Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-06-28

SOid u little WlSlIuily.
did you have a busy day in the
shopT' 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
IL yer with. The suspense of be-
ing proposed TO was, she discovered,
most unpleasant.
1--WE enjoyed my visit to Denver"
he remarked. Its the first holiday
I've taken In three years. I'd like
to drive across the Divide"
Its interesting" she assented.
perhaps I'll come back next
spring."
All, now he was approaching his
subject. Cynthia sighed a little.
She wished he'd forego the prelim-
inaries and get to the most lmpor-
tant part of the interview.
But apparently he decided to at
tack from another angle.
Benny sent you his love in the
letter | got today, Cynthia"
He's a dear little boy" she an
swered warmly.
And then all at one Ben hurled
himself on to his subject. 'Benjy
needs a mother, Cynthia, and I 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.
mot now" she stammered.
"L-let ne get a 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. tt turned out that 1t was
April tenth and not May first that
was to be her wedding day. Also
IL seemed that Ben had taken a
chance on her accepting him taken
1t even before he left New York.
He took a little velvet box from his
pocket and with q tender smile
opened 1t and showed her the enor-
nous diamond within.
but what If I'd refused you,
Benz she asked.
I'D have flung 1t out of the train
window going home" he said. That
pleased her, but her approval was
short lived for he added thought
fully: Il might have saved 1t and
given 1t 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. I've exactly the
right opening for the boy"
Everything was settled, so Gym
thia raised her face dutlfully for
a goodnight 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 1t back In q
hundred rays of red and green.
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
dayi She thought not.
1t began with the sight of her
ring at breakfast. Tenny asked
her where she got 1t. Miss Mona
took her daughter into a fearful en-
brace, kissed Ben warmly. The Cap
tain 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 stupefactlon 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
congratulations to Ben we're ap-
parently sincere he wished the girl
every happiness In a voice that did
not tremble.
Had he thought the matter over
and decided to make the best of
1t? Cynthia caught herself up as
the implication of that thought
reached her. What reason had she
to believe that her engagement to
Ben Sutton or any other man mat
tered to Geoff save as a subject Of
friendly interest?
Its your abominable vanity
that's disappointed" she scolded
herself. He's probably delighted
at the Idea of your leaving Denver"
Wen, that was that. Everybody
In the house knew Of her engage
ment now, and everything was set
tied. Along about two o'clock last
night she had entertained some
foolish idea of saying something
sweet and comforting to Geoff, but
IL seemed that condolences weren't
In order.
The door-bell rang and two min
utes after she was reading the