Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-01-26
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER ".
Funny nothing. Cl0onan won't
think its funny when | tell her she's
finished running my house for me.
Funny nothing. Tomorrow's Sunday
ana I'm going to take you out in the
AFTERNOON and show you the place, and
Monday, instead of going to your bar
gain bin, we're going down for a
license, and you kiss the old hag good
by for me, too. Eth, howS that for one
days work."
Gee! Observation-Disclosures the ,;},ln,
opening and me not there. Jcl2.y. /!
cant get over me being Il lady IN my
own house. Me! Me that hates ugli-
ness and ugly clothes and ugly living
so. Me that hates street cars and al
ways even hated boat excursions cause
they was poor folks pleasures Me a
lady in my own house. Oh, jerry"
She quivered in his arms and he
kissed her again with his moist lips
pressed fiat against hers.
'Ten rooms, Peachy-that's the way
| dc things"
They were curving up a gravel way,
lights cleaned, and there came the re-
mOter strains of syncopated music.
She SAT up and brushed back her
hair.
rs this the place."
"Right-o! Now for that steak
smothered in mushrooms, and, CAD!
could manage a sweetbread salad on
the side if you asked me right hard"
They drew up in the flood-light of
the entrance.
Amt | told you not to open the
door for me, George? | don't need no
black hand reaching back here to turn
the handle for me. That don't make
up for bad driving. Black hands off"
Jerry"
They alighted with an uncramping
and unbending of limbs.
How'd some Lynnhavens taste to
you for starter, Peachy?"
Fine, whatever they are"
A liveried attendant bowed them up
the steps.
In the heart of a silence as deep as
bottomless pool, with the black hours
that uptOe on the heels OF midnight
Shrouding her like nuns wimple,
limbs trembling and her hands reluc-
tant, Sadie Barnet knocked lightly at
her door, once, twice thrice, and be-
tween each rap her heart beat with
twice its tempo against her breast.
Then her stCaithy hand turned the
white china knob and released it so
that it sprang backward with a click.
who's that?"
Me Dee Dee"
She could hear the plong of the bed
spring, the patter of bare feet across
the floor; feel the slight aperture of
the opening door. She oozed through
the slit
"All right, Dee Dee
God! must have been sound
asleep. What time is it?"
ut isn't late, Dee Dee"
Light the gas"
II can undress in the dark"
Light the gas"
Il"
Light it, l say"
IT'S lit, Dee Dee"
The figure in the center of the room.
in her high-neCked, long-sleeved night
dress. her sparse hair drawn with IN
pleasant tension from her brow. her
pale eyes wide. moved forward a step,
hn
the inStep, extended
"Lit?"
Dee Dee, what's the matter"
"Gimme-my glasses"
She took them from Miss Barnet's
trembling fingers and curved them
about her ears.
Quit your nonsense now and light the
gas. I amt in no humor for foolin'.
Quit waving that little spark in front
of me. Light the gas | amt going to
look at the clock. I'm done worrying
about your carryings-on. I'm done.
Light the gas, Sadie. there's a good
girl. Light the gas
Dee Dee My God Dee Dee. I
tell you it's lit-big."
There's good girl Sadie. Don't
fool your old aunt
See, dearie, amt fooling. See. the
gas-jet here beside the dresser. Look
can't turn it no higher. Hear it sing
and splutter. You amt awake good
yet. Dee Dee"
Silence-the ear-splitting silence that
all in its brief moment is crammed
with years and years upon years. A
cold gray wash seemed suddenly to
flow over Miss Worries face.
Put my finger next to the gas flame.
You-you're lying to me toto fool
your old aunt Lemme feel my finger
get burnt"
They moved, these two, across the
floor, their blanched faces straining
ahead, With the sudden sting of heat
finally across her palm, reddening it,
Miss Worte flung wide her arms and
bar hoa1 ho clyN-,,rI and h Az xyrino h0rr,