The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-05-19

stand.
Ben closed the library door care
fully behind him. He might just as
well have placed "No Admittance"
sign on it, she thought No one
would touch the handle of it until
Ben had received his answer.
She sat down decorously in the wing
chair though Ben eyed the sofa little
wistfully.
ibid you have a busy day at the
shop?" he asked.
"Very busy. The holiday trade is
getting into full swing. Next week
Wen have to keep open nights"
She wished he'd hurry and get it
over with. The suspense of being pro-
posed to was, she discovered, most
unpleasant.
"I've enjoyed my VISIT to Denver"
he remarked. 'tIt's the first holiday
I've taken in three years. I'd like to
drive across the Divide"
"It's interesting" she assented.
perhaps I'll come back next
spring."
All, now he was approaching his
subject. Cynthia sighed little. She
wished he'd forego the preliminaries
and get to the most important part
Of the interview.
But apparently he decided to attack
from another angle.
"Benjy sent you his love in the let
ter 1 got today, Cynthia"
"He's a dear little boy" she an
| swered warmly.
And then all at once Ben hurled
himself on to his subject. "Benjy
needs a mother, Cynthia, and need
a wife. Could you-could you give
me your answer tonight?"
After that things blurred for her. She
must have told Ben what he wanted
| to hear because he sprang from his
| seat and took her in his arms She
remembered that his lips felt very
queer on her own, that she turned
her head when he tried to kiss her
again.
"Not-now," she stammered. "L-let
me get little used to you, Benz"
They stayed in the library for hours,
| planning. At least Ben told her what
he had planned and she agreed. 1t
turned out that it was April tenth
and not May first that was to be her
wedding day. Also it seemed that
Ben had taken a chance on her &C
cepting him; taken it even before he
left New York. He took little vel
vet box from his pocket and with a
tender smile opened it and showed
her the enormous diamond within.
"But what if I'd refused you, Benz"
she asked.
I'D. have flung it out Of the train
window going home" he said. That
pleased her but her approval was
short lived for he added thoughtfully:
II might have saved it and given it
to Benny for his wife,"
Everything was decided when they
left the library. The gift shop was
to be sold at once. Cary and Flossie
were to come East directly after
Christmas. 1--WE exactly the right
opening for the boy"
Everything was settled, so Cynthia
raised her face lutifully for good
night kiss and went soberly to bed.
Geoff came in just as she reached
the top of the stairs. The light from
the upper hall caught the diamond on
her hand and threw it back in hun
draH Of nd
Cynthia carried Geoff's haggard face
into her room and 1t haunted her
dreams.
The next day-would Cynthia ever
live long enough to forget the next
day? She thought not
1t began with the sight of her ring
at breakfast. Tenny asked her where
she got it. Miss Mona took her daugh-
ter into a fearful embrace, kissed Ben
warmly. The Captain beamed like a
rising sun and pumped the fasteners
hand Cary looked more startled
than pleased and Flossie said nothing
at all.
Geoff-
To Cynthia's stupefaction Geoff was
quite cheerful this morning. 1t was
true that he looked as if he had not
slept, that he avoided her eyes when
he spoke to her; but his congratula-
tons to Ben were apparently sincere,
he wished the girl every happiness
in a voice which did not tremble.
Had he thought the matter over and
decided to make the best of It? Gym
thia caught herself up as the implica-
ton of that thought reached her.
What reason had she to believe that
her engagement to Ben Sutton or any
other man mattered to Geoff save as
a subject of friendly interest?
"Its your abominable vanity that's
disappointed" she scolded herself.
Hes probably delighted at the idea
of your leaving Denver"
Well, that was that. Everybody in
the house knew of her engagement
now, and everything was settled.
Along about two o'clock last night she
had entertained some foolish idea of
saying something sweet and comfort