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,

[[288]]

p287 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p288w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p289

v?