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anywhere else。〃
There was enough bitterness in her tone to call for Curson's half…
perfunctory sympathy。
〃That be dd；〃 he responded quickly。 〃Jutht thay you'll come； Tita；
and〃
She stopped his half…spoken sentence with a negative gesture。 〃You
don't understand。 I shall stay here。〃
〃But even if they don't theek you here； you can't live here forever。
The friend that you wrote about who wath tho good to you； you know；
can't keep you here alwayth； and are you thure you can alwayth trutht
her？〃
〃It isn't a woman； it's a man。〃 She stopped short； and colored to the
line of her forehead。 〃Who said it was a woman？〃 she continued fiercely；
as if to cover her confusion with a burst of gratuitous anger。 〃Is that
another of your lies？〃
Curson's lips； which for a moment had completely lost their smile；
were now drawn together in a prolonged whistle。 He gazed curiously at
her gown； at her hat； at the bow of bright ribbon that tied her black hair；
and said； 〃Ah！〃
〃A poor man who has kept my secret；〃 she went on hurriedly〃a man
as friendless and lonely as myself。 Yes；〃 disregarding Curson's cynical
smile； 〃a man who has shared everything〃
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〃Naturally；〃 suggested Curson。
〃And turned himself out of his only shelter to give me a roof and
covering；〃 she continued mechanically； struggling with the new and
horrible fancy that his words awakened。
〃And thlept every night at Indian Thpring to save your reputation；〃
said Curson。 〃Of courthe。〃
Teresa turned very white。 Curson was prepared for an outburst of
furyperhaps even another attack。 But the crushed and beaten woman
only gazed at him with frightened and imploring eyes。 〃For God's sake；
Dick； don't say that！〃
The amiable cynic was staggered。 His good…humor and a certain
chivalrous instinct he could not repress got the better of him。 He shrugged
his shoulders。 〃What I thay； and what you DO； Teretha； needn't make us
quarrel。 I've no claim on youI know it。 Only〃 a vivid sense of the
ridiculous； powerful in men of his stamp； completed her victory〃only
don't thay anything about my coming down here to cut you out from the
theTHE SHERIFF。〃 He gave utterance to a short but unaffected laugh；
made a slight grimace； and turned to go。
Teresa did not join in his mirth。 Awkward as it would have been if he
had taken a severer view of the subject； she was mortified even amidst her
fears and embarrassment at his levity。 Just as she had become convinced
that his jealousy had made her over… conscious； his apparent good…
humored indifference gave that over… consciousness a guilty significance。
Yet this was lost in her sudden alarm as her companion； looking up；
uttered an exclamation； and placed his hand upon his revolver。 With a
sinking conviction that the climax had come； Teresa turned her eyes。
From the dim aisles beyond； Low was approaching。 The catastrophe
seemed complete。
She had barely time to utter an imploring whisper： 〃In the name of
God； not a word to him。〃 But a change had already come over her
companion。 It was no longer a parley with a foolish woman； he had to
deal with a man like himself。 As Low's dark face and picturesque figure
came nearer； Mr。 Curson's proposed method of dealing with him was made
audible。
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〃Ith it a mulatto or a Thircuth； or both？〃 he asked； with affected
anxiety。
Low's Indian phlegm was impervious to such assault。 He turned to
Teresa； without apparently noticing her companion。 〃I turned back；〃 he
said quietly； 〃as soon as I knew there were strangers here； I thought you
might need me。〃 She noticed for the first time that； in addition to his rifle；
he carried a revolver and hunting knife in his belt。
〃Yeth；〃 returned Curson； with an ineffectual attempt to imitate Low's
phlegm； 〃but ath I didn't happen to be a sthranger to this lady； perhaps it
wathn't nethethary； particularly ath I had two friends〃 〃Waiting at the
edge of the wood with a led horse；〃 interrupted Low； without addressing
him； but apparently continuing his explanation to Teresa。 But she turned
to Low with feverish anxiety。
〃That's sohe is an old friend〃 she gave a quick； imploring glance at
Curson〃an old friend who came to help me awayhe is very kind；〃 she
stammered； turning alternately from the one to the other； 〃but I told him
there was no hurryat least to…day that youwerevery goodtoo； and
would hide me a little longer； until your planyou know YOUR plan；〃 she
added； with a look of beseeching significance to Low〃could be tried。〃
And then； with a helpless conviction that her excuses； motives； and
emotions were equally and perfectly transparent to both men； she stopped
in a tremble。
〃Perhapth it 'th jutht ath well； then； that the gentleman came thtraight
here； and didn't tackle my two friendth when he pathed them；〃 observed
Curson； half sarcastically。
〃I have not passed your friends； nor have I been near them；〃 said Low；
looking at him for the first time； with the same exasperating calm； 〃or
perhaps I should not be HERE or they THERE。 I knew that one man
entered the wood a few moments ago； and that two men and four horses
remained outside。〃
〃That's true；〃 said Teresa to Curson excitedly〃that's true。 He knows
all。 He can see without looking； hear without listening。 Hehe〃 she
stammered； colored； and stopped。
The two men had faced each other。 Curson； after his first good…
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natured impulse； had retained no wish to regain Teresa； whom he felt he
no longer loved； and yet who； for that very reason perhaps； had awakened
his chivalrous instincts。 Low； equally on his side； was altogether
unconscious of any feeling which might grow into a passion； and prevent
him from letting her go with another if for her own safety。 They were
both men of a certain taste and refinement。 Yet； in spite of all this； some
vague instinct of the baser male animal remained with them； and they
were moved to a mutually aggressive attitude in the presence of the
female。
One word more； and the opening chapter of a sylvan Iliad might have
begun。 But this modern Helen saw it coming； and arrested it with an
inspiration of feminine genius。 Without being observed； she disengaged
her knife from her bosom and let it fall as if by accident。 It struck the
ground with the point of its keen blade； bounded and rolled between them。
The two men started and looked at each other with a foolish air。 Curson
laughed。
〃I reckon she can take care of herthelf；〃 he said； extending his hand to
Low。 〃I'm off。 But if I'm wanted SHE'LL know where to find me。〃
Low took the proffered hand； but neither of the two men looked at Teresa。
The reserve of antagonism once broken； a few words of caution； advice；
and encouragement passed between them； in apparent obliviousness of her
presence or her personal responsibility。 As Curson at last nodded a
farewell to her； Low insisted upon accompanying him as far as the horses；
and in another moment she was again alone。
She had saved a quarrel between them at the sacrifice of herself； for
her vanity was still keen enough to feel that this exhibition of her old
weakness had degraded her in their eyes； and； worse； had lost the respect
her late restraint had won from Low。 They had treated her like a child or
a crazy woman； perhaps even now were exchanging c