The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-04-20
By L. Nj. Bispham

her mind that as soon as she should
be mistress Of her share Of the oil that
had robbed her Of it, she would buy it
back. II she could.
He said: "You see it isn't Just a ranch
to me any more than it was to your
father. If you wanted to live on it it
would be different"
1T is different" she had countered.
"Only it's the other way round. I could
live here forever-if it were my lot
happily. But you? Some day something
inside you will make you 60 back to
your old world and face it."
Perhaps; some day." he had ad-
mitted. But not yet. I've learned all
the n I've got, here. II w I do
go back it will be because I've learned
It. Though" he had added, sardonic
eyes upon her, 'it's possible a trifle of
it may have to be acquired again 80.
when you 60"
She had looked up, meeting his glance
with family derisive, too comprehensive
eyes. II see," she said without m
phasis. Il may have your heart, and
your content -. but I may not have
your valley"
For a moment he simply stared at her
in a kind of wonder at her intrepidity.
"As for my heart and my content" he
said at last quietly, II cannot help
myself. But I al keep my valley"
while as for me-" she said lightly,
II may not even keep my valley!"
He let a long moment pass before
he remarked coldly. you don't mea
what that implies. And if you did :"
His voice thickened and he stopped, but
she went on smoking, looking at the
fire and not replying. And if you did"
he repeated and again stopped.
II hope you DON'T" he said at last
helplessly.
She had lifted hooking eyes. II Won
der if another man in love received his
lady's acquiesence so reluctantly"
But I haven't asked you anything"
he retorted quickly.
Because I've a lot of money and
you haven't. You don't love me much,
do you?"
Under the circumstances not enough,
I'm afraid" he admitted.
80 you are really going to keep
them all; my heart, and my content,
and -. my valley"
He let a moment pass before he re-
marked dryly. you've known me a
little over twenty-four hours"
(Which, after all" she pointed out
reasonably, lis as long as you've known
me. And I liked you rather better at
the start"
Eyes, but-how many men have told
you that you're lovelier than the aver
age? And it would be absured to
imagine you are unaware how well
endowed you are with that more potent
lure for vulnerable a and what
man could be more vulernable? Con-
slider that it's five years since I've had
a solitary contact with a woman of
my own particular social subspecies.
Even an old and ugly one"
She examined him deliberately with
hooking eyes. What about your own
endowments in the little matter of
looks and lure?"
"Ah, but you're going where lots of
men with both will love you, while I
shall be without a single counter ir-
ritant. Don't you think, all things con-
sidered, you might be gracious about
the valley? Especially a. you admit
you wouldn't spend much time in it,"
She stared at him curiously for a
moment. Il wonder if you still think
I'm only trying to get the valley?"
Because I haven't wallowed in the
bloody details of what it's going to be
like to let you go? That's like a wo-
man."
She. made a curious small gesture
with both hands. $50 you're willing to
give me wen that" she said.
A strangely unquiscent silence had
fallen between them when she ceased
to speak. A silence in which their
glances met and crossed and held, like
rapiers. How, he had caught himself
wondering, had they ever come to love
with, from the first moment, so much
antagonism between them?"
"All right" he said at last in a blank
voice, I'LL tell you then. I love you.
I love everything about. you. Your hair,
your eyes, your lips; your strong and
lovely slenderness. Your hands, that
for all their soft living remembered