Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-01-03
CHAPTER VI-Continued

Lucy walked on air Oh, this was
iving-this was being young! Going
out, meeting young people, having
fun.
They passed the mill and the sui
phurous reek settled like cloud
over them. Daniels said, Have /
smelled something like that before?
Is it roses, do you Think"
Lucy giggled with delight. II new
er notice it any more. l went away
to business college for while and
when came back it seemed dread
full, but since work in it think
If the mill shut down I'd miss it.
Probably 1 wouldn't be able to
breathe at ALL"
Like David Morgan. You've
heard that story, I suppose?"
Lucy had heard the story of the
night the pipe froze and David Nor
gan leaped up and was halfway to
town in three minutes, pulling on
his clothes as he ran. It was a clas-
sic in the town, but she said naive
y, "Oh, no. What happened?"
''Too bad Morgan died." Daniels
remarked when he had related the
old tale. "That mill needs a man.
Not that Mrs. Morgan isn't a grand
woman, of course. But any bust
ness needs a man."
Lucy gasped little, because here
was the opening she needed, the
chance to talk over what was both
ering her mind. Now she could
say, "Oh, but there will be a man.
Mr.. Branford Wills" But somehow
she could not say it. She sensed
that Stanley Daniels was not going
to like the news when he heard it;
that he would stiffen and grow
thoughtful and remote, that this
lovely evening would be spoiled. So
she kept silent though the silence
troubled her. Keeping anything
from Daniels was like cheating to
her naively honest mind. And there
was, deep in her mind, a traitorous
small tingle of excitement that she
would not have admitted even to
herself.
Having young man in the mill
some one new and enthusiastic and
impatient-was going to be some
thing of thrill. Lucy glowed lit
tie with this idea as she went up
the cold, clacking stairs to the lodge
room. And there the drabness of
reality chilled her again as Marian
Morgan, brisk and assured, said,
'Hello. Lucy" in the same old tone
of kind Indifference.
Instantly Lucy was Just Lucy
Fields again. Lucy Fields who lived
in the shabby house at the end of a
shabby street, who had a dreary
time of it, supporting her mother.
Marian said, "Sit down. You know
all these people, Lucy?"
And Lucy murmured, "Oh, yes"
and settled herself for an evening
Of pure torment.
Sally Gallup, wife of young Bill
who ran the power-plant over the
mountain, was there, brisk and so
phisticated and wearing the little
air Of personal triumph that young
married women fiaunt for the ex-
press torture of spinsters. Sally an
nounced that under no circum-
stances would she agree to be a
leading lady.
sit spoils the illusion for the audi
ence, knowing that the heroine is
really the wife of perfectly solid
husband. l can't enjoy some of my
favorite movie stars any more,
knowing they're probably worrying
about Juniors tonsils while they're
making love in the play. You'll
have to be the heroine, Marian.
Gould you play the male lead, Mr..
Daniels, II we find the right play?"
''Tve never tried acting" Dan
iels hesitated, but obviously, Lucy
saw. he was pleased.
you've such a grand voice-and
ysa're tal1," Sally Gallup continued
{. eHervesce. 'sYou'd make . won
4eR1ul actor"
Marian Morgan said nothing. "She
Usn1s Ky Hutton for the lead"
Ley ~ thin1king, ''and the others
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