I loathe the word. From this day
forward--ours! I have had the ranch homesteaded, little wife. It
belongs to us both now. I owed you so much that I could never repay in
cash--and I couldn't speak about it until I had the right--and now that
Bill Conway has taken up all of his promissory notes to you, and his
suit against your father has been dismissed and we've all smoked the
pipe of peace, I've come to the conclusion that I cannot keep a secret
any longer. Oh, my dear, my dear, you loved me so you wouldn't let
them hurt me, would you?"

She was holding his hand in both of hers and she bent now and kissed
the old red scar in the old tender, adoring way; but said nothing. So
he was moved to query:

"And you, little wife--what are you thinking of now?"

"I was thinking, my husband, of the words of Ruth: entreat me not to
leave thee, and to return from following after thee: for whither thou
goest I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall
be my people and thy God my God. Where thou diest will I die, and
there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught
but death part thee and me.'"

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