The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-20

keeps me out all day. every day."
"'Course we dol" returned Mrs.
Lodely heartily. "But Mark won't
nope for his shabby old mother
even IL he is left alone at home.
He'll make friends. Fill the house
with 'em. You'll come back to find
'em all smokin' and drinkin' and
talking"
"We, shan't be able to afford
very much hospitality Of that kind,
Judy. dear. Not at first, anyway"
"My dear gel. Mark naturally
won't spongeron you for things like
smokes and drinKs--he'll pay for
sem ont Of his own pocket"
"0h, | know" agreed barbara.
hurrieaiy.
"And in case OF emergency,
there's his legacy. the three hum
dred pounds from his Aunt Alice"
She pulled out smoke again and
laughed. funny to remember !
once paid that for a fur coat!"
"Poor judy" At once Barbara
was filed with the passion OF pity
that Mark and his mother could al.
ways arouse in her. Dear Judy.
life hasn't been fair to you'll"
"Oh. my dear gel. I'm not com.
plainin'! It's on You children that
pincEIiH' and serapfu' comes hard"
"0n Mark. yes. very hard. 1 can.
manage perfectly. But you'll see.
|I'll take good care OF Mark" She
made little grimace at the brio
.a.brac. Anyway. my rooms will
be barer than these. One advan.
tage Of not being able to afford
much furniture!"
look here, Babs, IL you don't
mind my sayin' SOL believe Mark
feels It a bit when you talk about
my rooms and my income and all
that. OF course In theory, there's
no earthly reason why a woman
shouldn't. make more money than
a man and spend It on both OF 'em.
but the way things win be with you
two. in an old cathedral city like
Toxeter-well, any man would feel
| II. Especially IL he's as sensitive
a. Mark. Markell. feel it oery
badly"
Barbara looked down into the
fire. No sense In arguing with
Judy on such q subject as this.
Instead
Il must be more careful" she
agreed lightly. and added-"I think
TN go UP to him. it's only Just
nine and he never sleeps before
midnight. does her
SHOT often. But & don't know
whether--he'r In wicked mood"
concluded Mrs Eodelx and this
time her laugh covered distinct
IiIl-ease.
"Poor Msrkl" said Barbara soft.
LIZ and left the room.
mrs Lodely listened to her foot.
tsteps on the stairs for, a. moment
and then, pitching away her ciga-
rette. sat down In the empty chair
by the fire and took her close
cropped grey head into her hands.
II was the attitude Of despair, the
pose OF defeat.
But when she moved slightly ana
showed her eyes to the fire and the
crowded room and the autumn eve
ming outside. they were not the
eyes Of the conquered. They were
absorbed. calculating, patient and.
withal, fundamentally stupid.
"once they're married" she
said aloud, checked herself with q
cautious glance round her. and fell
again into her reyerie.
Barbara, on her way to Mark.
turned aside into Judy's room to
borrow some powder and run q
comb through her hair. Also, TO.
brace herself against the moment
when Marks mood should turn its
cruelty upon her and exhaust itself
upon her -teadfastness.
She stood In front OF the long
glass and seriously studied herself
--face. figure. hands.
Her beauty was important to her
because Il was through her beauty
that she reached Mark. He might
be cruel but to her his cruelty
would always be the crying Of the
ailing child: she had other mem
cries Of him and while they ruled
he held her life Ia his thin hands.
She left Judy's room. signing n
little, and went lightly across the
landing. On this landing there was
. settee with the springs bullying
out. a grandfather clock that
wouldn't so and q bamboo plant
stand. Marks reom. however. was
tolerably clear
Mark. In pajamas and dressing.
gown. was lying on . couch near
the Gre. Barbara quietly took q
chair opposite him and then. fear
ing that the room was chilly, lifted
. log from II basket and put It
On. Il was :. thick Tor the small
grata and !. fell With . chatter hack
on 20 the tre-irons.
Mark laughed.
gcepprssAf, 1864. JHlsa Clstf. Aadaas,