The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-25
Chapter SO
THE LETTER

Chapter 80
THE LETTER
CAROLINE interrupted Jim with
~ a frightened. 4Stay heref"
why not? You said Mrs. Ledger
only came once a week. II she was
here yesterday. that gives me ave
clear days. II I cant remember
things by then, / shall send for
Robert and put myself in his hands"
He stopped In the middle Of the
floor. "And now you must GO"
Caroline got up.
Have you got enough blankets?
Are they aired?"
He laughed--a real laugh this
time.
who do thinks been airing my
bedclothes for the last seven
years."
II don't know" said Caroline.
"And you needn't iaugh-it's nice
Of me to want you to have dry blan-
kets. Don't you think so?"
She came up close and stood on
tiptoe. putting up her face.
Goodnight - darling ungrateful
JIM"
He said.
I'm not ungrateful."
In the middle Of the short SEN
teuce his voice changed. He would
have stepped back, but she held him
with q hand on either arm.
Perhaps you'll be grateful when
you see what q nice supper I've
brought you. bought the things in
town. Goodnight"
She kissed him as II It were seven
years ago, and she q child and he
her all but brother. But all Of q sud-
den her heart beat quick and hard.
When she had kissed Jim last her
heart had not beaten like this. She
stepped back. too confused and
troubled by her own feelings to be
aware OF his. She wanted to be out
OF the room and out OF the house.
She went to the door and opened
It. The dark passage lay before her.
She stepped out into Il with her
thoughts stiil in great confusion.
Why should It make her feel like
this to touch Jim's cheek with her
lips? She had always kissed him.
What was there to make this kiss
any different from. ell the other
kisses?
His rigid silence escaped her. She
was scarcely aware that he had
taken up the candle and was follow
Ing. They walked along the corri-
dor and down the stair without q
spoken word. Words unspoken ella
mored In them both.
He walked with her down the
dark drive and through the sleep
ing village. At the cottage gate he
broke the long silence.
"You mustn't come again"
Il must" said Caroline.
mo. you mustn't"
Il shall come tomorrow" said
Caroline. and was gone before he
could answer.
THE first mail In the morning
brought q proposal In due form
from Robert Arbuthnot. Patsy Ann
glowed and hlushed over Il as II II
had been the most ardent Of love.
letters. She read It aloud in snatch.
ss. with agItated and enthusiastic
comments. II concluded:
/ have, for some time, been con-
nidefing the question OF matrimony.
/ hope you know me well enough
TO be sure that ] should give such
subject the most serious consid-
GRAFTON before taking what l re-
gard as an Irrevocable step. From
the tenor OF your conversation yes
terday gather that you would not
consider q distant degree OF rela-
tionshlp. such as exists between
yourself ana me as 80 insupersble
ask whether you could entertain
ne idea OF accepting me a. your
husband7
Patsy broke on and dabbed her
eyes.
"IIe makes It sound so solemn
doesn't her | think It's wonderful
letter. Don't your
Patsy dabhed her eyes again.
Il don't know how to answer Il.
I can't write q beautiful letter like
that"
Il shouldn't try" said Caroline.
That's Roberts sort OF letter. You
write your own sort. and perhaps
he'll sit down at the other end and
wonder how You did &"
do you think sof DO ron think
I could Just say that he's made me
very happy-wonid that dol"
Beautifully. said Caroline.
As she said Il. the telephone bell
began 10 ring. A scarlet Patsy
caught up the receiver.