ER XXXIII

THE REASON WHY

When Scipio turned his back upon the valley it was with the intention
of resting his old mule at the place of the friendly farmer whom he
had encountered on his first memorable visit to James' secret abode.
From thence, after a night's rest, he would start late next day, and
make the creek soon after sundown. For the sake of Jessie he had no
desire to make a daylight entry into the camp.

The old mule certainly needed rest. And, besides, it was pleasant to
prolong the journey. Moments such as the present were scarce enough in
life. And though Jessie was with him for all time now, he greedily
hugged to himself these hours alone with her, when there was nothing
but the fair blue sky and waving grass, the hills and valleys, to
witness his happiness, none of the harshness of life to obtrude upon
his perfect joy; nothing, not even the merest duties of daily life, to
mar the delicious companionship which his wife's long-desired presence
afforded him. The whole journey was to be a sort of honeymoon, a
thousand times sweeter for the misery and unhappiness through which
they had both passed.

He thought of nothing else. The very existence of James and his gang
had passed from his recollection. He had no mind for dangers of any
sort. He had no mind for anything or anybody but his Jessie, his
beautiful Jessie--his wife.

Had he had the least curiosity or interest in other matters, there
were many things, strange things, about the recovery of his wife which
might have set him wondering. For instance, he might have speculated
as to the desertion of the ranch--the absence of dogs, the absence of
all those signs which tell of a busy enterprise--things which could
not be adequately accounted for by the mere absence of the head of it,
even though he were accompanied by his fighting men. He might have
glanced about among the barns and corrals, or--he might even have
questioned his Jessie.

Had he done either of these things a certain amount of enlightenment
would undoubtedly have penetrated to his unsuspicious mind. He must
inevitably have detected the hand or hands of his earthly guardian
angels in the manner in which his path had been cleared of all
obstructions.

Had he been less occupied with his own happiness, with the joy of
having Jessie once more beside him, and chanced to look back into the
valley as he left it forever, he would certainly have received
enlightenment. But he never knew what