The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-07-06
"Do You mind Il we go soon?

We'll go as soon as you like"
George said. She was feeling very
miserable: it was bad enough TO be
unhappy herself, but to know that
someone else was unhappy on her
account made things a thousand
times harder. especially someone
who had been kind friend.
They said goodnight to their host.
ess, George pleading headache.
Il haven't really got one" she
told Clifford as they went out to his
car. But 1t seemed unkind to leave
without some real reason"
She probably thinks that 1t was
Just an excuse to get away with
me-" he answered unkindly.
II don't mind what she thinks"
George said serenely.
They drove away in silence. 1t
was a cold clear night with a pale
moon which looked as If someone
had unkindly given it a punch on
the cheek. George looked at il and
remembered that the same moon
was shining down on Germany. and
on the hospital where Nicholas
Boyd lay. Was he in much pain?
She clasped her hands closely
together. telling herself that she
ought to be there with him. What
was 1t he had once said TO her?
Someone who. perhaps quite un.
Intentionally. lays gentle hand on
your SOUL"
The memory OF those words was
like something warm wrapped
around her. and for a moment she
closed her eyes.
Clifford spoke suddenly.
II suppose ! shan't be seeing you
again."
ooh, ghy not?"
'You don't want me-"
George wished she could say Eyes
/ do" and really mean it. 1t would
be wonderful II she could return
this mans love, to want him and to
have him for her own, but she knew
It was not possible.
"Can't we still be friends?" she
pleaded.
He laughed mirthlessly.
"All girls say that when they turn
q chap down..
He pulled the car about into
garage.
1--WE got to get some gasoline"
He left her, banging the door be.
hind him as he got out.
It made George remember Ed.
ward Bancroft; he was so fond OF
banging doors. and he banged them
so eloquently.
She smiled family, looking back.
wards at her life with him.
Would she ever go back TO It?
And IL so, would she mind very
much?
Clifford was talking to the garage
man; she watched him with far
away eyes.
He was good to look at, strong,
reliable; surely some day he would
meet q girl who would care for him
as he deserved?
Just now he looked unhappy.
There was q frowning line of pain
between his kind eyes. a line which
she had unwittingly brought there.
She looked away from him with
q conscience-stricken feeling.
THE street seemed very deserted:
= a dog rummaged about in the
opposite gutter for a bone. and a
woman had just come out OF a little
shop where tobacco and newspapers
and sweets were sold. and was
standing looking up at the moon.
George wondered IL her thoughts
were sad too: II somewhere In the
world there was somebody she
would like to have been with and
was not allowed to by Life. or Fate.
or whatever power II was that or
dained things.
The little shop looked peaceful
enough with It's drawn blinds and
dim light shining through the crack.
and Jet 1t was impossible 10 tell
what sorrow and tragedy lived be.
hind It's walls.
She was In q mood 10 notice de-
tails. Idly she picked up q scrap Of
paper lying on the seat beside her;
torn fragment from what was
probably the afternoon paper.
She looked at II with vague inter
est. then suddenly she caught her
breath With Q sharp sound OF pain.
Clifford glanced at her as he re-
turned to the car.
whats the matterf'' he asked,
struck by the intensity OF her gaze.
George did not answer him. She
felt as II the world and all solid
things had noated away trom her.
leaving her giddy and agonlEed. with
only the words she had read On the
scrap OF paper blaxoned before her
In letters OF IRE.
"Moyie Star Dies Suddenly"
GcopyrssAs. 1883, Dsselsaay poraRJ