hand to feel
if the gold was real.

"Gold!" he almost shouted. "Bess, there are hundreds--thousands of
dollars' worth here!"

He leaned over to her, and put his hand, strong and clenching now, on
hers.

"Is there more where this came from?" he whispered.

"Plenty of it, all the way up the stream to the cliff. You know I've
often washed for gold. Then I've heard the men talk. I think there's no
great quantity of gold here, but enough for--for a fortune for you."

"That--was--your--secret!"

"Yes. I hate gold. For it makes men mad. I've seen them drunk with joy
and dance and fling themselves around. I've seen them curse and rave.
I've seen them fight like dogs and roll in the dust. I've seen them kill
each other for gold."

"Is that why you hated to tell me?"

"Not--not altogether." Bess lowered her head. "It was because I knew
you'd never stay here long after you found gold."

"You were afraid I'd leave you?"

"Yes.

"Listen!... You great, simple child! Listen... You sweet, wonderful, wild,
blue-eyed girl! I was tortured by my secret. It was that I knew we--we
must leave the valley. We can't stay here much longer. I couldn't think
how we'd get away--out of the country--or how we'd live, if we ever got
out. I'm a beggar. That's why I kept my secret. I'm poor. It takes money
to make way beyond Sterling. We couldn't ride horses or burros or walk
forever. So while I knew we must go, I was distracted over how to go
and what to do. Now! We've gold! Once beyond Sterling, well be safe from
rustlers. We've no others to fear.

"Oh! Listen! Bess!" Venters now heard his voice ringing high and sweet,
and he felt Bess's cold hands in his crushing grasp as she leaned toward
him pale, breathless. "This is how much I'd leave you! You made me live
again! I'll take you away--far away from this wild country. You'll begin
a new life. You'll be happy. You shall see cities, ships, people. You
shall have anything your heart craves. All the shame and sorrow of your
life shall be forgotten--as if they had never been. This is how much I'd
leave you here alone--you sad-eyed girl. I love you! Didn't you know it?
How could you fail to know it? I love you! I'm free! I'm a man--a man
you've made--no more a beggar!... Kiss me! This is how much I'd leave
you here alone--you beautiful, strange, unhappy girl. But I'll make you
happy. What--what do I care for--your past! I love you! I'll take you
home to Illinois--to my mother. Then I'll tak