The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-31
Chapter Three
TOSSED ASIDE


"A T last Nicholas felt peacefulness
= closing about him, and then
when the first rosy streak OF sun.
light lit the greyness, he turned and
hung himself down on the bed and
slept heavily.
When he awoke the door between
his room and his wife's was stand.
ing wide open.
He lay for little while looking at
IT; somehow he knew instinctiyely
that the room beyond was empty.
She had left him a note. and she
had left her wedding ring lying on
u.
can't come with you Nick, and
DON'T think you want mo to, so I'm
cong away. Don't worry about me,
put you won,t--you said ! should
Be all right It's no use saying I'm
eorry-you won't believe me.
BERNIE.
she had taken everything of value
that he had given her, and she had
left behind her wedding ring.
The window was wide open to the
morning sunshine. and Nicholas lift.
Cd his arm and flung the ring into
the street.
He thought again Of the English
countryside very much as a man
dying OF thirst in the desert will
think OF water.
II there was boat home he would
50 By It There was nothing to keep
him In q country that had no more
use for him; the thought put new
life into him.
TsWENTY-F0UR hours later he
= was watching New York fade
into the sunshine behind him.
There bad been nobody TO see him !
OF. He had registered under his own
name but even that had not seemed
20 arouse much curiosity, 50 quickly
was he fading from memory. I
He stood staring out over the sea. /
at the receding skyscrapers and the
statue Of Liberty which was grow
Ing every moment in perspective
more like dumpy wagon.
When be could no longer dIstin.
guiah her in the misty distance he
turned and went down TO his cabin.
The steward was there. unstrap.
ping his luggage.
Nicholas frowned.
Albright, leave II. )" he said short.
u
The man stood up. Anything !
can do for you. Sir-7"
yes. leave me alone"
How tired he was. He sat down
on the side OF his bed and stared
down at his lame leg. The doctors
lad told him be was lucky not to
have lost 1t.
Overhead and all around was
noise and bustle--voices calling. the
thud Of heavy luggage. Nicholas felt
himself 10 be far removed from It
all He was travelling on this boat
because there was no other way to
80 home, but he was something
apert-the world had passed him by.
Someone knocked at his cabin
door; he heard It but be gave no
eign, and the knock was repeated.
Nicholas srowned-"W 10 it?"
The door opened timidly till Il
was wide enough to show the slim
squire OF a Girl who stood there with
. bunch OF flowers In her hand.
When she saw Nicholas, she
smiled. and there was no trace Of
horror. or even OF pity in the smile,
although she must have seen the
thing that had made Bernie vince
and turn away.
Nicholas did not move, and she
came . step further. holding out the
towers.
EDO ron mind3 I thought you
would like Them" she said.
LIE made no offer to take them,
= = and she laid them down on the
little table between them.
I'm going home too. " she said.
she was Young and slender with
q sort OF elm look that made Mich.
elias think once again OF English
countryside. Apart from that she
was not at eli pretty. or was Il that
he had forgotten what natural
beauty was llkes
Her hair was soft brown. and 1T.
tle untidy. hanging to her shoulders
In loose rurls. and she wore short
Sara skirt. aud a scarlet jacket Bad.