Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-02-21
y MlfM Jo(slMe MILLER

and knew it. and shs ID ns4 greedy
care % long - Daniels wa0 noar.
She wondered II be would VAN home
with her. and nurssd Q Jerk q panic
for fear be wouldn't. They had %
much to taIk over-so much had
happened 1t The mi0-and here The
small cold uncertainty that had tor
mented Lucy for days intruded
| again.
Had Daniels been a little odd at
the mill-a tribe on the defensive?
She hated harboring this measiness.
but it would not down.
''I'm an awful fool!" Lucy scorned
herself.
She made herself stop thinking
about it. made herself stop looking
At the backs Of his hands, lean and
slender and stained with chemicals.
His cuffs were very clean. He was
always clean, close-shaven, jaunty.
She tried to listen to the play. but
it was stupid and too sophisticated
for village audience, she decided.
Sally read gaily on. "Oh, listen
love this! Muriel says, Why do
we seem always to fall in love with
the wrong people? Why does love
60 laundering through the world,
Greg? Nothing else blunders-not
death nor trouble-they 60 straight
to the mark-but love gets itself lost
finds itself in strange places where
it was never meant to be- think
that's a gorgeous line. Why don't
we just decide on this play and
send the others back!"
Its 80 talky," Marian argued.
''Muriel is a good part but that
Pam-she's washy, think. Nobody
could make Pam appealing"
"You could. Especially IN this
scene with Greg"
"That weepy thing? You know
can't weep. And Pam b always
surrendering. Maybe English wom-
en- surrender 30 gracefully-but I
couldn't. And we haven't anyone
to play Greg"
"Why not ask that new man? He's
grand looking"
HE wouldn't be interested" Mar
ian said, aloofiy.
"You mean," Lucy was thinking,
''you wouldn't be interested in hav-
ing him."
The meeting ended at nine, after
some squabbling. with no decision
arrived at.
IT must Co." Sally said. 'Bill's
playing pool-he always loses and
he'll get bored and mad after an
hour of it. And we have such 4
CHASTITY long way to CO."
Lucy was nervous as she put the
plays back into the envelope. STAN
ley Daniels helped her on with her
coat, but he said nothing about walk
ing home. Instead, he crossed the
room and began talking to the 9TH
ers. Lucy's heart went down with
a sick thump, though she made an
effort at being gay as they all
went down the stairs together. At
the bottom she gave little shiver
and exclaimed, "Br-r-r! Cold. I'm
glad / haven't far to CO."
But Stanley Daniels had already
hurried away, with casual good
night.
Lucy walked home rapidly along
the dark little street. She had
walked it all her life, she knew ev-
cry bush, every post, every rut in
the cinder path, windows were light
ed and people up and about. but she
quickened her walk into a run. But
this was not from fear. It was not
fear that made her snatch the front
door open, throw her hat into a
chair, and rush to her own room.
She had to get there before misery
overwhelmed her.
Her purse fell on the floor as she
flung herself on the bed. Tears ran
down and soaked the pillow, and her
thin shoulders shook. Nothing was
any use! He didn't care-and who
could blame him? This awful house
her awful clothes-her colorless
personality. Even her voice was
pale and uninteresting. He was sick
Of her-she had flung herself at him
oh, she had! No use denying it.
A ragged sob tore past her lips.
whats the matter with your"
Her mother in her faded outing
nightgown and curriers' was at the
door.
Lucy burrowed deeper into the pill
low.
''Nothing's the matteri" she
walled. ''Everything's the matterl
Go away! Oh, for heavens sake, 10
away!"
Stanley Daniels walked rapidly.
He was definitely worried. He had
returned to his room at Mrs. ellis,
sitter the tense, upset day ut the
mill, to ind q note On the han t.
bic. Mrs. Gill drew his attention
TO It eagerly.
HE left It here about IN hour
ago. He said he'd come back. He
said he wanted to see you about
sevsn-thirty."
Daniels tors Tie cheap gray en-
velops open. A defensive, appre-