s of the night was not now and never must be again alone。 He who had yearned for the touch of a hand felt the long tremble and the heart…beat of a woman。 By what strange chance had she come to love him！ By what changeby what marvel had she grown into a treasure！
No more did he listen to the rush and roar of the thunder…storm。 For with the touch of clinging hands and the throbbing bosom he grew conscious of an inward stormthe tingling of new chords of thought； strange music of unheard； joyous bells sad dreams dawning to wakeful delight； dissolving doubt； resurging hope； force； fire； and freedom； unutterable sweetness of desire。 A storm in his breasta storm of real love。
CHAPTER XIV。 WEST WIND
When the storm abated Venters sought his own cave； and late in the night； as his blood cooled and the stir and throb and thrill subsided； he fell asleep。
With the breaking of dawn his eyes unclosed。 The valley lay drenched and bathed； a burnished oval of glittering green。 The rain…washed walls glistened in the morning light。 Waterfalls of many forms poured over the rims。 One； a broad； lacy sheet； thin as smoke； slid over the western notch and struck a ledge in its downward fall； to bound into broader leap； to burst far below into white and gold and rosy mist。
Venters prepared for the day； knowing himself a different man。
〃It's a glorious morning；〃 said Bess； in greeting。
〃Yes。 After the storm the west wind；〃 he replied。
〃Last night was Ivery much of a baby？〃 she asked； watching him。
〃Pretty much。〃
〃Oh； I couldn't help it！〃
〃I'm glad you were afraid。〃
〃Why？〃 she asked； in slow surprise。
〃I'll tell you some day；〃 he answered； soberly。 Then around the camp…fire and through the morning meal he was silent； afterward he strolled thoughtfully off alone along the terrace。 He climbed a great yellow rock raising its crest among the spruces； and there he sat down to face the valley and the west。
〃I love her！〃
Aloud he spokeunburdened his heartconfessed his secret。 For an instant the golden valley swam before his eyes； and the walls waved； and all about him whirled with tumult within。
〃I love her！。。。I understand now。〃
Reviving memory of Jane Withersteen and thought of the complications of the present amazed him with proof of how far he had drifted from his old life。 He discovered that he hated to take up the broken threads； to delve into dark problems and difficulties。 In this beautiful valley he had been living a beautiful dream。 Tranquillity had come to him； and the joy of solitude； and interest in all the wild creatures and crannies of this incomparable valleyand love。 Under the shadow of the great stone bridge God had revealed Himself to Venters。
〃The world seems very far away；〃 he muttered； 〃but it's thereand I'm not yet done with it。 Perhaps I never shall be。。。。Onlyhow glorious it would be to live here always and never think again！〃
Whereupon the resurging reality of the present； as if in irony of his wish； steeped him instantly in contending thought。 Out of it all he presently evolved these things： he must go to Cottonwoods； he must bring supplies back to Surprise Valley； he must cultivate the soil and raise corn and stock； and； most imperative of all； he must decide the future of the girl who loved him and whom he loved。 The first of these things required tremendous effort； the last one； concerning Bess； seemed simply and naturally easy of accomplishment。 He would marry her。 Suddenly； as from roots of poisonous fire； flamed up the forgotten truth concerning her。 It seemed to wither and shrivel up all his joy on its hot； tearing way to his heart。 She had been Oldring's Masked Rider。 To Venters's question； 〃What were you to Oldring？〃 she had answered with scarlet shame and drooping head。
〃What do I care who she is or what she was！〃 he cried； passionately。 And he knew it was not his old self speaking。 It was this softer； gentler man who had awakened to new thoughts in the quiet valley。 Tenderness； masterful in him now； matched the absence of joy and blunted the knife…edge of entering jealousy。 Strong and passionate effort of will； surprising to him； held back the poison from piercing his soul。
〃Wait！。。。Wait！〃 he cried； as if calling。 His hand pressed his breast； and he might have called to the pang there。 〃Wait！ It's all so strangeso wonderful。 Anything can happen。 Who am I to judge her？ I'll glory in my love for her。 But I can't tell itcan't give up to it。〃
