Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-11-15
CHAPTER TX

The next morning when she was
assembling the laundry. Annie came
to Megan carrying shirt Of Jim's
and held it out, saying in that color
less voice, "Do wash dis one, Miss
Meggie?"
Megan looked at the shirt, puzzled.
And then she saw the unmistakable
signs of lpstick on the collar! That
OF course, had been the reason An
ME had brought the shirt to her
SO that she might see the ipstick
mark!
Megan drew a breath and said
quietly, "Of course, Annie-what a
silly question:"
Megan sat quietly, her hands
clenched in her lap. But after all
there was surely no reason why her
father should not see Alicia Steven
son, if he liked-even to the extent
of getting her lipstick on his shirt
collar Alicia was a widow, Jim
widower.
But that night when Annie and
Amos had departed for their own
two-room cabin at the back of the
barn, and Megan and her father
were alone in the house, Megan said
quietly, II understand, Dad, that
you've been seeing a lot of Mrs.
Stevenson"
Jim looked up at her from his
newspaper, and his eyes darkened
with anger. Have you any objec-
tions?" he demanded CURLY.
"None at ALL" she answered him
evenly. cts just that I was little
surprised, that's ALTO hear thing
Like that from the neighbors, instead
of from you"
"a thing like WHAT" Jim's anger
had deepened. "You sound as
though I'd been conducting an-er
affair with very charming and
pleasant woman"
II know nothing about it, except
that-it seems people are talking"
pheasant Grove people? Do you
think I give a darn what the-scum
In this place talk about?"
"They are my friends" she point
ed out.
That's your own fault" he re-
minded her. "You don't have to
live in this-this hick holel You
had a chance to get out of it"
We're getting away from the
subject, don't you Think"
IF you're prying, trying to find
out about my intentions towards
Mrs. Stevenson" Jim said distinct
ly, little malicious light in his eyes,
II have no objection to telling you
the truth. I hope to marry Mrs.
Stevenson-as soon as l can per-
suade her! She's selling her place,
and think we can make her hap
py here, don't your"
"You would bring her-here?"
Megan gasped, appalled,.
Jim's eyebrows went UP in pre-
tended surprise, though his eyes
laughed at her.
"And where else would a man
take his wife, if not to his own
homer" he asked. "You aren't for
getting that it is my own home
quite as much as it is yours?"
Megan sat very still, stunned with
the unexpectedness of the blow.
"Of course" Jim went on after
a moment, when Matthews was
so sure he could get seven thousand
for this place, Alicia and planned
to keep her place and live there,
because her place won't bring over
two or three thousand. But when
you decided not to sell-well, Alicia
gave the listing of hers to Matthews,
and we feel sure that we can all
be quite cozy here together"
Megan drew a hard breath. "You
know that wouldn't work out, Dad"
she said
II can't see why not! There is
surely ample room-four big bed
rooms upstairs, five rooms down.
stairs-why, there's room enough
here for half a dozen people"
If there were forty rooms, there
wouldn't be enough room under one
roof for Alicia Stevenson and me
both!" Megan told him rashly.
81 think you're taking very un-
reasonable attitude, my DEAR" said
her father gently, malice twinkling
in his eyes. AFTER all, having Alicia
here will make things much easier
for you. She will take over the
Management of the house, while you
can give all your time to your be-
loved farming! think it will be a
very good arrangement, all around"
Its an impossible arrangement
and you know it," Megan told him
hotly.
He shrugged ever so slightly and
said gently, "Oh, well, if you are
going to take that attitude He
pretended to lose interest, but Megan
knew that he was alert, that he was
waiting tensely for her answer.
II know why you are doing this,
Father" she said at last, one of the
few times in her life calling him
Father" instead of the more en-
dearing Dad" "You think you will