He got no heart for yoh--me, I see that." He moved a step closer, hesitating, wanting yet not quite daring to touch her.

"Me, I lov' yoh, little Annie," he murmured.

"Yoh lov' me little bit, eh?
Jus' little bit! Jus' for say, 'Ramon, I go weeth yoh, I be yoh woman--'" Annie-Many-Ponies widened the distance between them.

"Why you not say wife ?" she queried suspiciously.
"Woman, wife, sweetheart--all same," he assured her with his voice like a caress.

"All words mean I lov' yoh jus' same.