art,
telling her that as Pat had been true to her trust, so he himself had
tried to be true to her faith and trust, and was still trying and
hoping, against his convictions, that she understood, that she would
consider his love for her and would take him, because he loved her
wholly and he needed her love to live. His tense words broke at last,
and then he saw her looking up at him through tear-dimmed eyes and
smiling, and in the smile he saw the opening of a life new and
wonderful.

After a little she turned to Pat. She fell to stroking him in thoughtful
silence. Then she turned back.

"I had heard much of what you have been through," she began, slowly, her
voice soft and vibrant with deep sympathy, in her eyes that same steady
glow. "The rangers reported to headquarters, and headquarters reported
to Daddy. They told of the running fight, Stephen, and how--how you were
hurt. And they told of the renegades, and their descent upon your camp,
and of Pat's disappearance. And they told of the way you mounted another
horse, hurt and sick though you were, and rode off in pursuit. But from
there they knew nothing more. But they had spoken of the cavalry, and I
wrote to Fort Wingate, inquiring, and they told me what they knew--that
you had joined them and ridden with them through that dreadful fight,
though they had tried to keep you out of it on account of your
condition, and that afterward you had gone off with some cowboys--they
didn't know to what ranch. So I looked up every brand in that section,
Stephen," she went on, her voice beginning to break. "And I wrote to
every place that might by any possible chance know something. But nobody
knew. And--and--there I--I was stopped. You had been swallowed up in
that desert, and I--I knew you must be ill--and I realized that I--I had
sent you into it all." She sobbed and leaned her head against him. "I
couldn't do anything, Stephen. I was helpless. All I have been able to
do at any time, Stephen, was to--to sit at a window and wait--wait to
hear from you--wait for your return--and hope, hope day in and day out
that--that you were safe. I--I have--have suffered, Stephen," she
concluded, sobbing wretchedly now. "I have suffered--suffered so much!"

He drew her close in his arms, united at last in complete understanding.
The brown saddler, left free, wandered away indifferently; but Pat
remained beside them, and presently they felt the tender touch of his
beautiful head, as if in c