California -- Fiction; Western stories; Women pioneers -- Fiction
“Always ahead--yes, it must be.” And then again with tears in her eyes:
“But, Dick, all the people there in Cloudy, how far off they seem
now--like shadows movin’ in a dream--like shadows I’ve dreamt of. Only a
few days ago I clasped their hands--I seen their faces--their dear
faces--I--” She broke off; then while the tears streamed down her
cheeks: “An’ now they’re fadin’--in this little while I’ve lost
’em--lost ’em.”
“But through you all my old life has faded away.... I have lost
that....” And so saying he stretched out his arms towards her; but very
gently she waved him back with a murmured:
“Not yet!”
For a little while longer her gaze remained on the mountains in the
west. The mist was still over her eyes when she turned again and saw
that the sun was clearing the horizon in opulent splendour.
“See,” she cried with a quick transition of mood, “the sun has risen in
the East--far away--fair an’ clear!”
Again Johnson held out his arms to her.
“A new day--a new life--trust me, Girl.”
In silence she slipped one hand into his; then she bowed her head and
repeated solemnly:
“Yes--a new life.”
Suddenly she drew a little away from him and faced the west again.
Clinging tightly now to him with one hand, and the other raised high
above her head, she cried in a voice that was fraught with such
passionate longing that the man felt himself stirred to the very depths
of his emotions:
“Oh, my mountains, I’m leavin’ you! Oh, my California--my lovely
West--my Sierras, I’m leavin’ you!” She ended with a sob; but the next
moment throwing herself into Johnson’s arms she snuggled there,
murmuring lovingly: “Oh, my home!”
A little while later, happy in their love and fearlessly eager to meet
the trials of the days to come in a new country, they had mounted their
mustangs and were riding eastward.
* * * * *
ZANE GREY’S NOVELS
May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list
_THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS_
A New York society girl buys a ranch which becomes the center of
frontier warfare. Her loyal superintendent rescues her when she is
captured by bandits. A surprising climax brings the story to a
delightful close.
_THE RAINBOW TRAIL_
The story of a young clergyman who becomes a wanderer in the great
western uplands--until at last love and faith awake.
_DESERT GOLD_
The story describes the recent uprising along the border, and ends with
the finding of the gold which two prospectors had willed to the girl who
is the story’s heroine.
_RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE_
A picturesque romance of Utah of some forty years ago when Mormon
authority ruled. The prosecution of Jane Withersteen is the theme of the
story.
_THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN_
This is the record of a trip which the author took with Buffalo Jones,
known as the preserver of the American bison, across the Arizona desert
and of a hunt in “that wonderful country of deep cañons and giant
pines.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account