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was their welcome to her the kinder； but any one is glad to witness bold
riding； and this chance made a stir which the sister may have taken for
cordiality。 But Lin gave me a look； for it was the same here as it had been
in the Buffalo saloon。
〃The trick is easy enough；〃 said Nate； arriving with his outlaw； and
liking an audience。 〃You don't want a bridle； but a rope hackamore like
thisSpanish style。 Then let them run as hard as they want； and on a
sudden reach down your arm and catch the hackamore short； close up by
the mouth； and jerk them round quick and heavy at full speed。 They quit
their fooling after one or two doses。 Now watch your outlaw！〃
He went into the saddle so swift and secure that the animal； amazed；
trembled stock…still； then sprang headlong。 It stopped； vicious and
knowing； and plunged in a rage； but could do nothing with the man； and
bolted again； and away in a straight blind line over the meadow； when the
rider leaned forward to his trick。 The horse veered in a jagged swerve；
rolled over and over with its twisted impetus； and up on its feet and on
without a stop； the man still seated and upright in the saddle。 How we
cheered to see it！ But the figure now tilted strangely； and something awful
and nameless came over us and chilled our noise to silence。 The horse；
dazed and tamed by the fall； brought its burden towards us； a wobbling
thing； falling by small shakes backward； until the head sank on the horse's
rump。
〃Come away；〃 said Lin McLean to Jessamine and at his voice she
obeyed and went； leaning on his arm。
Jessamine sat by her brother until he died； twelve hours afterwards；
having spoken and known nothing。 The whole weight of the horse had
crushed him internally。 He must have become almost instantly
unconscious； being held in the saddle by his spurs； which had caught in
the hair cinch； it may be that our loud cheer was the last thing of this
world that he knew。 The injuries to his body made impossible any taking
him home； which his sister at first wished to do。 〃Why； I came here to
bring him home；〃 she said； with a smile and tone like cheerfulness in wax。
Her calm； the unearthly ease with which she spoke to any comer （and she
was surrounded with rough kindness）； embarrassed the listeners； she saw
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her calamity clear as they did； but was sleep…walking in it。 It was Lin gave
her what she neededthe repose of his strong； silent presence。 He spoke
no sympathy and no advice； nor even did he argue with her about the
burial； he perceived somehow that she did not really hear what was said to
her； and that these first griefless； sensible words came from some
mechanism of the nerves； so he kept himself near her； and let her tell her
story as she would。 Once I heard him say to her； with the same authority of
that first 〃come away〃； 〃Now you've had enough of the talking。 Come for
a walk。〃 Enough of the talkingas if it were a treatment！ How did he think
of that？ Jessamine； at any rate； again obeyed him； and I saw the two going
quietly about in the meadows and along the curving brook； and that night
she slept well。 On one only point did the cow…puncher consult me。
〃They figured to put Nate on top of that bald mound；〃 said he。 〃But
she has talked about the flowers and shade where the old folks lie； and
where she wants him to be alongside of them。 I've not let her look at him
to…day； forwell； she might get the way he looks now on her memory。 But
I'd like to show you my idea before going further。〃
Lin had indeed chosen a beautiful place； and so I told him at the first
sight of it。
〃That's all I wanted to know；〃 said he。 〃I'll fix the rest。〃
I believe he never once told Jessamine the body could not travel so far
as Kentucky。 I think he let her live and talk and grieve from hour to hour；
and then led her that afternoon to the nook of sunlight and sheltering trees；
and won her consent to it thus； for there was Nate laid； and there she went
to sit； alone。 Lin did not go with her on those walks。
But now something new was on the fellow's mind。 He was plainly
occupied with it； whatever else he was doing； and he had some active
cattle…work。 On my asking him if Jessamine Buckner had decided when to
return east； he inquired of me； angrily； what was there in Kentucky she
could not have in Wyoming？ Consequently； though I surmised what he
must be debating； I felt myself invited to keep out of his confidence； and I
did so。 My advice to him would have been ill received； andas was soon
to be made plain would have done his delicacy injustice。 Next； one
morning he and Billy were gone。 My first thought was that he had rejoined
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Jessamine at Mrs。 Pierce's； where she was； and left me away over here on
Bear Creek； where we had come for part of a week。
But stuck in my hat…band I found a pencilled farewell。
Now Mr。 McLean constructed perhaps three letters in the yearpainful；
serious eventslike an interview with some important person with whom
your speech must decorously flow。 No matter to whom he was writing； it
froze all nature stiff in each word he achieved； and his bald business
diction and wild archaic penmanship made documents that I value among
my choicest correspondence； this one； especially：
〃Wensday four a。 m。
〃DEAR SIR this is to Inform you that i have gone to Separ on
important bisness where i expect to meet you on your arrival at same point。
You will confer a favor and oblidge undersigned by Informing Miss J。
Buckner of date （if soon） you fix for returning per stage to Separ as Miss J。
Buckner may prefer company for the trip being long and poor
accommodations。
Yours &c。 L。 McLEAN。〃
This seemed to point but one way； and （uncharitable though it sound）