“Yu’lookedso——sobad，Lin。Ineverseenyu’looksobadinolddays。
　　Wait，now，andImusttellit。Iwishedtolaughinherfaceandsay，’Whatdoyouknowaboutlove？’SoIwalkedin。Lin，shedoesloveyus!“
　　“Yes，“breathedMcLean。
　　“Shewassittin’backinherroomatSepar。Nottheticket-office，but——“
　　“Iknow，“thecow-punchersaid。Hiseyeswereburning。
　　“It’ssnug，thewayshehasit。’Good-afternoon，’Isays。’IsthisMissJessamineBuckner？’“
　　Athissweetheart’snametheglowinLin’seyesseemedtoquivertoaflash。
　　“Andshespokepleasanttome——pleasantandgay-like。Butawomancantellsorrowinawoman’seyes。AndsheaskedmewouldIrestinherroomthere，andwhatwasmyname。’TheytellmeyouclaimtoknowitbetterthanIdo，’Isays。’TheytellmeyousayitisMrs。McLean。’Sheputherhandonherbreast，andshekeepslookin’atmewithoutneverspeaking。
　　’MaybeIamnotsowelcomenow，’Isays。’Oneminute，’saysshe。’Letmegetusedtoit。’Andshesatdown。
　　“Lin，sheisasquare-lookin’girl。I’llsaythatforher。
　　“Ineverthoughttositdownoncedmyself；Idon’tknowwhy，butIkep’
　　a-standing，andItookinthatroomofhers。Shehadflowersandthingsaroundthere，andIseenyourpicturestandingonthetable，andIseenyoursix-shooterrightbyit——and，oh，Lin，hadn’tIknowedyourfacebeforeevershedid，andthatgunyouusedtoletmeshootonBearCreek？
　　Ittookmethatsudden!Why，itrushedovermesoIspokerightoutdifferentfromwhatI’dmeantandwhatIhadreadyfixeduptosay。
　　“’Whydidyoudoit？’Isaystoher，whileshewasa-sitting。’Howcouldyouactso，andyouawoman？’Shejustsat，andhersadeyesmadememadderattheideaofher。’Youhavehadrealsorrow，’saysI，’iftheyreportcorrect。Youhaveknowedyourshareofdeath，andmisery，andhardwork，andall。GreatGod!ain’ttherethingsenoughthatcometoyusuncalledforandnatural，butyoumustrunaroundhuntin’upmorethatwasleavin’yusaloneandgivin’yusachance？Iknowedhimonced。I
　　knowedyourLinMcLean。Andwhenthatwasover，Iknowedforthefirsttimehowmencanbedifferent。’I’mstarted，Lin，I’mstarted。Leavemegoon，andwhenI’mthroughI’llquit。’Someof’em，anyway，’Isaystoher，’hasheartsandself-respect，andain’thogscleanthrough。’
　　“’Iknow，“shesays，thoughtful-like。
　　“AndatherwhisperingthatwayIgetsmadder。
　　“’Youknow!’Isaysthen。’Whatisitthatyouknow？Doyouknowthatyouhavehurtagoodman’sheart？ForoncedIhurtitmyself，thoughdifferent。Andhurtsinthemkindofheartsstays。Someheartsisthatlusciousandpastyyoucanstab’emanditclosesupsoyu’dneversuspiciontheplace——butLinMcLean!Noryetdon’tyusbelievehisisthekindthatbreaks——ifanykinddoesthat。Youmaysittillthegrayhairs，andyoumaywallupyourwomanhood，butifamanhasgotmanhoodlikehim，hewillneversittillthegrayhairs。Griefoverlosin’thebestwillnotstophimfromsearchin’forasecondbestafterawhile。Hewantsahome，andhehasgotarighttoone，’saysItoMissJessamine。
　　’YouhavenotwalledupLinMcLean，’Isaystoher。Wait，Lin，wait。Yusneedn’ttotellmethat’salie。Iknowamanthinkshe’swalledupforawhile。“
　　“Shecouldhavetoldyouitwasalie，“saidthecow-puncher。
　　“Shedidnot。’Lethimgetahome，’saysshe。’Iwanthimtobehappy。’
　　’Thatflashinyoureyestalksdifferent，’saysI。’Sureenoughyuswantshimtobehappy。Sureenough。ButnothappyalongwithMissSecondBest。’
　　“Lin，shelookedatmethatpiercin’!
