The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-11

up. she leaned her shoulder against
the stone baluster which Ranked
the steps and watched him with
shining eyes.
He walked to the edge OF the
grass and, turning, looked again ct
the house. That was Just how she
had seen him from her window. How
long ago? Half an hour? It was very
strange to think that the world
could change and be quite . different
world to you in half an hour.
Jim stood and looked at the house.
He looked at It for a long time. Then
he walked to the edge OF the gravel
sweep and back again. He did this
several times. and just at the end
little whispering dread stirred In
Carolineis mind.
She pulled herself up by the balu.
strade and stood on the step above
him. He said.
Caroline. I'm in a mess"
SO that was why she had begun to
be afraid. She said,
What sort Of q mess. Jim5D
II don't know that it's fair to tell
you-in fact It's not. I'm confused
still, but ! do know that. You
oughtn't even to be here"
How dreadful" said Caroline.
Where else ought / to be?'
I'm bed-and you'd better be get
ting along, my dear. don't know
how you came here at all"
ooh. / followed you. ALI romantic,
darling 1T really was. looked out
Of my window, and you lifted up the
latch and came into the garden and
stood looking up. And knew you
at once, so | followed you. And II
you think. after that, I'm going back
to bed without hearing all about
everything. well, you've just got to
think again, darling-and quits diff.
ferently."
THIS was Caroline he knew--a
4 sweet. imperious. gently obstin.
ate Caroline. with . laugh in her
voice and q coaxing hand on his
arm. Since she could speak at ali he
had been Jim darling" He said
heavily,
@All the same, you'd better go"
CAS- IL ! would! Jim-tell me-
what's the matter?'
go home. Carolinel's
You're home"
He pulled away from her roughly.
Don't talk nonsense!" Then, on
a changed note. Caroline got"
The laugh went out Of her voice
as she said.
you know won't 80. You know
/ won't"
II know you ought to-"
we ought to do lots OF things
that we don't do. And this is one OF
the things that I'm not going to do
She came down from the steps
and slid d hand through his arm.
Her voice dropped on to . deep low
ing note.
It's no use, darling you've got
to tell me. Better get It over. You
cant make me 60"
Il ought to be able to make you.s
Come and sit down." said Caro-
line seriously. "Now, Jim--what
have you been doing. and why did
You let me think you had been
drowned7" Her voice went down IN
to despairing depths.
ibid your
"Yes--in the Alice Arden. And
there was an SOS. about man in
hospital at EIston who had lost his
memory. and / went to see IL 1t was
you, and they said-Jim. they said
that he had Just been fetched away
BY his wife. That wasn't your"
YES
'How could 1t be your"
~ WAS
"How could 1t be?"
Jim was silent. He did not know
Of any answer to her question.
She went on In trembling voice.
Il went 10 Lexington. The nurse
said you had my letters BIZ Of IT,
the bit with my name-with Caro-
line-so went. But Il wasn't yon.
Jim-it wasn't you"
You went to LediIngtonf's
II found the woman. She dropped
4 bin. and the nurse gave ii to me. 50
found her. Her name was Riddell---
Mrs. Riddell. She was the most hor-
rible woman. But II was her husband
who was in the hospital at Elston--
Il wasn't you"
Jim did not speak. He looked
through the moonlight to the dark
trees.
1T was her husband" Caroline
said In whisper. 1T couldn't he
you're not her husband"
He spoke then In q loud. harsh
voice.
s.She says I am"
fcepyrioAt. 1858, J. B. Llppiscott Col
Caroline, teFnorrow. learns sorns
n&aFkllno thfnam frns.s ill.,