Page:B M Bower - Heritage of the Sioux.djvu/72

THE HERITAGE OF THE SIOUX Annie-Many-Poniefl 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, Now yoh say yoh lov' me, say yoh go weeth me, I be one happy man. I go back on camp and my heart she's singing lov'-song. My girl weeth eyes that shine so bright, she lov' me moch as I lov' her. That what my heart she sing. Yoh not be so cruel like stone—yoh say, 'Ramon, I lov' yoh.' Jus' like that! So easy to say!"

"Not easy," she denied, moved to save her freedom yet a while longer. "I say them words, then I—then I not be same girl like now. Maybe much troubles come. Maybe much happy—I dunno. Lots time I see plenty trouble come for girl that say them words for man. Some time plenty happy—I think trouble comes most many times. I think Wagalexa Conka he be awful mad. I not like for hims be mad."

"Now you make me mad—Ramon what loves yoh! Yoh like for Ramon be mad, perhaps? 60