Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-09-14

life had changed during the pas
) "a hours.
She had ever forgotten that he
/, dressmaker was pressing for pay
ment-she had forgotten every
thing except that with every mo
ment the distance between he
and Mark Merriman was inereas
ing by hopeless miles. She tool
up the little handbag.
The letter was still there, care.
lessly doubled up as if it wa:
something of no Importance.
Sondra tore the flap open with.
out much interest. !.
What did it matter whether she
wore pretty gowns or not? There
was no longer anybody in town
whom she cared to please.
She flushed a little as she me-
chanically counted the crisp bank
notes.
One thousand dollars! she let
the money slip from her fingers
to the dressing-table.
Nobody would ever believe her
if she told them that in return
for such a gift she had given
nothing-would never give any,
thing; people would laugh if they
knew that moreover Anderson had
never asked anything of her
probably never would ask.
1t seemed an unusual sort of
neutrality-suspicious..
1t was so seldom that even q
very rich man gave generously
without hope of return.
Mark would be Mortified; Mark
would never understand. She could
imagine his indignation.
Some day he would come backl
and what then?
For the first time Sondra looked
honestly into the future and tried
to realize what life would be then
if ever-Mark came home.
She knew hat if he made mon
ey all would probably be well, but
if Motif he came back as he
went away-poor, without pros
pects-what would become of
them?
Could she face life in a sub
urban house-even with his love !?
She knew that she could not.
There was always John; John
would do anything for her-and
he would see to Marks future.
Influence meant so much nova
days; the thought comforted her.
Of course Mark would get on
he would make a position in the
world, and they would find happi-
ness together.
And in the meantime
1t was not yet "a hours since
they had said goodbye, and al
ready it seemed as if it was years
ago that she had stood on the pier
to hide from the world that
Mark meant anything more to her
than just an ordinary friend who
was going abroad.
Not yet "a hoursl and it might
five years before they met
Was it possible to still love q
nan passionately whom one had
lot seen for five years? People
hanged so, Mark might grow
stout or bald. she smiled in
Voluntarily at the thought.
Five years! Five summers, five
- five glorious springs,
md all without Mark. She was his
though they had lived to-
for only a few short hours;
he would still be his wife in five
ears time-even if he came back
tout and bald.
But Mark would come back as
gone away-keen, upright,
Ilert. :,
Sudden tears dimmed her eyes
she recalled his face; how hor- +,
ible Of her to have such thoughts
# him.
Flora came into the room un-
tremendously.
Not ready yet of course"
he said disagreeably. 1.-THE cars
vaiting-do hurry up. Here's a
wire for you-it came hours ago.,
| forgot about it," She flung J
he yellow envelope down on the
lressing-table beside A~nderson's !
'anknotes, her eyes narrowing as
he saw them, but she made no
omment.
will John Anderson be over
onight?" she asked.
II believe So"
you believe so? Don't you
'now? But | suppose it's stupid
o ask. He's always to be found
where you are. Why in Gods
lame doesn't he get rid of his
she demanded.
You'd better ask him." Sondra
aid.
Would you marry him-if he
vas free?" Flora asked.
mo"
why not?" Flora asked.
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