedBilly。
　　“No，“saidBilly，lookingatherwithinterest。“Father’dhavecowhidedmeanyway，Iguess，“headded，meditatively。
　　“Doyoucallhimfather？“
　　“Ah，father’satLaramie，“saidBilly，withdisgust。“He’dnotstopforyourasking。Lindon’tbothermemuch。“
　　“Youquittalkingandstepupthere!“orderedhisguardian。“Well，m’m，I
　　guessyu’cansleepgoodnowinthere。“
　　“Ifitwasonlyan’L。andN。’I’dnothaveathingagainstit!
　　Good-night，Mr。McLean；good-night，youngMr——“
　　“I’mBillyLusk。IcanrideChalkeye’spintothatbuckedHoneyWiggin。“
　　“Iamsureyoucanridefinely，Mr。Lusk。MaybeyouandIcantakearidetogether。Pleasantdreams!“
　　Shenoddedandsmiledtohim，andslidherdoorto；andBillyconsideredit，remarking：“Ilikeher。Whatmakesherliveinacar？“
　　ButhewasdrowsingwhileItoldhim；andIliftedhimuptoLin，whotookhiminhisownblankets，wherehefellimmediatelyasleep。Onedistantwhistleshowedhowfarthelateenginehadgonefromus。Weleftourcaropen，andIlayenjoyingthecoolair。ThuswasIdriftingoff，whenIgrewawareofafigureinthedoor。ItwasLin，standinginhisstockingsandnotmuchelse，withhispistol。Helistened，andthenleapeddown，lightasacat。Iheardsomerepressedtalking，andlayinexpectancy；butbackhecame，noiselessinhisstockings，andasheslidintobedIaskedwhatthematterwas。HehadfoundtheTexasboy，ManassasDonohoe，bythegirl’scar，withnoworseintentionthankeepingawatchonit。“SoIgavehimtounderstand，“saidLin，“thatIhadnoobjectiontohimamusinghimselfplayingpicket-line，butthatIguessedIwasenoughguard，andhewouldfindsleephealthierforhissystem。“
　　AfterthisIwenttosleepwholly；but，wakingonceinthenight，thoughtIheardsomeoneoutside，andlearnedinthemorningfromLinthattheboyhadnotgoneuntilthetimecameforhimtojoinhisoutfitatthecorrals。AndIwassurprisedthatLin，theusuallygood-hearted，shouldfindnothingbutmirthintheideaofthisunknown，unthankedyoungsentinel。“Sleeping’saheapbetterforthemkindtilltheygettheirgrowth，“washissingleobservation。
　　ButwhenSeparhaddwindledtotoysbehindusinthejourneyingstageI
　　toldMissJessamine，andalthoughshelaughedtoo，itwaswithanotethatyoungTexaswouldhavelikedtohear；andshehopedshemightseehimuponherreturn，tothankhim。
　　“AnyJackcanwalkaroundallnight，“saidMr。McLean，disparagingly。
　　“Well，then，andIknowaJackwhodidn’t，“observedtheyounglady。
　　Thisspeechcausedheradmirertobefullofexplanations；sothatwhenshesawhowreadilyshecouldperplexhim，andyethowcapableanduntiringhewasabouthercomfort，helpingheroutortuckingherinatthestationswherewehadamealorchangedhorses，sheenjoyedthehoursverymuch，inspiteoftheirgrowingawkwardness。
　　Butoh，thesparkling，unbashfulLin!Sometimeshesathimselfbesidehertobeclose，andthenhewouldmoveopposite，thebettertobeholdher。
　　Never，exceptoncelongafterwhensorrowmanfullybornehadstillfurtherrefinedhisclay，haveIheardLin’svoiceorseenhislooksowinning。Nodoubtmanyamalebirdcaresnothingwhatneighborbirdoverhearshisspringsongfromthetopoftheopentree，butIextremelydoubtifhislady-love，evenifshebeafrank，bouncingrobin，doesnotprefertolistenfromsomethicket，andnotuponthepubliclawn。
　　Jessaminegrewsilentandalmostpeevish；andfromdiscourseuponmanandwomanshehopped，sheskipped，sheflew。WhenLinlookedathiswatchandcountedthediminishedhoursbetweenherandBuffalo，shesmiledtoherself；butfrommentionofherbrothersheshrank，glancingswiftlyatmeandmywell-assumedslumber。
　　Anditwaswithindignationandself-pitythatIclimbedoutinthehotsunatlastbesidethedriverandsmallBilly。
　　“Iknowthisroad，“pipedBilly，onthebox“’Icampedherewithfatherwhenmotherwasoffthattime。Youcantakealeft-handtrailbythosecottonwoodsandstrikethemountains。“
　　SoIinquiredwhatgamehehadthenshot。
　　“Ah，justasage-hen。Lin’sa-goingtoletmeshootabear，youknow。
　　WhatmadeLinmarrymotherwhenfatherwasaround？“
　　ThedrivergavemealookoverBilly’shead，andIgavehimone；andI
　　instructedBillythatpeoplesupposedhisfatherwasdead。IwithheldthathismothergaveherselfoutasMissPeckinthedayswhenLinmetheronBearCreek。
　　Theformidablenine-year-oldpondered。“ThegeographysaystheyusedtohavealotofwivesatSaltLakeCity。Isthereaplacewhereawomancanhavealotofhusbands？“
　　“Itdon’tespeciallydependontheplace，“remarkedthedrivertome。
　　“Because，“Billywenton，“BertTaylortoldmeinrecessthatmother’dhadalot，andItoldhimhelied，andtheotherboystheylaughedandI
　　blackedBert’seyeonhim，andI’dhaveblackedtheotherstoo，onlyMissWoodcameout。Iwouldn’ttellherwhatBertsaid，andBertwouldn’t，andSophyArmstrongtoldher。Bert’sfatherfoundout，andhecomeround，andIthoughthewasa-goingtolickmeabouttheeye，andhelickedBert!
