The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-09
PARADISE
DAWcON

&@J J0A HAAOAA u 49, S~@S y SoA 0NAN
titled sheep. meaning Give, In the
wilderness to como in search of this
little lost lamb. Dig down to fun
damentals. The trouble with our
marriage was money"
"The trouble with our marriage"
she corrected swiftly. twas that you
lured an innocent girl to share your
pig-sty of a past and spared with
her because she refused to sink to
your level"
IF I'd possessed money, you'd
have stuck with me" he insisted.
II might have She glanced
around the room. "Your willingness
to sponge on me didn't increase my
respect for you.
There's no more danger OF my
sponging on you" His chest swelled
q trifie. "Pm rich man"
"Not by your own efforts"
(Golly. he's pathetic, she thought.)
sDoes 1t matter by whose effort?"
he urged. But we were speaking
about Give. Your only chance Of
holding him is to present him with
squalling babies"
She turned.
"And II were to kick Give to
the devil. you'd give me romance?"
she suggested.
Let's" He pinched her arm.
"Eat your asparagus" she
squelched him.
He put down his wine glass,
empty.
"You have yet to persuade me
that my attentions are unwelcome.
AS to what you have said about the
life we led. that's granted. But
since then you've revealed qualities
which you kept hidden while we
were man and wife. rye seen you
tender, considerable. patient There's
no woman can drag the best out of
me the way you can. Santa"
"The other day you called me
faker."
"You are, but not consciously" he
pleaded. eYou don't appreciate the
maddening effect Of your sympa.
thy" He relied his glass. "Come
across. If I've discovered new quail.
tiles in you. haven't you discovered
In me more attractive qualities than
you'd suspected?"
His expression was tense. =
"All I've discovered. Dicky, are
the self-pity and evasions Of a small.
bad boy.
Her answer whipped him into
pride.
Heavens. how yoE women can
lie. During the past months you've
devoted more Of your waking hours
to me than to the man who figures
as your husband"
She felt that she had mastered
the situation.
Misplaced kindness"
He upset her with q question.
Have you told him about our
staxiFide?"
Lunch was ended. The restaurant
was emptying. Soon they would be
the last guests left. She began but
toning her gloves.
Il haven't. I didn't want to dis.
tress him."
Lying again. Santa. You didn't
want to distress yourself. You didn't
trust him enough to tell him."
In flash she was on her feet and
had placed the table between them.
Il trust him absolutely"
He made no attempt to delay her.
Refiling his glass, he looked up
casually.
you're mine. You daren't tell
Give that we're stilf meeting.
shall wear you down."
She stamped her foot.
He raised his glass.
Here's to our reunion"
Having reached the door, she
hesitated and came back.
I've endured you: now loathe
you"
He spoke without raising his
eyes.
"Youll need me. Hatred is akin
to love"
As Santa scurried through chill
February streets, she felt little and
threatened. She pieced together
the word-portrait which Dlcky had
her Of herself. She wasn't
Ike that ct all she protested: yet
al her conduct fitted perfectly to
construct such . portrait. Even
Give. when he was angry, had been
OF the same opinion as Dicky. After.
wards he'd gone the limit in twist.
Ing facts TO her advantage. IL had
sounded grand and comforting. But
what did he really think OF herr
fces,risAt Iosf-iss2. cs.isxsSy 1smss.I
* u Give syslio. tomorrow. unex-
peetedix makes Il impossible fer
Santa 20 tel shout plssSy's perssea.