Certainly he could not then decide her future。 Marrying her was impossible in Surprise Valley and in any village south of Sterling。 Even without the mask she had once worn she would easily have been recognized as Oldring's Rider。 No man who had ever seen her would forget her； regardless of his ignorance as to her sex。 Then more poignant than all other argument was the fact that he did not want to take her away from Surprise Valley。 He resisted all thought of that。 He had brought her to the most beautiful and wildest place of the uplands； he had saved her； nursed her back to strength； watched her bloom as one of the valley lilies； he knew her life there to be pure and sweetshe belonged to him； and he loved her。 Still these were not all the reasons why he did not want to take her away。 Where could they go？ He feared the rustlershe feared the ridershe feared the Mormons。 And if he should ever succeed in getting Bess safely away from these immediate perils； he feared the sharp eyes of women and their tongues； the big outside world with its problems of existence。 He must wait to decide her future； which； after all； was deciding his own。 But between her future and his something hung impending。 Like Balancing Rock； which waited darkly over the steep gorge； ready to close forever the outlet to Deception Pass； that nameless thing； as certain yet intangible as fate； must fall and close forever all doubts and fears of the future。
〃I've dreamed；〃 muttered Venters； as he rose。 〃Well； why not？。。。To dream is happiness！ But let me just once see this clearly wholly； then I can go on dreaming till the thing falls。 I've got to tell Jane Withersteen。 I've dangerous trips to take。 I've work here to make comfort for this girl。 She's mine。 I'll fight to keep her safe from that old life。 I've already seen her forget it。 I love her。 And if a beast ever rises in me I'll burn my hand off before I lay it on her with shameful intent。 And； by God！ sooner or later I'll kill the man who hid her and kept her in Deception Pass！〃
As he spoke the west wind softly blew in his face。 It seemed to soothe his passion。 That west wind was fresh； cool； fragrant； and it carried a sweet； strange burden of far…off thingstidings of life in other climes； of sunshine asleep on other wallsof other places where reigned peace。 It carried； too； sad truth of human hearts and mysteryof promise and hope unquenchable。 Surprise Valley was only a little niche in the wide world whence blew that burdened wind。 Bess was only one of millions at the mercy of unknown motive in nature and life。 Content had come to Venters in the valley； happiness had breathed in the slow； warm air； love as bright as light had hovered over the walls and descended to him； and now on the west wind came a whisper of the eternal triumph of faith over doubt。
〃How much better I am for what has come to me！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I'll let the future take care of itself。 Whatever falls； I'll be ready。〃
Venters retraced his steps along the terrace back to camp； and found Bess in the old familiar seat； waiting and watching for his return。
〃I went off by myself to think a little；〃 he explained。
〃You never looked that way before。 Whatwhat is it？ Won't you tell me？〃
〃Well； Bess； the fact is I've been dreaming a lot。 This valley makes a fellow dream。 So I forced myself to think。 We can't live this way much longer。 Soon I'll simply have to go to Cottonwoods。 We need a whole pack train of supplies。 I can get〃
〃Can you go safely？〃 she interrupted。
〃Why； I'm sure of it。 I'll ride through the Pass at night。 I haven't any fear that Wrangle isn't where I left him。 And once on himBess； just wait till you see that horse！〃
〃Oh； I want to see himto ride him。 Butbut； Bern； this is what troubles me；〃 she said。 〃Willwill you come back？〃
〃Give me four days。 If I'm not back in four days you'll know I'm dead。 For that only shall keep me。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃Bess； I'll come back。 There's dangerI wouldn't lie to youbut I can take care of myself。〃
〃Bern； I'm sureoh； I'm sure of it！ All my life I've watched hunted men。 I can tell what's in them。 And I believe you can ride and shoot and see with any rider of the sage。 It's notnot that Ifear。〃
〃Well； what is it； then？〃
〃Whywhywhy should you come back at all？〃
〃I couldn't leave you here alone。〃
〃You might change your mind when you get to the villageamong old friends〃
〃I won't change my mind。 As for old friends〃 He uttered a short； expressive laugh。
〃Thentherethere must be aa woman！〃 Dark red mantled the clear tan of temple and cheek and neck。 Her eyes were eyes of shame； upheld a long moment by intense； straining search for the verification of her fear。 Suddenly they drooped； her head fell to her knees； her hands flew to her hot cheeks。
〃Besslook here；〃 said Venters； with a sharpness due to the violence with which he checked his quick； surging emotion。
As if compelled against her willanswering to an irresistible voice Bess raised her head； looked at him with sad； dark eyes； and tried to whisper with tremulous lips。
〃There's no woman；〃 went on Venters； deliberately holding her glance with his。 〃Nothing on earth； barring the chances of life； can keep me away。〃
Her face flashed and flushed with the glow of a leaping joy； but like the vanishing of a gleam it disappeared to leave her as he had never beheld her。
〃I am nothingI am lostI am nameless！〃
〃Do you want me to come back？〃 he asked； with sudden stern coldness。 〃Maybe you want to go back to Oldring！〃
That brought her erect； trembling and ashy pale； with dark； proud eyes and mute lips refuting his insinuation。
〃Bess； I beg your pardon。 I shouldn't have said that。 But you angered me。 I intend to workto make a home for you hereto be aa brother to you as long as ever you need me。 And you must forget w