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pretend it was a matter of course。 Nate was not in； she told us at once。 He
had business to attend to and friends to see he must get back to Riverside
and down in that country where colts were waiting for him。 He was the
only one the E。 K。 outfit would allow to handle their young stock。 Did we
know that？ And she was going to stay with a Mrs。 Pierce down there for a
while； near where Nate would be working。 All this she told us； but when
he did not return to dine with her on this first day； I think she found it hard
to sustain her wilful cheeriness。 Lin offered to take her driving to see the
military post and dress parade at retreat； and Cloud's Peak； and Buffalo's
various sights； but she made excuses and retired to her room。 Nate；
however； was at tea； shaven clean； with good clothes； and well conducted。
His tone and manner to Jessamine were confidential and caressing； and
offended Mr。 McLean； so that I observed to him that it was scarcely
reasonable to be jealous。
〃Oh； no jealousy！〃 said he。 〃But he comes in and kisses her； and he
kisses her good…night； and us strangers looking on！ It's such oncontrollable
affection； yu' see； after never writing for five years。 I expect she must have
some of her savings left。〃
It is true that the sister gave the brother money more than once； and as
our ways lay together； I had chances to see them both； and to wonder if her
joy at being with him once again was going to last。 On the road to
Riverside I certainly heard Jessamine beg him to return home with her；
and he ridiculed such a notion。 What proper life for a live man was that
dead place back East？ he asked her。 I thought he might have expressed
some regret that they must dwell so far apart； or some intention to visit her
now and then； but he said nothing of the sort； though he spoke volubly of
himself and his prospects。 I suppose this spectacle of brother and sister
had rubbed Lin the wrong way too much； for he held himself and Billy
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aloof； joining me on the road but once； and then merely to give me the
news that people here wanted no more of Nate Buckner； he would be run
out of the country； and respect for the sister was all that meanwhile saved
him。 But Buckner； like so many spared criminals； seemed brazenly
unaware he was disgraced； and went hailing loudly any riders or drivers
we met； while beside him his sister sat close and straight； her stanch
affection and support for the world to see。 For all she let appear； she might
have been bringing him back from some gallant heroism achieved； and as
I rode along the travesty seemed more and more pitiful； the outcome
darker and darker。
At all times is Riverside beautiful； but most beautiful when the sun
draws down through the openings of the hills。 From each one a stream
comes flowing clearly out into the plain； and fields spread green along the
margins。 It was beneath the long…slanted radiance of evening that we saw
Blue Creek and felt its coolness rise among the shifting veils of light。 The
red bluff eastward； the tall natural fortress； lost its stern masonry of shapes；
and loomed a soft towering enchantment of violet and amber and saffron
in the changing rays。 The cattle stood quiet about the levels； and horses
were moving among the restless colts。 These the brother bade his sister
look at； for with them was his glory； and I heard him boasting of his skill
truthful boasting； to be sure。 Had he been honest in his dealings； the good…
will that man's courage and dashing appearance beget in men would have
brought him more employment than he could have undertaken。 He told
Jessamine his way of breaking a horse that few would dare； and she
listened eagerly。 〃Do you remember when I used to hold the pony for you
to get on？〃 she said。 〃You always would scare me； Nate！〃 And he replied；
fluently； Yes； yes； did she see that horse there； near the fence？ He was a
four…year…old； an outlaw； and she would find no one had tried getting on
his back since he had been absent。 This was the first question he asked on
reaching the cabin； where various neighbors were waiting the mail…rider；
and； finding he was right； he turned in pride to Jessamine
〃They don't know how to handle that horse；〃 said he。 〃I told you so。
Give me a rope。〃
Did she notice the cold greeting Nate received？ I think not。 Not only
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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 w