Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-11-08
CHAPTER VIII

CiOWHeu lne very Top OF Ine NIL.
Megan sat down and Laurence fol-
lowed her to the rock. They sat close
together for a moment, looking out
over the scene spread below them.
Megan knew the thought that was
In his mind, and she tried hard to
marshal all her arguments so that
he could understand; but when he
turned his head and looked at her,
and smiled, he said quietly, 81 can't
say I blame you for not being will
ing to give all this up! We are 60
Ing to be very happy here"
Megan felt as though she had TAX
en- step in the dark and plunged
headlong into space. She could only
stare at him, wide-eyed, her mouth
open a little. Laurence laughed and
leaned forward and kissed her.
"Did you think, darling, that I've
known you almost your whole life
and been in love with you since I
was fifteen, and didn't know what
your own land meant to your" he
asked her quietly. II admit that I
was fool enough to hope, for just
a little while, that you loved me
enough to be happy in Meaders-
vile. But when you telephoned me
In alarm because you had been Of
fered what we both know is a very
generous price for the land, and
you didn't want to take it-wen, I
faced facts then and got busy to see
about just what could be done. Be-
cause make no mistake about it,
my love-you're going to marry me,
whether we live in Meadersville or
Pleasant Grove!"
There were quick tears in her
eyes, but she smiled TREMENDOUSLY.
THANK you for understanding,
Larry" she told him huskily. Its
"a tremendous relief"
Laurence frowned as though not
quite sure that he liked that.
"You mean you didn't think I
would understand" he protested.
well, for Pete's sake, why not? Aft
er all, we've grown up together.
These last years since your mother
died, I've watched you fighting
drouth and flood and hail, boil wee
vii and corn borer and blue mold
and chinch bug-when it would
have been so much easier to give
up and sell out. Don't you suppose
during those years, I've come to un-
derstand what the place means to
you? And to be frank with you
I'm kind of fond of the old place my
self! Never having owned a square
foot of real estate in my life, hav-
ing grown up on Sharecropper'
place-the thought of becoming a
landowner-in partnership, anyway
seems pretty SWELL"
He grinned at her and said hastily,
mot of course that I want you to
get the idea that I'm merely mar
rying you for your farm-perish the
thought! I'D marry you if you didn't
have foot of land!"
She laughed and let him kiss her.
And at first, that seemed quite sat-
isfactory to Laurence; but after a
little he let her 60, and sat looking
down at the rich dark earth, where
his heel was absently digging a
hole.
Then you're not in love with me,
after ALL he said quietly, and there
was note in his voice that caught
at her heart.
She stared at him, blinking in
amaZement.
what in the world-why do
you" she Stammered.
"Tm not exactly blind fool, Meg
gie," he said evenly. II admit l
don't know heck of a lot about
women; but l do know that when a
girl is in love, she is not only kissed
but kisses, in return"
The color burned in Megan's face,
but her eyes met his straightly.
'T-kissed you, Larry" she. told
him unsteadily.
He shook his head.
"You let me kiss you, Meggie,"
he returned. There's a big differ
ence."
There was silence, and then she
said unevenly, "Im-sorry, dear"
there's nothing for you to be
sorry about, Meggie. If you don't
love me, you don't, and It's plain
that you don't" His voice sounded
tired.
I'm-very fond of you, Larry"
Megan said quietly.
Thanks, Meggie," he answered
quietly. but I'm afraid that's not
quite enough"
And then, taking her breath away
by the unexpectedness of it, he
asked, SIS there someone else,
Meggie?"
Wide-eyed, she met his glance.
"But-how could there be some-
one else?" she protested.
"I'm asking you," he reminded
her.
"It's-it's crazy question. Larry