The Girl from Montana | Page 4

the green lights play in the evil eyes above her, she
gathered all the strength of her young life into one effort, and schooled
herself to be calm. She controlled her involuntary shrinking from the
man, only drew herself back gently, as a woman with wider experience
and gentler breeding might have done.
"Remember," she said, "that my brother just lay there dead!" and she
pointed to the empty centre of the room. The dramatic attitude was
almost a condemnation to the guilty man before her. He drew back as if
the sheriff had entered the room, and looked instinctively to where the

coffin had been but a short time before, then laughed nervously and
drew himself together.
The girl caught her breath, and took courage. She had held him for a
minute; could she not hold him longer?
"Think!" said she. "He is but just buried. It is not right to talk of such
things as love in this room where he has just gone out. You must leave
me alone for a little while. I cannot talk and think now. We must
respect the dead, you know." She looked appealingly at him, acting her
part desperately, but well. It was as if she were trying to charm a lion or
an insane man.
He stood admiring her. She argued well. He was half minded to humor
her, for somehow when she spoke of the dead he could see the gleam in
her brother's eyes just before he shot him. Then there was promise in
this wooing. She was no girl to be lightly won, after all. She could hold
her own, and perhaps she would be the better for having her way for a
little. At any rate, there was more excitement in such game.
She saw that she was gaining, and her breath came freer.
"Go!" she said with a flickering smile. "Go! For--a little while," and
then she tried to smile again.
He made a motion to take her in his arms and kiss her; but she drew
back suddenly, and spread her hands before her, motioning him back.
"I tell you you must not now. Go! Go! or I will never speak to you
again."
He looked into her eyes, and seemed to feel a power that he must obey.
Half sullenly he drew back toward the door.
"But, Bess, this ain't the way to treat a fellow," he whined. "I came way
back here to take care of you. I tell you I love you, and I'm going to
have you. There ain't any other fellow going to run off with you--"

"Stop!" she cried tragically. "Don't you see you're not doing right? My
brother is just dead. I must have some time to mourn. It is only decent."
She was standing now with her back to the little cupboard behind
whose door lay the two pistols. Her hand was behind her on the
wooden latch.
"You don't respect my trouble!" she said, catching her breath, and
putting her hand to her eyes. "I don't believe you care for me when you
don't do what I say."
The man was held at bay. He was almost conquered by her sign of tears.
It was a new phase of her to see her melt into weakness so. He was
charmed.
"How long must I stay away?" he faltered.
She could scarcely speak, so desperate she felt. O if she dared but say,
"Forever," and shout it at him! She was desperate enough to try her
chances at shooting him if she but had the pistols, and was sure they
were loaded--a desperate chance indeed against the best shot on the
Pacific coast, and a desperado at that.
She pressed her hands to her throbbing temples, and tried to think. At
last she faltered out,
"Three days!"
He swore beneath his breath, and his brows drew down in heavy frowns
that were not good to see. She shuddered at what it would be to be in
his power forever. How he would play with her and toss her aside! Or
kill her, perhaps, when he was tired of her! Her life on the mountain
had made her familiar with evil characters.
He came a step nearer, and she felt she was losing ground.
Straightening up, she said coolly:
"You must go away at once, and not think of coming back at least until

to-morrow night. Go!" With wonderful control she smiled at him, one
frantic, brilliant smile; and to her great wonder he drew back. At the
door he paused, a softened look upon his face.
"Mayn't I kiss you before I go?"
She shuddered involuntarily, but put out her hands in protest again.
"Not to-night!" She shook her head, and tried to smile.
He thought he understood her,