　　Say，amILin’s，honest？“
　　“No，Billy，you’renot，“Isaid。
　　“WishIwas。Theycouldn’tgetmebacktoLaramiethen；but，oh，bother!
　　I’dnotgofor’em!I’dliketosee’emtry!Linwouldn’tleavemego。
　　Youain’tmarried，areyou？NomoreisLinnow，Iguess。Agoodmanyare，butIwouldn’twantto。Idon’tthinkanythingof’em。I’veseenmothertake’pothecarystuffonthesly。She’swhaledmeworsethanLineverdoes。Iguesshewouldn’twanttobemother’shusbandagain，andifhedoes，“saidBilly，hisvoicesuddenlyvindictive，“I’llquithimandskip。“
　　“Nodanger，Bill，“saidI。
　　“Howwouldtheniceladyinsidepleaseyou？“inquiredthedriver。
　　“Ah，pshaw!sheain’tafterLin!“sangoutBilly，loudandscornful。
　　“She’safterherbrother。She’sallright，though，“headded，approvingly。
　　Atthisalltalkstoppedshortinside，revivinginacasual，scantymanner；whileunconsciousBillyLusk，tiredoftheonesubject，nowspokecheerfullyofbirds’eggs。
　　Whoknowsthechild-soul，youngindays，yetoldasAdamandthehills？
　　Thatschool-yardslurabouthismotherwasasdimtohisunderstandingastotheoffender’s，yetmysteriousnaturehadbidhimgotoinstantwar!
　　HowforeseeinginLintochoketheunfoundedjestabouthisrelationtoBillyLusk，inhopestosavetheboy’severawakeningtothefactsofhismother’slife!“Though，“saidthedriver，aneasygoingcynic，“folkswithlotsoffatherswillfindheapsofbrothersinthiscountry!“ButpresentlyheletBillyholdthereins，andatthenextstationcarefullyliftedhimdownandup。“I’veknowedthatwoman，too，“hewhisperedtome。“Sidney，Nebraska。Luskwasoffhalfthetime。WelaughedwhenshefooledLinintomarryin’her。Cometothink，“hemused，astwilightdeepenedaroundourclankingstage，andsmallBillysleptsoundbetweenus，“there’sscarcelyathinginlifeyougetalaughoutofthatdon’tmakesobernessforsomebody。“
　　Sobernesshadnowvisitedthepairbehindus；evenLin’slivelytalkhadquieted，andhistoneswerelowandfew。ButthoughMissJessamineatournextchangeofhorses“hoped“Iwouldcomeinside，Iknewshedidnothopeveryearnestly，andoutsideIremaineduntilBuffalo。
　　Journeyingdone，herfacerevealedthestrainbeneathherbravebrightness，andthehauntingcareshecouldnolongerkeepfromhereyes。
　　Theimminenceofthejailandthemeetinghadmadehercheekswhiteandhercountenanceseemactuallysmaller；andwhen，remindingmethatweshouldmeetagainsoon，shegavemeherhand，itwasice-cold。IthinkshewasafraidLinmightoffertogowithher。Buthisheartunderstoodthelonelysacrednessofhernexthalf-hour，andthecowpuncher，standingasideforhertopass，liftedhishatwistfullyandspokeneveraword。Foramomenthelookedafterherwithsombreemotion；butthecourt-houseandprisonstoodnearandinsight，and，asplainasifhehadsaidso，Isawhimsuddenlyfeelsheshouldnotbestaredatgoingupthosesteps；itmustbeallalone，thepainandthejoyofthatreprieve!
