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.’”