The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-29


met her yesterday afternoon and
proposed to her In the evening.
They were out all night"
"My dear Leila!"
"But they were! Arguing IKE
hell. She kept on wiping her shoes
on him and he kept on kissing them.
Or words to that effect. He didn't
come back to South-the- Water till
nearly breakfast. wish you'd seen
fathers facet" She threw a stone
at the creature in the pond. aI've
been roped in on Farrell's side--by
Farrell--and ! expect you win be-
too. That's one reason why I
thoaght you'd better know about It"
"Ah!" said the vicar. "Thank you.
But I'm not sure I am so easily
roped."
Ridiculous. infantile tears had
sprung to her eyes--and the old
man looked up and saw them.
Il feel rather like that myself"
he said IN bis quiet. indFawr voice.
My dear. dear boy. Some time
ago remember thinking that If he
and Barbara Quentin met he might
be attracted to her. Very powerfully
attracted remember thinking
what tragedy that would make OF
his life. -. It's very disheartening
TO think that I've preached fortituie
20 others ali these years and yet
now here I SIT without o shred of 1t.
s. l am dismayed at the thought
OF tragedy for my boy"
When you listen to him." re.
marked Leila. swallowing the petty
Jealousy, you're not so sure about
the tragedy part Of It. He's dead
sure he'll get her" She forced a
laugh. HE doesn't reckon on Mark.
"He doesn't reckon on Barbara"
The vicar stared down into Kings
Mallard: Leila stared down into the
pond. The sun was near the rim OF
cloud and there was q chilly little
winf. She got mp.
"Pm getting bored with your
pond. Let's wait indoors for Far.
rell."
"Yes. one does get bored with t."
agreed the vicar. not moving. "But
one cores back to it. And one gets
angry and frightened about it, but
still on comes back to Il. You'll
find that" He picked up his stick
again and stirred violently: then
leaned forward and watched the
miniature upheaval in the little
water world-the obseurity. the
cUmmotion. "What did You really
come to see me about7" he asked,
suddenly shrewd.
II wanted--1 suppose wanted
You to give me advice. Rut don,e
fancy you will"
II think have given you all the
advice ] can. Ha. there's little
sugary-face darling about again!
Do yOn want Farrell to marry
Barbara Quentin. knowing that she
doesp'. love him?"
"Wonidn't Il wipe cut ost OF my
Dr0blaanna'
mo. M dear Leila. it would not.
You have too nice a conscience for
that"
sVicar!"
i beg your pardon. I -orgot that
itie an insult to youth to tell II that
its spiritual fashions arc fashions
that have--come back. What 1
am trying to remind you of is that
even Il Farrell marries Barbara
even II you marry Mark"
Il can't talk about-that," she
muttered
The vicar swung round In his
seat and cooked piercing brigh;
eye up to hers.
@you win still have o do some.
thing" he concluded TRANQUILITY.
"about those nineteen whispering
shillings.n
She stood silent. A slim. unyield.
irg. t. l-sheathed figure. -. It
would 70 nice--in o way--to be
what be thought her. She looked
down no hillside and saw distant.
climbing car, Farrelrs Devalet.
She said hurriedly. as though Far
rell would stop her
He's butted IN on their wedding, &
anyway He told me Barbara had
agreed to postpone marrying Mark
Tor q ye.
when did she agree 10 this7"
Last aight.a
"Then think she must have
changed her mind. because only an
hour ago Mark Lodely was up here
asking me to marry then. at nine
O'Clock Eext Thursday morning in.
stead Of at twelve. as previously ar.
ranged. He said, II recollect that
he would be on his way to London
and y uldn't want to be kept walt
ing"
rBut Farrell told me that he'd
made Barbara promise"
7 don't think that any promise
win effectively separate two people
who genuinely intend to marry"
said the vicar. Personally. A shah
have my breakfast hair an hour
earlier on Thursday. { dislike being
hurried and nine Is certainly on the
early sida"
lCopFtsAs. 1888. Jsha cisff.Addams,