CHAPTER X.

THE REALITY OF AN IDEAL.

The interview between the brother and sister was brought to an end by the coming of the sentinel, who reported that Miss Carr awaited Miss Arden.

“I will join her immediately, please say,” was Ruth’s response, and then she turned again to her brother.

“You will see me again before you go, Ruth?”

“Yes, for I will be here four days and shall ask the colonel for leave to spend an hour with you each morning and afternoon. You have made me very happy, Arden, in the promises you have made me, and I feel that you will keep them.”

A moment more and she was gone. The sentinel took his post again without the door, and just beyond Clarice Carr awaited with Major Lester and his wife. They greeted her most cordially, the major saying:

“We decided to come after you also, Miss Arden, and you must feel perfectly at home with us.”

“Yes, my dear Miss Arden, the colonel has done us a favor in allowing us to claim you while here,” Mrs. Lester remarked.

Thus greeted, Ruth felt that she was among friends, and she went to the major’s quarters as to her own home, so hospitable was their treatment of her.

Not a word was said about the prisoner, her brother, to render her unhappy, and refusing themselves to company that night, except the colonel, who called, they devoted the evening to their fair guest.

At the request of the colonel Clarice sung for them, and when she had done so she turned and asked:

“Do you not sing, Miss Arden?”

“Yes, I am devoted to music,” was the simple reply.

Urged to sing, she sat down to Clarice Carr’s harp which stood nearest to her side, and she had only to run her fingers over the strings to show that it was an artist’s hands that touched them. Then in a rich, melodious contralto she sang that old but charming ballad:

I cannot sing those old songs, We’ve sung so oft together.

Her hearers listened breathlessly, for her voice stirred their inmost hearts, and, when she had ceased, she said softly:

“I do not know why I sang that song, for it was my brother’s favorite, and we often have sung together, for he has a superb voice, or, rather, had when I knew him in the long ago.”

It was her first reference to her outlaw brother since entering the house, and, brave men that they were, Colonel Dunwoody and Major Lester felt the tears dimming their eyes in sympathy for the beautiful girl.

But she quickly said, as though to destroy the effect she had caused by her song:

“You have an exquisite soprano, Miss Carr, and I sing alto, so suppose we have a duet.”

“Willingly,” and several duets were sung until Mrs. Lester said:

“Now I am not half-satisfied yet, and, as the colonel has a lovely tenor and my husband sings bass, I insist upon a quartette.”

All readily agreed, and the four fine voices accorded wonderfully well together, and until a late hour the musical treat was kept up.

At last the colonel left, after a pleasant little supper, and as he walked back to his quarters he was in a contemplative mood, for he mused aloud:

“At last I have met my ideal. I did begin to feel that in that brilliant woman Nina de Sutro I had found her, and that Clarice Carr was one to make me a happy man; but no, she of the dreamy eyes is my ideal, the reality of the portrait I saw years ago, and often wondered if I would ever meet a woman with just such a face.

“And now the one who has that face is the sister of the vilest man who ever crossed my path. Still, an angel and a devil may be akin, and so it is with that man and this beautiful girl. Ah, me! I wish I could look back into the life of Ruth Arden and read it as an open book, for she interests me more than I would admit even to myself; yes, fascinates me.”

And thus musing, Colonel Dunwoody reached his quarters.

In the meanwhile those at the major’s had gone to their rooms for the night.

Both Major Lester and his wife had spoken most kindly to Ruth and said that they were sorry she was not to remain at the fort, and Clarice had escorted the guest to her room.

A sitting-room divided the chamber of Clarice from the one occupied by Ruth, and the two had talked together before saying good night.

“You are tired I know, so I must not keep you up any later, for it is midnight,” said Clarice. “We breakfast at nine, you know,” and she kissed Ruth, who, hesitating an instant, replied:

“Miss Carr, you have been so sweet to me, so sisterly, that I wish to make a confession to you, but in confidence. I do not wish to deceive you, and, therefore, I will tell you that Arden is not my name. True, it was my mother’s maiden name, but I assumed it, for the one I bear has been dishonored by my brother, and I did not wish to bring shame upon an honored name by letting it be known who the man you know as Silk Lasso Sam really is.

“To others I am Ruth Arden, to you, in confidence, I will say that I am Ruth Leigh, and my poor brother’s real name is Arden Leigh. Good night,” and Ruth glided quickly away to her room, while Clarice murmured gently:

“Poor girl, yours is a noble nature.”

