The Lincoln times., 1945-11-29

let's, and she feels unwanted ant
terribly lonely. Then there is young
red-haired Rusty Randolph, a hous'
guest, whom she doesn't seem to like
She doesn't know why, either. Wiz
Mallory declares his love for Celis
and asks her to marry him. Celis
gives him to understand that she
will. Rusty is surprised when Wiz
tells him of the engagement.
CHAPTER TX
"Then how about setting a
date?" said Win. Tomorrow, may
be? Or next week, at the very lat
est"
"Oh, no." gasped Celia so sharp
ly that she felt instantly impelled
to apologize. 81 mean-well,
couldn't marry you, Win, until Aunt
Judith knows, and she's in Mexico
: and I'll have to write her."
"Why write? Why not tele-
graph? Or better still, telephone"
suggested Win quickly, frowning a
little.
II couldn't do that" said Celia,
So swiftly that Win looked at her
with a touch of displeasure. "You
--oh, darling, you must under
stand! Buzz and Mary Sue = well,
they were too busy-too busy to be
bothered with me when l was a
baby. Mary Sue wanted to travel
with Buzz and she couldn't take a
baby with her, and so they let Aunt
Judith adopt me. And she's-well,
she's my family. Until this sum-
mer Buzz and Mary Sue were al
most strangers to me. I don't think
even now they feel Pm more than
just house guest. But Aunt Ju-
dith would be hurt to death if /
didn't write and tell her all about
you; and of course she'll have to be
here for the wedding! just could
not marry anybody unless Aunt
Judith were here"
She Strengthened and turned a
little so she could face him, and
said earnestly, "She's lovely, Win.
You'll be crazy about her."
"The question is," said Win wry-
ly, twill she be crazy about me?"
"I'm sure she will be-" Celia as
sured him, and smiling shyly, she
added, II am"
They came back to the Bartlett
place at dusk, and when Rusty and
Susan had thanked Win for the
days fun and had vanished kitch-
onward with their catch, Win
looked down at Celia and then said
quietly, Hadn't We better break
the news to your mother and ia
ther? You see, Pm not taking any
chances. l want everybody to know!"
Buzz and Mary Sue were coming
up from the garden in the soft Sum-
mer twilight, moving slowly, smil-
ing at each other, hand in hand
like two tired, contented children.
Win, holding Celia's hand, drew
her with him to meet them, and
when Buzz and Mary Sue looked
up, surprised to see them, Win said
quietly, 81 thought You ought to be
the first to know that Celia and l
are going. to be married"
Mary Sue gasped and her blue
eyes widened.
Buzz said something under his
breath that sounded like-and was
--one Of his more lurid oaths.
Win waited, his eyes cold, look
about his mouth that displayed his
dislike for their hesitation.
Buzz said after a moment, care
you asking us-or telling us?"
"I asked Celia last night" stated
Win flatly. "I'm telling you'll"
There was unveiled hostility be-
tween the two men now, and Mary
Sue looked swiftly from one to the
other before she smiled shyly at
Celia and said, as politely as though
Celia had been merely a house
guest, 'tMy dear, I'm SO glad.
hope you'll both be very happy"
She offered a hand to Win, who
accepted it, then she turned to Buzz
and said eagerly, Wed better &c
in, darling. Pm sure they'd like
to be alone, and the garden is SC
lovely this time of the evening
especially for two people who are ir
love-"
She turned back anxiously t.
Celia, her brows drawn together ii
q frown, and asked anxiously, "Yo'
are in lobe, aren't you, Celia?"
: The swift color burned in Celia!
face, but she spoke very gently
"Of course, Ma Sue - why els'
would be marrying him?"
IT don't know" confessed Mary
Sue, sunless it would be becaus'
he is so terribly rich"
She broke off as Wins face tight
ened and his jaw set hard. She pu
out a placating hand and sal
eagerly, "Oh, don't mean tina
you aren't very good-looking an
enormously attractive and all that
Mr.. Mallory. I'm sure a grea
many women have been terribly !
love with you, and I'm sure Cell
is not different from other womer
It's only that - well, the though
just occurred to me that being ric
is nice and any normal girl woul
like rich husband. But Of cours'
I'm sure Celia would b in lov