The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-09-19

 beside the bed. She wanted to think and the mellow light of the moon aided her and soothed her. After an. hour of watching the shadows in the yarr lengthen she realized that she was glad Stanley Black had come out of the night and kisser her. She was sure she needed more time to decide before marrying Dudley. Her rangy cow boy might ride on and never re- turn, thinking she was married but he would always be a very warm memory. Somehow she felt that he would appear again. Sev- eral times she grasped at the idea of trying to meet him and ask him to help her with her father. If he showed himself at Three Rivers she resolved to tell him her troubles.
 Across the hall she heard the door of Dudley's room scrape shut. She felt sorry for him because she felt that he really loved her. Then she spent another half hour won dering if it was so bad to marry a man you did not love if he were good and would be true.
 Finally she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. After an hour during which she tossed and turned she fell asleep without undressing. The next morning Dona appeared for breakfast looking fresh and attractive but with a defiant light in her eyes. She had made 8 deci- sion and she meant to stand by it. The set of her mouth indicated that Asper Delo was in for a real clash of wills. <,
 Dudley greeted her with grin He had made a decision himself Sleep soundly, princess? he hal.
 "As on bed of down, sir knight" she answered.
 They went in to breakfast and nothing was said about the affair of the night before. Dudley ate all the eggs and bacon he could held and would have had more if Dona had not stopped him.
 You have to break in by de- grees, Dud. This high air and the sun gave you a terrific appetite but you have to keep it down for a week or so."
 Tn a week we'll back on the sidewalks and can get in out of the sum-" he reminded her. "If have to subsist on steak and bacon and eggs I'm going to do a real job of it!" But he took her advice and topped off with second cup of black coffee.
 "A week?" Dona smiled archly. You are sure of yourself but you forget Dad"
 "Oh, we'll settle that today" Dudley assured her. He had made up his mind to handle Asper Delo if he had to rope him and stuff him into the rumble seat.
 "In that case we'll be back in couple of days"
 "You forget that we have agreed upon a honeymoon in the COW coun- try" Dudley smiled assuredly. We did-if-!" Dona met his eyes, and her own were wide and deep and told no secrets. Dudley applied himself to his cof- fee. "Why do folks on ranches use canned milk?" he grumbled as his cup.
 
 cows" Dona explained s."eetly.
  In the lobby Seth Dolby met them warmly. He noted at once that Dona had made decision that satisfied her and decided to wait until she approached him again be- fore he spoke. It was plain mo- ment later that she had taken him at his word and would not ask him for help. She stepped up to the old register and laid $10 bill on it. Seth Dolby pushed the money back. "Asper Delo's folks never pay board here, Miss Dona."
 Dudley started to insist but Dona folded the bill and returned 1t to her handbag. She knew the law of the west and it's rules of hospi- tality. If Seth Dolby had not re- buffed her the night before she would not have offered to pay. As it was she knew she would only