“I have lived in a few short months my romance, burned the candle to the end, and am a deserted wife, finding that I married one who was a villain, one who sought me alone for my riches, and finding that I could not, until twenty-one years of age, control my fortune, fled from me, leaving me alone in a strange city.
“I tracked him, found him making love to another, forgave him all, and lo! once more he deserted me, this time taking my money and my jewels, and in my despair I wish to hide the grave in my heart from all except you, to whom I now make this confession, and the Mother Superior of the convent, to whom I shall at once return, begging her to receive me once more as a pupil, as my elopement was not known, it being said that I had been called suddenly home to the United States.
“She will take me back, for well I know her kind heart, and when I have finished my education, if you, my sweet cousin, will allow me, I will come to you, still known as Nina de Sutro—your name, which, as my guardian, you gave to me, for I wish not to have the world know of my unhappy wedded life and the sorrow I have brought upon myself.
“As for the man who was my husband, I will not care what his fate may be, nor will I breathe his name even to you or the Mother Superior, for my past of misfortune, my dream of bliss that ended almost in despair, shall be as a sealed book.”
The letter was addressed to an officer of the United States Army, who was stationed at a frontier post of the Northwest.
And back to the convent went the unhappy girl, made her confession, was forgiven and received as before, for the good Mother Felicite, the superioress, loved her as her own child, and wept bitter tears of regret when, two years after, she finished her school-days and went to join her guardian and his wife in the United States.
CHAPTER III.
SILK LASSO SAM, THE OUTLAW.
The coach on a branch of the Overland Stage Trail, with its terminus at Pioneer Post, was upon its way to its destination, with an extra hand known as Ribbons upon the box, Horseshoe Ned, the regular driver, being laid up for a short while.
It had reached a part of the trail where there was a steep and rugged descent to the bed of a swiftly flowing stream known as Deep Dell Brook, and Ribbons had brought the team of six horses to a halt for a short rest and a cooling draft of water.
There was a steep ascent upon the other side of the brook, with rocky cliffs some thirty feet in height upon either side for a few hundred yards.