The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-27
Chapter IA
BARBARA EXPLAINS
"VoU'LL go Marks way? won.
! der If you can tell me why?"

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."VoU'LL go Marks way? I won.
! der If you can tell me why?"
Barbara was tartled.
"But--" She gestured round the
room and the gesture was. to Far.
rell. pathetic. I'VE are to be mar.
ried," she said simply. Il thought
had told you."
"Oh yes. you told me! And ] know
you will tell me next that you are
going to marry because you love
each other. But what you feel for
Mark isn't love-"
she lay back In the chair. her
heavy lids closed, her hands ex.
haustedly upon her knees.
Someone else has told you so
already!" he exclaimed. And. as
she nodded-"Well. whoever it was
didn't make you seq sense. so I'm
going to. And rim adding this bit
of news-Mark doesn't love you"
"Ah but, you see" she said. I'm.
stirring. 'he does. He does love
me-"
II think not. A man who loves q
womau-Armitage took breath for
the brutality of it--"doesn't put OF
his wedding-day for a iaunt to
Town"
A culver ran through her and the
faint color that had crept into her
face. drained away again: but she
did not open her eyes.
"Has he-done that?"
Eyes. Next Thursday he's CONF
Ing to stay with me for bit. to
meet some people who may be Of
use to him. -. Don't pretend that
although it went against the grain.
he felt he owed 1t to you, or any
thing like that, because"
Il wasn't going to pretend. He
has postponed our marriage before
and not even for such good reason
as a Visit TO LONDON.
Bewildered. astonished, Armitage
could only give a quick laugh.
"All the same" she went on. cut.
ting into his excitement, The does
love me. | know 1t. beyond any
manner of doubt: In his own way.
he always has and--in his own way
he always will. AS for me. what
ever you call that feeling that ]
have for him. It's the strongest I've
ever known. The strongest. the
clearest. the most unchanging."
"Rot! It's nothing but habit Of
mind--a fixation. don't they call it2
IA childish misconceptions"
'No. didn't cultivate pity for
Mark because promised his father
I would. was able to promise be-
cause Of ny pity"
"Pityl Pity isn't love-"
with me. it is. And it isn't only
pity--it's-it's--there's sort Of
honor in being desperately needed.
/ fulfill q need in Mark"
He wheeled abruptly upon her.
Il want yen. Barbara Quentin. to
forget Mark for few minutes. and
think about me-"
She gave her faint. frank little
smile.
Il am thinking about you already.
/ was just going to ask you why
You invited Mark TO stay with you
on day which You knew was his
wedding-day."
He had hoped for this.
Because don't want you to
marry him on Thursday. Or at ALL"
Her smile vanished.
Il want you to marry me-" he
said.
Her heavy lids few open. She
struggled up In tina chair and he
put out a hand to draw her to her
feet. But she ignored II.
You aren't Joking" she said half
to herself. staring up at him.
NO. oh no. I'm not joking. rye
waited all my life for you and now
that-i've found you | don't feel .
bit like joking: hough I warn you
that may presently break into
song. NY dear. II you felt for
Lodeiy what You are capable OF feel
ing for the man ron love. I'd bow
myself out and wish you well-rd
DO more. I'd ransaek Europe for .
doctor who would make Ms2k walk.
I'd get his cleverness acknowledged.