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Colter。
〃Y'uy'u shot him！〃 he shrieked。 〃What fory'u hussy？ 。 。 。
Ellen Jorth； if y'u've killed him； I'll。 。 。〃
He strode toward where Colter lay。
Then Jean； rising silently； took a step and like a tiger he launched
himself into the air； down upon the rustler。 Even as he leaped Springer
gave a quick； upward look。 And be cried out。 Jean's moccasined feet
struck him squarely and sent him staggering into the wall； where his
head hit hard。 Jean fell； but bounded up as the half…stunned Springer
drew his gun。 Then Jean lunged forward with a single sweep of his arm
and looked no more。
Ellen ran swaying out of the door； and； once clear of the threshold；
she tottered out on the grass； to sink to her knees。 The bright；
golden sunlight gleamed upon her white shoulders and arms。 Jean had
one foot out of the door when he saw her and he whirled back to get her
blouse。 But Springer had fallen upon it。 Snatching up a blanket； Jean
ran out。
〃Ellen！ Ellen！ Ellen！〃 he cried。 〃It's over！ And reaching her；
he tried to wrap her in the blanket。
She wildly clutched his knees。 Jean was conscious only of her white；
agonized face and the dark eyes with their look of terrible strain。
〃Did y'udid y'u 。 。 。 〃 she whispered。
〃Yesit's over；〃 he said； gravely。 〃Ellen； the Isbel…Jorth feud
is ended。〃
〃Oh； thankGod！〃 she cried； in breaking voice。 〃Jeany'u are wounded
。 。 the blood on the step！〃
〃My arm。 See。 It's not bad。 。 。 。 Ellen； let me wrap this round you。〃
Folding the blanket around her shoulders； he held it there and entreated
her to get up。 But she only clung the closer。 She hid her face on his
knees。 Long shudders rippled over her； shaking the blanket； shaking
Jean's hands。 Distraught； he did not know what to do。 And his own
heart was bursting。
〃Ellen； you must not kneeltherethat way；〃 he implored。
〃Jean！ Jean！〃 she moaned； and clung the tighter。
He tried to lift her up； but she was a dead weight； and with that
hold on him seemed anchored at his feet。
〃I killed Colter；〃 she gasped。 〃I HAD tokill him！ 。 。 。 I offered
to fling myself away。 。 。 。〃
〃For me！〃 he cried； poignantly。 〃Oh； Ellen！ Ellen！ the world has come
to an end！ 。 。 。 Hush！ don't keep sayin' that。 Of course you killed him。
You saved my life。 For I'd never have let you go off with him 。 。 。 。
Yes； you killed him。 。 。 。 You're a Jorth an' I'm an Isbel 。 。 。
We've blood on our handsboth of usI for you an' you for me！〃
His voice of entreaty and sadness strengthened her and she raised her
white face； loosening her clasp to lean back and look up。 Tragic；
sweet； despairing； the loveliless of herthe significance of her
there on her kneesthrilled him to his soul。
〃Blood on my hands！〃 she whispered。 〃Yes。 It was awfulkilling him。
。 。 Butall I care for in this world is for your forgivenessand
your faith that saved my soul！ 〃
〃Child； there's nothin' to forgive；〃 he responded。 〃Nothin'。 。 。
Please； Ellen。 。 。〃
〃I lied to y'u！〃 she cried。 〃I lied to y'u！〃
〃Ellen； listendarlin'。〃 And the tender epithet brought her head and
arms back close…pressed to him。 〃I knownow；〃 he faltered on。 〃I found
out to…day what I believed。 An' I swear to Godby the memory of my
dead motherdown in my heart I never； never； never believed what
theywhat y'u tried to make me believe。 NEVER！ 〃
〃JeanI love y'ulove y'ulove y'u！〃 she breathed with exquisite；
passionate sweetness。 Her dark eyes burned up into his。
〃Ellen； I can't lift you up；〃 he said； in trembling eagerness； signifiying
his crippled arm。 〃But I can kneel with you！ 。 。 。〃
End