The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-14
Spite MlAIRRlAlGE

she was wearing the gold neglTeee
with the soft yellow fur at the neck
and broad cuffs. He wished she
would get rid Of it. It brought too
close to him a moment he would
forget.
"If may have few words with
you?" he said.
Certainly: come In"
He stepped from his room to
hers. "Will you sit DOWN." she
asked.
well. perhaps. want to talk
over with you a few Matters" he
answered. 9TH ere are several
things"
Sorry my raiment is so spread
around" she apologized as he
paused. She picked up from chair
filmy bit of straps and lace. a pair
of golden stockings. He had been so
insane about her: everything she
wore or touched.
He must have bored her fright
fully. he realized. despite the fact
that he had exercised an amazing
restraint. She remembered hiS
kneeling at her feet; kissing a
small, gold shoe before he slipped
1t on for her and how she had felt;
her inner plea that ran. Don't!
Don't! Let me kneel to you and tell
you how cheap I've been and hear
you say I love you! It doesn't mat
ter! love you anyway"
But that dream was past. He
knew how cheap she had been and
he didn't love her; and he couldn't
say so. OF course.
us there anything particular?"
she asked. He was oddly, heavily
silent. staring down at his hard
gripped hands.
"Oh. yes!" He came back with
jerk. "It's about the way treat you.
am not sufficiently affectionate.
81 see."
"You are good about all this.
Marsha"
MO. I'm not" she denied fatty.
Don't offer me even one
laurel; don't deserve it! I'm doing
what | love to do. Mother-your
mother-thinks we're rather chill?"
THAT am"
81 see"
$50. you see occasionally, shall
have to-"
Il understand"
81 hope you won't mind very
much." he said. She smiled at that,
and in way that he did not under
stand. "And one more thing" he
added. Yet again he hesitated.
"Yes?"
"You must need money"
"No. | don't, Bob, thank you so
much"
But"
II have a sufficient income of my
own; it's not great deal, but It's
quite enough meant to speak to
you about it. but we never talked of
money save at that moment when
you told me / could check on your
account"
He wondered why she had stayed
with Miss Moore to whom she was
not suited: with whom she had not
been happy. He had supposed
Marsha to be without income Of her
own.
Marsha spoke as IL she had heard
his thoughts.
IL lived with Aunt Gertrude" she
said. "because-I suppose 1t sounds
silly and it's not easy to explain-I
thought if left people might think
she had lacked in some way. And
she did do her best and | didn't
want them to think she hadn't. you
see."
There are moments when you
make me feel small" he admitted:
he added quickly. almost briskly,
You'll have to take money from
me: l owe you everything: you're
doing so much here"
NO." she combated. II don't have
to. Bob" 5tt
You make it hard for me. Mar
sha."
"You make 1t hard for me when
you ask to reward with money-a
service long to give; or rather
when you ask to pay me for privi-
lege you allow me. can't take any
thing from you, Bob"
Wen have to talk OF this again"
he said. as he rose.
Really must WEI? she asked,
looking up at him.
"Yes," he smiled down on her as
he said his infiexible, "Yes."
She did not answer the smile. II
won't take money from yon," she
said stubbornly.
Marshal"
"I won't! You can't make me.
Don't you understand anything-of
this? I can't. You aren't fair to ask
me to-"
(cotvisht. 1884. BY x. HGvilasd-TsSiss)
Bob looks at Christmas presents.