　　“AndIgoeson，forIwaswoundawayup。’Andhewillbehappy，too，’I
　　says。’MissSecondBestwillhaveatalkwithhimaboutyourpictureandlittle“Neighbor，“whichhe’llnotsendbacktoyus，becausethehurtinhisheartisthere。Andhewillkeep’emoutofsightsomewheresafterhistalkwithMissSecondBest。’Lin，Lin，Ilaughedatthemwordsofmine，butIwasthatwoundupIwasstrangetomyself。Andshewatchin’
　　methatway!AndIsaystoher：’MissSecondBestwillnotbethecrazythingtothinkIamanywifeofhisstandinginherway。Hewilltellheraboutme。HewilltellhowoncedhethoughthewassolidmarriedtometillLuskcameback；andshewilldropmeoutofsightalongwiththerestthatwentnameless。Theywasnotuncomprehensibletoyou，wasthey？
　　Youhavelearnedsomethingbylivin’，Iguess!AndLin——yourLin，notmine，nornevermineinheartforadaysodeepashe’syournrightnow——
　　hehasbeengay——gayasanyI’veknowed。Why，lookatthatfaceofhis!
　　Couldaboywithafacelikethathelpbein’gay？Butthatdon’ttouchwhat’sthetrueLindeepdown。Norwillhisdeep-downloveforyouhinderhimlikeitwillhinderyou。Don’tyouknowmenandusisdifferentwhenitcomestopassion？We’reallonethingthen，buttheyain’tsimple。
　　Theykeepalongwithlotsofotherthings。Ican’tmakeyusknow，andI
　　guessittakesawomanlikeIhavebeentolearntheirnature。Butyoudidknowhelovedyou，andyousenthimaway，andyou’llbehomelessinyerhousewhenhehasdonetherightthingbyhimselfandfoundanothergirl。’
　　“Lin，allthewhileIwastalkin’allIknowedtoher，withoutknowin’
　　whatI’dbesayin’next，foritcomethatunexpected，shewaslookin’atmewiththemsteadyeyes。AndallshesayswhenIquitwas，’IfIsawhimIwouldtellhimtofindahome。’“
　　“Didn’tshetellyu’she’dmademepromisetokeepawayfromseeingher？“
　　askedthecow-puncherMrs。Lusklaughed。“Oh，youinnocent!“saidshe。
　　“ShesaidifIcameshewouldleaveSepar，“mutteredMcLean，brooding。
　　Againthelargewomanlaughedout，butmoreharshly。
　　“Ihavekeptmypromise，“Lincontinued。
　　“Keepitsomemore。Sithererottinginyourchairtillshegoesaway。
　　Maybeshe’sgone。“
　　“What’sthat？“saidLin。Butstillsheonlylaughedharshly。“Icouldbetherebyto-morrownight，“hemurmured。Thenhisfacesoftened。“Shewouldneverdosuchathing!“hesaid，tohimself。
　　Hehadforgottenthewomanatthetable。Whileshehadtoldhimmattersthatconcernedhimhehadlistenedeagerly。Nowshewasofnomoreinterestthanshehadbeenbeforeherstorywasbegun。Shelookedathiseyesashesatthinkinganddwellinguponhissweetheart。Shelookedathim，andalongingwelledupintoherface。Acertainyouthandheavybeautyrelightedthefeatures。
　　“Youarethesame，sameLineveryways，“shesaid。“Awomanistoomanyforyoustill，Lin!“shewhispered。
　　Athersummonshelookedupfromhisrevery。
　　“Lin，Iwouldnothavetreatedyouso。“
　　Thecaressthatfilledhervoicewasplain。Hislookmethersashesatquitestill，hisarmsonthetable。Thenhetookhisturnatlaughing。
　　“You!“hesaid。“AtleastI’vehadplentyofeducationinyou。“
　　“Lin，Lin，don’ttalkthatbrutaltometo-day。IfyusknowedhownearI
　　comeshootingmyselfwith’Neighbor。’Thatwouldhavebeenfunny!
