The Girl of the Golden West Part 48

"Always ahead--yes, it must be." And then again with tears in her eyes: "But, d.i.c.k, 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 pa.s.sionate 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.