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THE FIGH[TING SHEPHERDESS
She looked at him with grateful eyes, but shook her head.
" No, Hughie, there's nothing you can do for me." She caught her breath sharply and added, "Ex — except to go on liking me. It would break my heart if you went back on me, too."
" Kate ! "
"If you didn't like me any more — " She choked and the swift tears filled her eyes.
" Like you ! " impetuously. " I'd do more than like you if I never had seen you before to-night!" He dropped the bridle reins and laid a hand on either shoul- der, holding her at arms' length. " Your eyes are like stars! And your mouth looks so — sweet! And your hair is so soft and pretty when the wind blows it across your forehead and face like that ! I wish you could see yourself. You're beautiful in the moonlight, Kate ! "
"Beautiful?" incredulously. Then she laughed hap- pily, " Why, I'm not even pretty, Hughie."
" And what's more," he declared, " you're a wonder- ful girl — different — a fellow never gets tired of being with you."
" You are making up to me for what happened to- night! I nearly forget it when you tell me things like that."
" I didn't know how much I did care until they hurt you. I could have killed somebody if it wouldn't have made things worse for you."
"As much as that?" She looked at him wistfully. " You care as much as that? You see," she added slowly, " nobody's ever taken my part except Uncle Joe — not even my mother; and it seems — queer to think that any- body else likes me well enough to fight for me."
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