..As my wife!"
CHAPTER XVII. WRANGLE'S RACE RUN
The plan eventually decided upon by the lovers was for Venters to
go to the village, secure a horse and some kind of a disguise for
Bess, or at least less striking apparel than her present garb,
and to return post-haste to the valley. Meanwhile, she would add
to their store of gold. Then they would strike the long and
perilous trail to ride out of Utah. In the event of his inability
to fetch back a horse for her, they intended to make the giant
sorrel carry double. The gold, a little food, saddle blankets,
and Venters's guns were to compose the light outfit with which
they would make the start.
"I love this beautiful place," said Bess. "It's hard to think of
leaving it."
"Hard! Well, I should think so," replied Venters. "Maybe--in
years--" But he did not complete in words his thought that might
be possible to return after many years of absence and change.
Once again Bess bade Venters farewell under the shadow of
Balancing Rock, and this time it was with whispered hope and
tenderness and passionate trust. Long after he had left her, all
down through the outlet to the Pass, the clinging clasp of her
arms, the sweetness of her lips, and the sense of a new and
exquisite birth of character in her remained hauntingly and
thrillingly in his mind. The girl who had sadly called herself
nameless and nothing had been marvelously transformed in the
moment of his avowal of love.
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