　　“Iknowedyuswantedtotearthatpistoloutofmyhandbecauseitwashern。Butyusneverdidsuchthingstome，ferthere’sagentlemaninyousomewheres，Lin。Andyusdidn’tneverhitme，notevenwhenyoucometoknowmewell。AndwhenIseenyousounexpectedagainto-night，andyoujustthesameoldLin，scaringLuskwithshootingthemchickens，socomicandsplendid，Icould’a’justkilledLusksittin’inthewagon。Say，Lin，whatmadeyusdothat，anyway？“
　　“Ican’thardlysay，“saidthecow-puncher。“Onlynoticinghimsoturrubleanxioustoquitme——well，amanactswithoutthinking。“
　　“Youalwaysdid，Lin。Youwasalwaysacomicalgenius。Lin，themweregoodtimes。“
　　“Whichtimes？“
　　“Youknow。Youcan’ttellmeyouhaveforgot。“
　　“Ihavenotforgotmuch。What’sthesenseinthis？“
　　“Yusneverlovedme!“sheexclaimed。
　　“Shucks!“
　　“Lin，Lin，isitallover？YouknowyuslovedmeonBearCreek。Sayyoudid。Onlysayitwasoncethatway。“Andashesat，shecameandputherarmsroundhisneck。Foramomenthedidnotmove，lettinghimselfbeheld；andthenshekissedhim。Theplatescrashedashebeatandstruckherdownuponthetable。Hewasonhisfeet，cursinghimself。Ashewentoutofthedoor，shelaywhereshehadfallenbeneathhisfist，lookingafterhimandsmiling。
　　McLeanwalkeddownBoxElderCreekthroughthetreestowardthestable，whereLuskhadgonetoputthehorseinthewagon。Onceheleanedhishandagainstabigcotton-wood，andstoodstillwithhalf-closedeyes。
　　Thenhecontinuedonhisway。“Lusk!“hecalled，presently，andinafewstepsmore，“Lusk!“Then，ashecameslowlyoutofthetreestomeetthehusbandhebegan，withquietevenness，“Yourwifewantstoknow——“Buthestopped。Nohusbandwasthere。Wagonandhorsewerenotthere。Thedoorwasshut。Thebewilderedcow-puncherlookedupthestreamwheretheroadwent，andhelookeddown。Outoftheskywheredaylightandstarswerefaintlyshiningtogethersoundedthelongcriesofthenighthawksastheyspedandswoopedtotheirhuntinginthedusk。Fromamongthetreesbythestreamfloatedacoolerair，anddistantandclosebysoundedthesplashingwater。AboutthemeadowwhereLinstoodhishorsesfed，quietlycrunching。Hewenttothedoor，lookedin，andshutitagain。Hewalkedtohisshedandstoodcontemplatinghisownwagonalonethere。Thenheliftedawayapieceoftrailingvinefromthegateofthecorral，whiletheturkeysmovedtheirheadsandwatchedhimfromtheroof。Aropewashangingfromthecorral，andseeingit，hedroppedthevine。Heopenedthecorralgate，andwalkedquicklybackintothemiddleofthefield，wherethehorsessawhimandhisrope，andscattered。Butheranandherdedthem，whirlingtherope，andsodrovethemintothecorral，andflunghisnooseovertwo。Hedraggedtwosaddles——men’ssaddles——fromthestable，andnexthewasagainathiscabindoorwiththehorsessaddled。Shewassittingquitestillbythetablewhereshehadsatduringthemeal，nordidshespeakormovewhenshesawhimlookinatthedoor。
　　“Luskhasgone，“saidhe。“Idon’tknowwhatheexpectedyouwoulddo，orIwoulddo。ButwewillcatchhimbeforehegetstoDrybone。“
　　Shelookedathimwithherdumbstare。“Gone？“shesaid。
　　“Getupandride，“saidMcLean。“YouaregoingtoDrybone。“
　　“Drybone？“sheechoed。Hervoicewastonelessanddull。
　　Hemadenomoreexplanationstoher，butwentquicklyaboutthecabin。
　　Soonhehadsetitinorder，thedishesontheirshelves，thetableclean，thefireinthestovearranged；andallthesemovementsshefollowedwithasortofblankmechanicalpatience。Hemadeasmallbundleforhisownjourney，tieditbehindhissaddle，broughtherhorsebesideastump。Whenathissharpordershecameout，helockedhiscabinandhungthekeybyawindow，wheretravellerscouldfinditandbeathome。
　　Shestoodlookingwhereherhusbandhadslunkoff。Thenshelaughed。
　　“It’sabouthissize，“shemurmured。
　　Heroldloverhelpedherinsilencetomountintotheman’ssaddle——thistheyhadoftendonetogetherinformeryears——andsotheytooktheirwaydownthesilentroad。Theyhadnotmanymilestogo，andafterthefirsttwolaybehindthem，whenthehorseswerelimberedandhadbeenputtoacanter，theymadetimequickly。TheyhadsoonpassedoutofthetreesandpasturesofBoxElderandcameamongthevastlowstretchesofthegreatervalley。Notevenbydaywastheriver’scourseoftendiscerniblethroughtheridgesandcheatingsamenessofthiswilderness；andbeneaththishalf-darknessofstarsandaquartermoonthesagespreadshapelesstotheloomingmountains，ortonothing。
　　“Iwillaskyouonething，“saidLin，aftertenmiles。
　　Thewomanmadenosignofattentionassherodebesidehim。
　　“DidIunderstandthatshe——MissBuckner，Imean——mentionedshemightbegoingawayfromSepar？“
　　“HowdoIknowwhatyouunderstood？“
　　“Ithoughtyousaid——“
　　“Don’tyoubotherme，LinMcLean。“Herlaughrangout，loudandforlorn——
　　onebriefburstthatstartledthehorsesandthatmusthavesoundedfaracrossthesage-brush。“Youmenarerich，“shesaid。
　　Theyrodeon，sidebyside，andsayingnothingafterthat。TheDryboneroadwasabroadtrail，awornstripofbarenessgoingonwardovertheendlessshelvingsoftheplain，visibleeveninthislight；andpresently，movinguponitsgraynessonahillinfrontofthem，theymadeoutthewagon。Theyhastenedandovertookit。