The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-06-22

rose and went to the closet, swinging
| open Its doors There was the black
chiffon with the transparent pink
frills at the neck and the small
/ pulled sleeves. She had picked that
dress UP for a song and hadn't she
had good time In It She wore 1t
to the LeIghtons' dinner for the New
York novelist It turned out Ben
knew him and they chatted cordially
OF night clubs and the Beaux Arts
| party, and the famous British actress
whom they had both met-Cynthla
had been thrilled with Ben that night.
There was the sapphire blue velyet
| she had worn to Lita Vendors tea.
| All her old crowd was there and they
| focked about her, asking interested
| questions about her attractive guest,
| reproducing her for her long seclusion,
| planning festivities for the future.
Cynthia had not known how hungry
| she had been for Just this sort of
thing until she was back In the modi-
fed social WhIrl to which she had
| been born.
She stroked the mink collar of the
new coat. II she married Ben In the
spring by next winter she would prob
ably have sable coat Stables had
been one OF her dreams. Expensive
furs might be trlfle vulgar but they
were 30 gorgeous
And 1t isn't all selfshness,n she
Quleted her conscience. Its partly
for Miss Mona and the Captain--and a
lot, oh, very great deal for Ben him
self. He needs me. Benny needs me-
It's awful for little boy to grew up
without any mother.@He and Tenny
would make the incest playmates for
each other-regular brother and sis
ter. And If" But that sentence she
could not finish even In her own
thoughts. She could imagine Ben
Sutton al an amiable husband, az a
devoted son to Miss Mona and the
Captain, a. father to Benny and
Tenny. She could not 20 any farther.
She must make up her mind. Ben
would leave day after next and she
knew that he meant to ask her to
settle the matter, one way or an
other, before he went. She even
knew when he meant to ask her.
Ben had an orderly mind. His de-
sire to plan everything beforehand
and then stick to the last detail OF his
planning was the only unyouthful
thing about him, Cynthia thought.
II he had known 1t, this trait an
noyed Cynthia. She had a chllds
love Of the unexpected. The necessary
routine Of tho shop had accumulated
instead Of destroying this love- Sew
eral times she and her eastern sutton
had clashed politely over some en-
gagement she wished to change and to
which he adhered with strict punctu-
ality.
Shs would not admit that Ahe con-
trasted this characteristic OF Ban's
with Geofrs gay: Lets throw over
whatever plans we've made for today
and do something else How about
driving to Colorado Springs and hay
Ing dinner thers7 I feel like calebrat-
ing"
But what'll we celebrater Tenny
always asked.
Gsofr's inexhaustlble supply of ex-
cuses for fsstiylty delighted her.
why, today we'll celsbrate-wsll
ceiebrate-of course how could be
50 for1etfull Wen celebrate It's be-
Ing the day after Saturday and the
day before Monday" Or 1t might be
There was great man born today,
Tenny. I don't know just who he
was but ask you II It's fair his birth
day should 90 unobserved just be.
cause OF, my ignorance?"
Cynthia loved these impromptu par
ties almost as we'll as Tenny did.
They offered just the relaxation, the
kind OF foolishness she needed after
her weeks grind In the shop.
But Ben Sutton was Mortified at such
frivolous doings. Sorry, but Gym
thia and I have other plans" he
would say.
So on this evening after dinner. He
had asked Cynthia very formally that
morning II he might see her alone In
tho library. She assented, squirming
a little inwardly. 1t savored too much
Of rite, this premeditated interview.
Why couldn't he have asked her last
night In the cafs-c6ming home from
the dance1 Why couldn't he have
slipped an arm about her and said,
ofrhandedly: Ready to give me my
answer, Cynthia? How about May
first for a wedding day?'
No, Ben didn't do things that way
Instead he held the library door open
to let her pass In self-consclously be
fore him, knowing that Tenny's In
quisitive gaze followed them, knowing
that Geoff had dashed up the stairs
la frantic haste, that Cary was smil
Ing significantly at his Baby. Miss
Nona-oh, this was the worst Miss