The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-02-06
Chapter 40.
THE SOLUTION

THERE was long silence. The
= wears stick leaned idle against
his knee. Barbara began to wonder
whether the old man had gone to
sleep. When he moved. however,
and eyed her from under the wide
shadow of his hat, she saw that he
was very much awake.
Whats in the back of your head,
my dear Barbara, is that, in the end
the only reason Farrell has not been
able to buy you is that he has too
much money"
She frowned.
We'll, in a way. Yes. Perhaps.
Yes, l suppose his strength is, fun
damentally. money"
"Then 1 have a piece of directly
heaven-sent news for you. Most Of
the Armitage fortune went in the
Metric crash last week. Farrell isn't
penniless. but he will have to fight
his way up the ladder again, and as
he was born quite halfway up to
start with he is going to find climb.
ing a very humiliating and bitter
thing"
There was another long silence.
Then
what did you say about Farrell?"
stammered Barbara.
"oh, nonsense; you heard me
perfectly" returned 10 vicar. Get
up and run along and find him: your
brain will begin to work once you
are moving. left him right at the
top Of the house packing up case
Of little fancy-dress dolls. A wed.
ding present, I gathered, for You
and Mark"
.
you swear this isn't pity, Bar
bara?"
at isn't pity"
Because I'm no Mark. I don't
want support. l never will let you
carry me along with your own ca
reer. Pm down now, but I'll be up
again. I'll give you pearls yet, and
1 shall loathe 1t If you can afford
them before can. ] suppose it's
pride, but I'm not used to poverty"
"You gave me year to learn that
should be happier married to you
than to Mark. Now the year is up,
and I've come to tell you you were
right want to marry you. Do you
still want me? Or not"
"Do you love me, Barbara? AS
love your"
II love. you-in my own fashion.
can't love otherwise. Isn't &C.
enough?"
In this empty room nothing
seemed to register as real and ar
ticulate except, for some reason,
Farrell's hands. "He is-very cas-
lily hurt Just now" Yes. his hands
were the hands of a man easily hurt.
Whereas Marks hands were strong
and greedy and clever. these were
trained only to physical combat or
to social ease. They looked help
less, now, fumbling with a tiny silk.
clad doll.
mo. better get II clear" said Bar.
bara. as though the old vicar were
at Farrell's elbow. Perhaps my
kind Of love isn't enough for you. 1
can't pretend. you see, to be other
than ! am. Farrell. that first night
when We found Leila's portrait In
the Toxeter house you said that
when Mark was we'll and rich and
enjoying life | should be free to
choose. Spirit-free. That's come
true. But you said I'd choose you.
That didn't come true until now
that you may have need of me-"
'Then It is pity?"
What IL II is? II can't love you
until ] can help you. why should you
be hurt by that? You say you fell in
love with me at first sight, but |
think you loved your own idea of
what you were to make me. am
not like that, l can't be hung with
pearls at the end OF your battles.
must be in the battle, too. And
think that IL all that is pity you win
Just have 10 endure 1t as I shall
have 10 endure your pride and your
stupid little sorenesses.
but perhaps" added Barbara.
suddenly all gaiety because of the
surrender in his empty hands. ''you
would like q year in which to come
10 see that am right?"
.
At six o'clock punctually Leila
ceased TO be the best-dressed girl at
MalaVie's and. stepping westwards.
became rapidly more and more out.
NODDED. Bond Street saw her in
definitely last years garb. and when