The engineer found his prospect down by the river, perched on a great
rock which in the night looked as black as the black mica of Ytterby.
“I have come to return this certificate.”
“But I gave it to you.”
“So you did, and nothing could have been sweeter than the manner of it,
but your conscience was not satisfied. It seems to me that it ought to
be satisfied, for Asher Ferry intends to do with that land exactly what
your father advised. All you need worry about is my profits.”
“Can’t you get rich without my consent?”
“I cannot. For once the laws of a land company were drawn by a man who
respected the rights of the minority.”
“If you will come up here and lend me a pen, I can write on this stone.”
And so by starlight the document was signed. “Now what shall we do with
the profits?”
“I don’t know. What do rich people do with money?”
“They usually provide for their sons’ wives. How soon are you going to
marry Marvin?”
Jean took one last desperate look at her stars, and found enough courage
to answer,
“Never.”
“I am sorry to hear that, and my wife will be sorry, too. Don’t you care
for him?”
“I’d rather not answer that question.”
“Won’t you let me send him down here to plead his cause?”
“No. I don’t want to see him again, and in two or three years he will
forget all about me.”
“Two, or three?”
“Three. Ask him to come back in August, 1922, and bring his bride.”
“Very well. One thing more. Have you any objection to my seeding the
land over by the creek and putting a few sheep in there?”
“That will be lovely, Mr. Mahan.”