The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-20
Chapter 5


LEILA MAKES A BARGAIN
THERE me family through the
= house tie sound of a door being
opened and shut. Leila snatched
up an ermine wrap.
Lets become unavoidably az.
sent" she suggested. hurriedly un.
latching French window. "And
you'd better leave tomorrow, don't
you think? Father hasn't quite the
stamina to relinuuish the son.fn.
law Of his prayers without making
a grievance Of It."
Armitage followed her into the
garden. 1t lay dark and aromatic
against its fringe OF frs and the
autumn chill-that last bitter-sweet
breath OF following leaf and lead
fiower-stirred Leila's black hair
and made play with her fantastic
fringes.
In any case" she threw at him
as they turned In the direction o.
the garage. Il doE't imagine thai
you'll want to stay on If It's true
that Barbara and Mark are to mar
ry on Thursday"
"But she mustn't marry Lodeiy
on Thursday-or ever. want heI
TO marry me-"
Wanting her won't mean getting
herl"
i've generally got what | want
ed, provided rye worked for it."
You're mad. my dear. Million
airing has turned your head. You've
bought so much-so many emeralds
for so man. women - that you
think you can buy Barbara"
"Going to help me?'
She regarded him through the
heavy shadows.
"D'you feel sure you'n get You
emerald's WORTH
That's cheap ard nasty OF you
Leila. You KIN W we'll enough why
I'D like to give you something you
care about"
She walked on. He had to keeI
close to her SHOULDER to hear bel
words.
"All right. I'll help you fail
Don't hate me afterwards, though
And don't forget the emerald.s
We've a good deal to- be thank
full for" pronounced Mrs. Lodely
Apart from the shakin.. Marks
none the worse Exceptin' IN bis
temper" she added. with the laugh
so familiar to Barbara that 1t was
the first thing she expected from
Marks mother.
Neither Barbara, In her chair BY
the fire. nor Mrs. Lodely. coming
forward to bestride ,the hearth II
her mannish way, were big women
but they gave the appearance Of
filling the sitting room Of Kings
Barn. The reason lay In the room
There were q great many small
tables and large chairs in every
corner and on every ledge stood
bric-a-brac. and the over-fowered
wallpaper was piastered with wa
ter-colors Of NO merit or interest
whatsoever. When Mrs. Lodely
moved an arm to take her ciga,
rette-case out or her pocket. she
did 1t gingeriy. Even so. china
ornament on tho mantel-shelf rat,
tied and slipped dangerously near
the edge.
Barbara smiled. but II was duti.
ful smile. She had neYer--In eli
the years OF her love and pity FOR
Mark--she had never quite made an
her mind about Marks mother.
Sometimes she liked her immense.
ly. Sometimes-no. It was indie.
Unable Mrs. L.odely couldn't. after
al. help her loud. frequent laugh
and her eve. .astlng tweeds and the
drawl that had been 'the thing
when she rode to hounds In her
girlhood. She couldn't help these
things-and on the other side or the
medal. there was her unfaltsring
courage in facing poverty and lone.
illness and Mark.
you'll come and stay with Us IN
Toxeter as soon as ever you cang''
she asked.
"You betl Ny only chance or
gettin' away from this hole! What
about christmasI r.
"oh. before then. Judy. please."
III come at Christmas shall
only DO givin. you a couple OF
months to yourselves. short
enough
-why pretend that we shall De
the average. conventional honey.
mooners9~ demanded Barbara. ner
Irritation returning. Our mar
riage = everything - is different
from most marriages and our lives