Ruth did not ask the favor of Colonel Dunwoody, to be allowed to see her brother daily, for it was not necessary.

He anticipated her by calling the next morning and asking for her.

“I have given orders, Miss Arden, that you shall be allowed to go to and from the prison where your brother is confined at your will.”

“You are most kind, Colonel Dunwoody.”

“No, I am only just, for you have come a long way, have you not, to see one whom your woman’s heart clings to in spite of what he may be. A mother’s love and a sister’s are to me the purest of all affections, and I can understand just how you feel toward the one who has gone to the bad as your unfortunate brother has.”

“I appreciate all that you say and do for me, Colonel Dunwoody, and I make no effort to disguise my deep love for my brother, for I remember him only as he ever was toward me in the past. His nature was warped, and he went wrong when quite a young man, and just when we began to feel that he was saved, that he had seen the evil of his ways and was coming back to a life of honor, one whom he loved, whom he idolized in truth, told him that she could never be his wife, that she loved another.

“That blow made a madman of him and he sought to take the life of his rival, and from that day became a fugitive and a wanderer, a hunted man, feeling that the hand of every one was against him. I do not defend him, and I ask no mercy for him; but I thank you for your goodness in allowing me to see him often the few days that I will be here.”

“It would be cruel to ask you to remain longer,” said the colonel.

“No, I must go my way, Colonel Dunwoody.”

“And do you wish me to send any communication to you when--when--_all is over_?”

“Nothing, thank you, sir. I wish no tidings of what occurs after I leave the fort.”

“But surely we will see you again?”

“Where and when?”

She asked the question quickly, almost excitedly.

“That remains alone for you to say, Miss Arden, for I do not wish you to drift out of our memories and our lives, after having crossed our paths as you have.”

“I am but the sister of the outlaw Silk Lasso Sam, remember.”

“Granted.”

“This does not deter you from wishing to keep up a friendship with me?”

“Not in the slightest, for I abhor the old Biblical law of visiting upon the children the sins of the fathers, only applying it in your case to a sister’s suffering for a brother’s crimes.”

“You are generous, you are just,” and Ruth held out her hand, which the colonel held while she continued:

“See if you wish my friendship when you hear of me again. If you do, then Miss Carr can tell you of me, for she has promised to be my friend and correspond with me. Now can I go and spend an hour with that unfortunate brother of mine, over whom the shadow of the gallows hangs like a nightmare?”

“Yes, I will escort you to the cabin.”

When the day came around for the departure of the coach, Major Lester and his wife felt the deepest regret at having to give up their lovely guest.

They had become deeply attached to her, and yet they could not urge her to remain longer, for they wished her to be far away when the day of execution came which would end the guilty career of Silk Lasso Sam and the lives of his men, sentenced to die at the same time.

Both the major and his wife had observed the deep interest felt by the colonel in their guest, and had spoken of it to each other.

“The colonel’s heart has been touched by the sorrow of that beautiful girl,” said Mrs. Lester, and her husband replied:

“Pity begets love, it is said, and I really wish the colonel would care for her, as she is a very superior girl, and, whatever the faults of the brother, she is as pure as snow.”

Of course, all in the fort had come to understand just why Ruth had come, and those who saw her had felt deepest compassion for her. That she was a lady all acknowledged, whatever Silk Lasso Sam might be.

During her stay at Major Lester’s all had discreetly kept away from that officer’s home, well understanding that Miss Arden cared for no visitors, though nearly every lady in the fort left their cards “for Miss Arden,” as an appreciation of her misfortunes, and sympathy in her sorrows.

Nina de Sutro had heard of the coming of this visitor to the doomed man. He had not spoken to her, during their short married life, of having a sister; in fact, he had said nothing to her of his past.

Who then, she wondered, was this beautiful woman, for she did not regard her as really his sister. Not connecting her in any way with Bonnie Belle, she looked upon herself, Bonnie Belle and this stranger as three, perhaps, who held a claim upon the outlaw.

She felt no jealousy of her, for she hated the prisoner too sincerely for that emotion to find lodgment in her heart; but she was anxious to know who she was, and all about her.

She had been told that she was very beautiful. She would see and know for herself, for she said:

“I must see and talk with that woman.”

When Nina de Sutro set out to do anything, she accomplished it. She resolved that she would see Ruth Arden, and have a talk with her.

