Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-06-28
CHAPTER X
Ben Sutton Proposes.


TO do, of course, she assured her.
self. Here was a charming man.
who adored her, who asked nothing
better than to transport her entire
family to his home and spend the
rest of his life making everybody
happy.
Christmas was almost upon them.
Ben would go home for Christmas
because of Benny, his little son.
And after Christmas.
Sidewalks coated with ice, or
swimming In slush." the girl thought.
Months and months till spring.
Debts. Cary losing his job again
probably. FlossIe settling down
here for the rest of her life. The
housekeeping. Oh, mel / just can't
face III"
She was in her own room and
she rose and went to the closet,
swinging open its doors. There was
the black chiffon with the trans
parent pink frills at the neck and
the small pulled sleeves. She had
picked that dress up for a song
and hadn't she had q good time
In It'll She wore it to the Leigh
tons dinner for the New York nov
elist. 1t 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-Cynthia had
beer thrilled with Ben that night.
She stroked the mink collar Of a
new coat. If she married Ben in
the spring by next winter she would
probably have a sable coat. Sables
had been one of her dreams. Ex-
pensive furs might be a trifie vul-
gar, but they were so gorgeousl
And 1t isn't all selfshness," she
Vuieted her conscience. Its partly
yor Miss Mona and the Captain
and a lot, oh, a great deal for Ben
himself. He needs me. Benny needs
me. It's awful for a little boy to
grow up without any mother. He
and Tenny would make the incest
playmates for each other-regular
brother and sister. And if" But
That sentence she could not finish
.fven In her own thoughts. She
tfould imagine Ben Sutton as an
amiable husband, as a devoted son
to Miss Mona and the Captain, as
a father to Benny and Tenny. She
could go no 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
dis planning was the, only IN
youthful thing about him, Cynthia
thought.
If he had known 1t, this trait an
noyed Cynthia. She had a chlld's
love Of the unexpected. The neces-
sary routine Of the shop had ac-
centuated instead of destroying this
love. Several times she and her
eastern sutton had clashed politely
over some engagement she wished
10 change and to which he adhered
with strict punctuality.
She would not admit that she con-
trasted this characteristic of Ben's
with Geoff's gay: Lets throw v e
whatever plans we've made for to-
day and do something elsel How
about driving to Colorado Springs
and having dinner there? | feel like
celebrating"
Cynthia loved these impromptu
parties. They offered just the re-
Taxation, the kind of f~oolishness she
needed after her weeks grind in the
shop.
But Ben Sutton was Mortified at
such frivolous things. Sorry, but
Cynthia and ] have other plans" he
would say.
SO on this evening after dinner.
He had asked Cynthia very formally
that morning If she might see him
alone In the library. She assented,
squirming a little inwardly. 1t sa-
vored so much of a rite, this pre-
meditated interview. Why couldn't
he have asked her last night in the
car, coming home from the dance?
Why couldn't he have slipped an
arm about her and said, offhanded-
B: Ready to give me my answer,
Cynthia7 How about May first for
q wedding day."
No, Ben didn't do things that
way. Instead he held the library
door open to let her pass In self
consciously before him, knowing
that Tenny's inquisitive gaze fol-
lowed them, knowing that Geoff
had dashed up the stairs In frantic
haste, that Cary was smiling signih-
rantly at his Baby, Miss Nona-oh,
this was the worstl Miss Mona
had kissed her daughter In the hall
and whispered something that Gym
thia was too confused to under
stand.
Ben closed the library door care
fully behind him. He might Just as
well have placed a mo Admittance''
sign on 1t, she thought. No one
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