　　Heturnedawaywithme，andafterafewsilentstepssaid，“Wasted!allwasted!“
　　“Letushope——“Ibegan。
　　“You’renotafool，“hebrokein，roughly。“Youdon’thopeanything。“
　　“He’llstartlifeelsewhere，“saidI。
　　“Elsewhere!Yes，keepstartingtillalltheelsewheresknowhimlikePowderRiverknowshim。Butshe!Ihavehadtositandhearhertellandtellabouthim；allaboutbackinKentuckyplayin’aroundthefarm，andhowsheraisedhimaftertheoldfolksdied。Thenhegotbiggerandmadeherselltheirfarm，andshetoldhowitwasrightheshouldturnitintomoneyandgethishalf。Ididnotdaresayaword，forshe’dhavejustbitmyheadoff，and——andthatwouldsurehurtmenow!“Linbroughtupwithacomicalchuckle。“Andshewenttowork，andheclearedout，andnomoreseenorheardofhim。That’sforfiveyears，andshe’dgivenuptracinghim，whenonemorningshereadsinthepaperabouthowherlong-lostbrotherisconvictedforforgery。That’sthewaysheknowshe’snotdead，andshetakeshersavingsoffherrailroadsalaryandstartsforhim。ShewasthathastyshethoughtitwasBuffalo，NewYork，tillshegotinthecarsandreadthepaperoveragain。ButshehadtogoasfarasCincinnati，eitherway。Shehaspaideverycentofthemoneyhestole。“Wehadcometothebridge，andLinjerkedastoneintothequicklittleriver。“She’sawfulstrictinsomeways。ThoughtBuffalomustbeawickedplacebecauseoftheshopsbein’openSunday。NowifthatwasallBuffalo’swickedness!Andshethinksdivorceismostlysin。ButherheartisashieldforNate。“
　　“Herfaceisasbeautifulasheractions，“headded。
　　“Well，“saidI，“andwouldyoumakesuchavillainyourbrother-in-law？“
　　Hewhirledroundandtookbothmyshoulders。“Comewalking!“heurged。“I
　　musttalksome。“Sowefollowedthestreamoutoftowntowardsthemountains。“Icameawfulnearaskingherinthestage，“saidhe。
　　“Goodness，Lin!giveyourselftime!“
　　“Timecan’tincreasemyfeelings。“
　　“Hers，man，hers!Howmanyhourshaveyouknownher？“
　　“Hoursandhours!You’retalkingfoolishness!Whathavetheygottodowithit？Andshewilllistentome。Icantellshewill。IknowIcanbesoshe’lllisten，anditwillgoallright，forI’llasksohard。Andeverything’llcomeoutstraight。Yu’see，I’venotbeenspendingtospeakofsinceBilly’sonmyhands，andnowI’llfixupmycabinandfinishmyfencingandmyditch——andshe’sgoingtolikeBoxElderCreekbetterthanShawhan。She’sthefirstI’veeverloved。“
　　“ThenI’dliketoask——“Icriedout。
　　“Askaway!“heexclaimed，inattentively，inhisenthusiasm。
　　“Whenyou——“butIstopped，perceivingitimpossible。Itwas，ofcourse，notthemanytransientpassionsonwhichhehadsquanderedhissubstance，buttheonewherefaithalsohadseemedtounite。Hadhenotmarriedonce，innocentofthewoman’sbeingalreadyawife？ButIstopped，fortotrenchherewasnotformeoranyone。
　　AndmypausestrangelyflashedonhimsomethingofthatIhadinmymind。
　　“No，“hesaid，hiseyessteadyandseriousuponme，“don’tyouaskaboutthethingsyou’remeaning。“Thenhisfacegrewradiantandratherstern。
　　“DoyousupposeIdon’tknowshe’stoogoodforme？Andthatsomebygonescan’teverbebygones？Butifyou，“hesaid，“nevercometolookawayuptoawomanfromawaydown，andmeantowinherjustthesameasifyoudiddeserveher，why，you’llmakeaturrublemessofthewholebusiness!“
　　Whenwewalkedinsilenceforalongwhile，helightedagainwiththeblossomingdawnofhissentiment。IthoughtofthecoarseyettakingvagabondoftwentyIhadoncechancedupon，andhuntedandcampedwithsincethroughtheyears。Decidedlyhewasnotthatboyto-day!Itisnottruethatallofusrisethroughadversity，anymorethanthatallplantsneedshadow。Somestarveoutofthesunshine；andIhaveseenmiserydeadenoncekindpeopletoeverythingbutself——almostthesaddestsightintheworld!ButLin’scharacterhadnotstoodwelltheordealofhappiness，andforhimcertainlyharshdaysandresponsibilityhadbeenneededtoripenthespirit。Yes，JessamineBucknerwouldhavebeenmuchtoogoodforhimbeforethathumiliationofhismarriage，andthiscareofyoungBillywithwhichhehadloadedhimself。“Lin，“saidI，“Iwilldrinkyourhealthandluck。“
　　“I’mhealthyenough，“saidhe；andwecamebacktothemainstreetandintothemainsaloon。