The interest shown in her by Colonel Dunwoody she could not understand, any more than she could why the Lesters had made her their guest, and Clarice Carr seemed so devoted to her.

She dared not speak to her in public, as it was known that Ruth met no one, nor cared to. She must see her, then, at the major’s. So she plotted to do so in her own way. That way was to get Mrs. Lester and Clarice away for some reason, and then go and call, for the major would be either on duty or at the club.

There was to be a gathering of the ladies for their weekly talks over acts of charity, sewing for the soldiers’ children, or parties, dinners, or excursions to be held, and so Nina planned to have the meeting when the major would be absent and Mrs. Lester and Clarice would have to attend.

She used Mrs. De Sutro her kinswoman as a catspaw, telling her that she wished to give a party and that Mrs. Lester and Clarice were to be consulted, while she, Nina, was to be kept in ignorance of the affair.

Then she went to visit an officer’s wife living nearest to the Lesters, and when she saw, from her seat in the window, first the major go out, then the two ladies, she waited until they entered her own house and then ended her visit abruptly.

At once she walked by the Lester home, and suddenly turned into the gate. Running up the steps, she opened the door and called aloud:

“Clarice! Clarice!”

At the same time she entered the sitting-room. At her call Ruth Arden, who was there, arose, and, meeting her, said pleasantly:

“Miss Carr and Mrs. Lester have both gone out. May I ask who it is that I shall tell them called?”

Nina de Sutro was taken aback, for she beheld before her a woman of a beauty of face and form she had not dreamed she possessed.

“I am Miss De Sutro. Are you Miss Ruth Arden?” she asked.

“I am.”

“Will you, knowing as I do your reasons for coming to the fort, let me offer you my sincere sympathy?”

“You are very kind, and I thank you, Miss De Sutro.”

“Remember, Miss Arden, it is more than an ordinary interest that I feel in you, as your brother saved my life when I was a schoolgirl, going to Mexico to attend the convent where I was educated. Meeting him here, in the part he was playing with such daring, and believing him to be a man of honor when I met him, I felt more than a passing regard for him, and we were, I may say, the best of friends, yet I never heard him speak of having a sister.”

“Yet you see that he has one, and I am sorry he was taken from me, when I was a mere girl, by circumstances which drove him a fugitive from our home. I have tried hard to redeem my misguided brother, Miss De Sutro, to bring him back from the path he has chosen, but all in vain, and now he sees an ignominious death staring him in the face, and I thank Heaven that our father and mother are both dead, and that I alone remain to suffer the ignominy and despair of his deeds which bring him in shame to the grave.”

Nina de Sutro listened to every word uttered by the girl, her eyes seeming to pierce to her heart, and she saw only purity, truth, and honor upon every feature, and, after again expressing her sympathy, turned and left the room, while she said to herself, with decided emphasis:

“There is no deception there, for that girl is his sister, and is more unfortunate than even I am, for she loves him.”

Hastening home she found that Mrs. De Sutro and her two visitors had gone to join the “Petticoat Convention,” as the officers called the gathering of the ladies, and, seeking Clarice, she said in a whisper:

“I have just seen that beautiful girl.”

“Do you mean Miss Arden?”

“Yes, I ran over to see you, and, calling your name, she came out of the sitting-room to say that you and Mrs. Lester had gone out. I had a short talk with her, and, Clarice, I pity that poor girl from the bottom of my heart, for she really loves that villainous brother of hers.”

“I know that she does,” was the quiet reply of Clarice, who did not like it that Ruth, who had sought to avoid every one, had been intruded upon by Nina de Sutro.

When Nina left Ruth the latter gazed after her a moment and then said:

“Miss De Sutro came here on purpose to see me, I feel certain. Well, she accomplished her purpose, and what will be the result? I will ask Arden about her, and his saving her life.”

As it was time for her to visit her brother she put on her hat and went out. Just as she reached the end of the parade she came suddenly upon an officer, who started slightly, and, as he saw her face pale, said quickly:

“Do not be alarmed, Miss Arden, for I could never betray a woman, and your secret is safe with me.”

“You recognize me then, Surgeon Powell?”

“Yes, as Bonnie Belle, and Buffalo Bill also recognized you, but to no one else than myself has he made it known. We both know, Miss Arden, that you are here to rescue Silk Lasso Sam, and you are playing a bold game daringly; but it is our duty to thwart you if we can. Good morning,” and Surgeon Frank Powell raised his hat and went on his way.