The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-07
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XVII


 Ali tho way down town in the bus (she had Insisted on going aione), Susan marveled at the as- .tonishing thing that had just hap pened. It was true she did not like Ben very well. He was too moody. too unexpected. He did not, as Ray would have said, "know how to treat q girl" Ills manner was abrupt. Altogether he was an em- barrassing sort of suitor. Despite all this Susnn' felt hattered at his proposal. After all. 1t meant some thing! However gnwky or impos.. sible man might be, n proposal Of marriage nevertheless conferred a distinction upon the giri who re-
 "Not that I'm going about shout Ing Ben Lampman's asked mo to marry him." shc thought, half ashamed of these rather ignoble thoughts. Stiil she was pleased and was conscious of n half formulated plan to tell Ray about it In the skctchiest way possible. Even Ray might be impressed.
 At this stage in her reflections the bus reached the corner where she was to alight. Down town was curlously deserted in the early sum mer evening. She had only 16 min. utes to spare and the station was good eight blocks away. She hur- ricd. It would never do to be late when she was meeting Aunt Jessie BreathIess, she reached the big ter. ,ninal with a few moments to spare and stood outside the iron gates with q small group of stragglers as the train wheezed h..
 There she was! No, that wasn', Aunt Jessie, after all. Men and women came trailing through the gate. Clusters of family groups; n dappcr travelling salesman or two; last of all, briskB and efficient and scOlding the red cap who carried her baggage, was Aunt Jessie.
 She had not known she would be 50 glad to see Aunt Jessie. Susan felt an actual litle rush of painful emotion at this sight of her rela- tive. The lean, trim figure in It's slightly oid-fashioned suit, the dark hair strained back under the blue straw hat---these seemed dear and familiar to the girl.
 Forgotten for the moment were the old grievances as the two kissed and chung together.
 There was q suspicion of moisture in Aunt Jessie's eyes as she sur. vcyed her niece. q.
 1T declare you've got real thin." she worried. 'No telling how you've been eating since I've been away"
 Susan laughed and squeezed her arm. Tn an Instant they were back on the old footing. "You'd be surpriscd!" she said. "l,ose has cooked spinach and l baked potn- toes and the house Is so clean you won't know it."
 Aunt Jcssie sniffed incredulQusly They had reached tho main exit of the station and the youth carrying the baggage murmuring something about getting q taxi. Aunt Jessie fixed him with m intimidatinR
 "Nothing of the sort. young mani" she announced. You put my things on the street car right across the street and I'll be obliged to you" She gave him tip with the air of dowager duchess and SO bright and fierce was her gaze that ho did not dare 10 grumble a' the smallness of it. Susan watched this encounter. amused. When they were settled on the trolley. thu bulging bags disposed at their feet Aunt Jessie turned to her and sait chailengingly:
 Now tell me what you've beer doing while I've been away"
 Susan had to think quickly. Sh' wanted to be honest with her aun but there were. after all. some things she could not make heI understand. The episode Of tn, evening with Jack waring and Ra, frlannery, for Instance. Nothinf had happened--nothing. really. sh'