Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-02-27
copyrEhs: ls>1 By News Syndicate Co.. Inc.
Patience Ceases to be
A Virtue When a Girl
Falls in Love.
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE

WV c-khnk UNI
To an outsider. no scene could have
been more peaceful. He would have
seen charming room, shaded lights,
great logs burning in the wide fire
place. and a young couple side by side
IN deep easy chairs. looking voorhees,
ly into the flames
But Edna Hall, watching her lover
from the corner Of an eye, was exper-
fencing again the fury Of revolt that
so often filled her soul at these mo-
ments. Hilary Ward was not one of
those strong, silent men one reads
about. He was chatty enough with
others. 1t was when he was alone
with her that he was often speeches..
He seemed to sink into a sort of
Nirvana Of content. 1t was so COM
plete that at times he had the effect
OF forgetting she was there. If she got
up and walked about however, he
was at once alert and attentive. He
closed windows to shut out imaginary
drafts. He FASTENED to put log on the
lire II one seemed necessary. He did
anything, indeed, that he thought
needed to be done: He prattled ami
ably as he did these things. When
she had resumed her seat he sank
back into what appeared to be a bliss
full brooding.
On one Of the numerous recent &C.
casions when this got on her nerves,
Edna had called his attention to it
almost sharply.
Hilary, what are you thinking
about?"
She remembered still his start of
surprise, followed by his sudden seri-
business.
"Oh, lot Of things" he said vague
~. principally you," he added with
his nice smile. She ignored both the
words and the smile.
Are you worrying about your work?"
Certainly not!" He stared at her.
What gave you that wild idea? NV
works going like silk through a shut
tie, and the chief is a prince"
The satisfied complacency with
which he always spoke of his work
was in his voice. She went on stead
lily. His question had offered a pos
sible chance to get at the root of his
new reserve.
1T doesn't seem to me a wild idea.
You've changed good deal this last
year. We used to have lovely talks. We
began them when we were both babies.
They've gone on all our lives. I'd like
to know what's back of your sudden
silence and reserve. You never talk to
me about your work any more"
But again he backed away from the
subject, nervously but determinedIy.
Il guess I talked about it too much.
My job keeps me talking pretty stead
lily all day, too. I suppose I'm a bit
dull In the evenings. Want a game
of gin rummy?"
mo. think I'll do little talking
myself want to tell you something
ok~oh
else in day or two" She drew a quick
breath and went on resolutely. Last
night Bob Learned asked me to marry
him.
Up till this moment she had not in
tended to tell him that. She could
hardly believe she was telling him
now. She was Mortified even as the
words fell from her lips. Still, it was
no betrayal of Bob. He himself had
made no secret of his feelings. He
had let all his friends know he was
in love with Edna Hall and meant to
marry her. But now Edna had no
thought Of Bob. Hilary had sprung to
his feet as If bomb had fallen in
the quiet room. He was staring at her
In stupefaction.
HE asked you to marry him!" he
brought out at last. What internal
nerve!"
Edna relaxed in her chair and called
her racing nerves to heel. She had not
meant to precipitate a situation as in
tense as this, but now she had done
so and perhaps it was just as we'll.
1t was time Hilary received a jolt
big one. She loved him and he knew
it. He knew it all too we'll, she re-
Elected bitterly. He was entirely too
sure of her.