Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-11-21

case histories. She's only IL years older
than I am. but she treats me as II
she were my mother"
Win brought the car to a stop, for
now they had come alongside the
smoothly terraced lawn where the iron
dogs stood constantly at gaze.
He leaned and raised her fingers to
his lips. "One of these days, Molly,
I'm going to ask you to marry me.
I want you to have time to think
about it. In our family. marriage
lasts"
"I-really. VIM" Molly caught her
breath. Security-a great house and
grounds-no more moving from pillar
to post. no more dull little abodes
where a crisp curtain gladdened your
heart instead of taffeta Grapes!
Don't answer me now, Molly" he
said gently, and STOPPING, lightly
kissed her.
She looked, strangely touched, into
moonlight. She would not have be-
lieved that anyone could be so old
fashioned. so-controlled.
How would you like to come to
dinner at our house on Saturday night
lily llc dohCO, ou0-
denly Strengthening.
I'D love to, VIM"
Wear your black chiffon dinner
dress, will you?" he suggested. Lucia
always has green or yellow candles on
the table. and they look well with
black"
Molly laughed. If you wish It,"
He smiled down at her with pro-
prietary pleasure, and started the mo-
tor. Lucia will show you over the
house. expect. She always does. She
takes great pride in it. want you
to notice the east wing, especially
That part Of the house will be mine,
when"
He reached for her hand and gave
1t tender squeeze. A faint disquiet
crept into Molly's mind. but she said
nothing.
by the way, dear" he bethought
himself ruefully, II forgot to tell you!
Dad Is sending me to Chicago for a
couple Of days. I'll be leaving on the
$50 tomorrow morning. III phone you
on Friday. the minute get back, and
we'll get together for an hour or so
somehow. Saturdays the big
night"
At her door. she suggested that it
was too late for him to come In, and
he kissed her lightly and said good
night.
She hurried into the house. In the
living room, her mother was holding
stepladder while her father, bal
ancing precariously, adjusted light
ing fixture in the center of the cell
ing.
Her mother looked around. "Well,
dear, did you have good time?"
Lovely"
She had meant to tell them the
wedding date was all but set, but she
thought better of it, and went upstairs
to bed
Thursday morning-and Jay Geof-
frey waiting for her at the alley en-
trance! Treachery in her own camp
she knew it. Her father must have
told him about her sneaking out the
back way.
THE junkman and old St. Vitus-
both painting with desire to be Of
service" Jay said. opening the door
for her.
There was nothing she could do
about it but get in, listen to his proud
account of the raise in salary he had
come by the day before, and the hope
that he might soon be sent to the
coast to spend some time in the COM
pany's western plants. She sat and
listened, but studiously kept her eyes
away from his strong and homely pro-
file, and the sweep of his red-brown
lashes.
so it's like this" he remarked
finally, when evening descends,
shall gather you up in my strong
arms and hoist you to a movie at
the Alhambra. We've got to celebrate.
I don't know what the picture is, but
I do know I want you beside me. Yes?"
Molly sighed. Why not? Have it over
and done with! 1t would give her an
opportunity to tell him about Win
Ponsford, anyhow.
But it was not until they were driv-
ing home from the movie, in jays
rheumatic car, that she was able to
say anything about Win.
There was a moon, but it had a
ragged, frayed edge tonight, as if
well, as if 1t had moved! Now, she
thought, was the time to tell Jay that
an understanding existed between her
and Win Ponsford.
But before she could open her mouth,
he said, "Look-when I talk so much,
it's because I'm trying to hide some
thing The first time I saw you, I
went into an act because didn't want
you to know how-how lovely thought
you were. See?"
Molly looked straight ahead, and
saw under street light the elderly
snout of jays car. Her heart was 60
ing faster than the car ever could.
She said, And all I could see at
that moment was your wild red hair
and the freckles on your arms"
Her confession was mistake. She
knew that Immediately. For Jay
stopped his car-much faster than he
could start it-seized her in his arms,
and kissed her so that she saw bril-
liant small stars raining through a
hot darkness. It was moments before
she recollected herself sufficiently to
straighten up.
"Jay-Jay Geoffrey!" she breathed.
you shouldn't have done that. I
shouldn't have let you. I'm going
tn marry Win PonSf0rd"