The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-15
Spite MlARRIfAGE

at.my presents. do want to know
whether you think she'll like them
He stared on a lavender dressing
gown; he who didn't know buckram
from chiffon fingered It. But people
did that he'd seen them doing II
ITS lovelyi" he assured her.
she said, softly. shyly, II put
things In the pockets. l thought Il
would surprise her."
She brought forth q matching
handkerchief. 4 little lavender hot
tie OF smelling salts. a small, ivory
elephant; tiny. gold scissors. a
packet Of solitaire cards 10 a laven-
der leather case and from the last
pocket she brought a silver chain
mat was studded with amethysts.
lie was deeply touched, but he
said, as lightly as he could, Il would
think now that even you could use
little OF what you see as my
money"
but Bob. the investment wasn't
great. Not as great as I wanted 10
have Il. The chain was my mothers.
! wanted your mother to have It. Il
never was nice enough to wear Il.
And ! thought she'd like knowing
l wanted her to have 1t. you seeT'
He turned to her: she was looking
up questlonlngly.
I'm never be able to thank you"
he murmured thickly and then.
rather slowly. he lifted one OF her
hands to hold II against his lips. He
saw her lips tremble: he thought
she said Thank you." but later. re.
membering mistiIy. he could not be
certain OF that.
HE did remember that she had
- hurried on to tell him, with
lips that still trembled a little. that
she had. too. for his mother an as.
sortment OF very old.fashIoned
plants In small pots: that she had
thought his mother would like them
on a window SIN. and that she had
secured New York to find them A..
niignonetie. and heart's-ease. hens
and-chickens and such and that
she'd loved doing Il.
They're sweet" she said; Han
nah has them In a corner OF the
pantry where she's certain your
mother won't fInd them. ! visit them
each day And IL anything happened
10 anyone OF them. think I'd ex.
pire. I'll show them to yon tomor-
row." she ended shyly. "if you have
time"
"I'n have time," he promised,
heart swelling. He stared down at
her. flushed. happy. young. Where
was the girl who had drawled. Bob.
darling old thing--do get me an
orchid or two. with a few valley
lilies thrown in for luck! You
knows" And how could this new
creature have suffered Geoffrey Tar.
letOn's soiled earesses? But she had.
The dinner gong rang as he stiff
ened and grew rigid from recollec-
ton.
Lord. and I'm not even changed"
he murmured.
Gould | put studs in for your"
she appealed in little above a whis-
per.
lie answered loudly. chilly, with.
II can do very we'll for myself,
thank you" Her face changed, she
grew pale; then she flushed holly.
And as he closed the door he saw
that she had stood. motionless. look
Ing after him.
She had thought, "To have you
back! To have you back: I want
you so: don't think | can live with
ont youl"
Hurrylng with his dressing he de-
clded he must. hereafter. avoid such
moments when he could. Otherwise
fwhy the devil must ties stick at
the back OF a colIar?) he would
some day let go. sweep her into his
arms and hold her close. He would
tell her that nothing mattered but
having her whom he loved, despite
everything she was. was not. But
he must not think of that!
He met Marsha at the head OF the
stair
Were frightfully late!" she said
with compunction. - t.13F -
She explained breathlessly, to
Mrs. Powers. that they had talked
and forgotten the hour. Mrs. Powers
nodded. smiled. Bob, having settled
HIS mother. pushed a chair beneath
Marsha and. leaning down and over
her, he kissed her cheek. She's
quite a marvell" he said to his
mother. bartholomew tray tilted
dangerously!) "and we know It,
don't we?"
very gay" Bartholomew report
ed In the kitchen, land he's show.
In his feeling as a gentleman should
and would. Quite. IL you'd ask me.
an hinfatuation and of the kind that
will last"
"And what did he dor" asked Ella.
whose cap had slid to rakish
angle.
(cssvirIf. 1884. ~ x. RSva ~s-Tsylsr)