The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-01-28
chapter q
PATSY DOES A DANCE


PATSY DOES A DANCE
IN TEE Upper Mallard vicarage
the lamp was lit but It was
placed in a curious position for
q lamp. It was on the floor. Tt
iilumined mainly the feet and the
long legs OF Miss Patsy Raoul as
she danced, singing in her queer.
husky voice song Of the vine-
yards and the sun. The vicar. In
q chair at the other end Of the
room, applauded deiightedly.
Splendid spendidi You know, !
have the pleasant feeling that
couldn't possibly approve OF that
song II my French were less rusty;
but fortunately ] only understand
one sentence in five. What a swing.
ing, stamping tune! You're giving
one old man lot Of pleasure, Miss
Raoul." H.p
why not?" oa
Il don't know why not" admitted
the vicar. sucking contentedly at
his pipe, "but one is supposed to
say that kind of thing. Personally,
I've always imagined that when a
creative artist feels the wish for an
audience, it's immaterial whether
Il consists Of one old man or q
hundred young ones"
Patsy Raoul picked up the lamp
and brought 1t over to the table
BY the IRE.
Men make nae the more good
audience as women" she remarked,
curling herself into a chair like a
snake. II like not any women
ever. Only Barbara"
She grinned and forgot to sound
foreign. Tho first time met her,
she tainted dead away. In the Park.
I told her afterwards my face had
made people scream now ana then.
but it had never actually knocked
anyone senseless before"
"Pm glad you like Barbara. She
needs q friend"
~She's only to lift hnger and
she can have the best friendship
in the world. Farrell Armitage-"
And I'm glad you like Farrell
Armitage."
Miss Raoul looked defiant.
what do you mean9 he doesn't
like me. I got wrong with him at
the start-tried to sting him for a
couple of dogs. Only vanity. you
know; / could easily have afforded
two tykes. even without my leg.
acy."
you're enjoying your legacy7"
what do you think? IT'S ex.
tremely pleasant. being rich"
at is. indeed" agreed Mr.. Frere.
"rm very rich myself"
Miss Raoul stared round the
meagre room with her small, black
eyes; eventually they returned to
her hosts composed face, fine as
q cameo IN the freight. Her
throat ached suddenly.
Oh, to be free. like this old man,
Of the pull and urge Of llfel To
have q calm mind. to know the
heights and depths only through
the hearts Of others. to dip so small
q cup at the fountain OF human
love that always IL il fall to the
briml She said restlessgy.
"a poor old friend died and left
ne his--her whole bag Of tricks.
! rnaynf touch the capital--I must
say that seems 70 me spelling the
ship for q half penny's worth Of
tar, bat the trustees aay they'll
make me any advance within rea.
son on the income. And so long
as It's my reason that's to be our
standard OF measurement. we'll I'm
not complaining"
She hooked one leg over the arm
Of her chair and lit a cigarette.
Her green and crimson woollen
suit made her look like some
medieval jester.
~You must come and see my
show In Town." she added irrele-
vanity. ~come and stay with me
when Barbara has re-done my
house. I wish you would.s
ct Is very gracious Of you 10
ask me. But I might offend Far
rell I always accept his hospital.
ity when need q little change =
he smiled at her. "we shall both
come and see you act" After q
panse. he added gently-"Ycu have
your art you know. You must not
ask more OF nte."
Mustn't II"
swell. II you do" said the vicar
yith one OF his abrupt dives into