The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-25

mARsHA's GREETING

Chapter SO
mARsHA's GREETING
ny DEARl" Bob heard Marsha
~ call. and suddenly his world
So resting. re had not dreamed
taas she would kiss him. press close
- hlm aud cling.
Bartholomew had tip.toed awav.
NAa had not made the scene for
Bartholomew. he found he could NOT
$3.50 her hands. and that he could
nol speak. lie saw she was pitiably
waaFy. more uncertain and younger
lhan he had thought she could seem.
80 obviously smitten by the blow
hs had thought would be his alone.
~foa'fe tired" he heard himself
80 after some Interval; criminal.
b. tFaKieally tired. Have you been
aulie done IN BY this?"
see could not respond: she shook
hsf bead vshemently. and tried to
smile. The wry twist Of her lips
msee bic eyes smart.
We'll an you up!" he promised.
aeunding angry. lie had left too
makh 10 her: be had abused her in
tainking her 10 be the fabric that
eeald be untouched BY tragedy that
rs not hefa alone. He felt her hand
ga BIS arm and pattIng 1t nervous
i. ahsnrdly.
@Foa must be tired" she stated.
-aaa yoa must eat some luncheon.
~ waiting yon."
= don't seem" (again the numb.
asas that slowed his speech was
afipping himl ITO be hungry"
Z know. but youn try to eat?"
sc Questioned and she raised an
ansi1ns face to bis after her words.
lls promised be would try TO eat and
- hoar later she sat opposite him
81 = ANAL table she had set before
lae drawing.room IRE.
TIE arrangement had been
thoaKhtfal % Marsha. he realized.
80 Bad known how the empty place
81 tie dinlng.Foom table would az
fest him lie found himself eating
moFe heartily than he had In days
80 sFen tasting the food. Up to
thai moment all foods had been the
aAms. havOfless and yet apt to
Aaaaaaie one as one chewed method.
halls.
what has wrecked you 500" he
astsd ahrupily.
Sc laughed. bat her eyes filed:
riioW deilghtfully courtly." she
maFanfed.
Hoh.- he murmured fatty. you're
pfstiisr than ever. II you want that.
81 yoa'rs ~. I left too much to
gaa.~
Nol" che contradleted violently:
I aoald not have been denied do
la3 aaything l did!"
she reached quickly for a glass Of
safer. be aaw the shaking OF her
Esd a. she drank. Then. a trife
stsadled. she smiled almost natural.
y 81 bin. Bartholomew entered
eth ne coffee tray which he set
anon a low table by Marsha's side.
- disappeared. closing the door
after hlmself.
I'm ready % talk OF anything
~ time yoa want TO-" she said.
MARSHA told Bob. quite evenly.
- bat "a q voice that now and
Akaim gfaw a tribe faint of the fu.
nafaL % che beautiful flowers. of
Aas cutie everyone Mrs. Powers
I'D known had sent them. She had
llsl % people whO had sent the
naMeFs. Marsha stated and of what
sssia they had sent.
SIC fsll Bob would have liked the
almpls service: she had arranged It
eth thought Of his taste. and Of
as moihers liking for simplicity.
sc told 90 notes that had come
and 81 how she had answered them.
lie realized. sitting sagged 10 his
STAIR, thst she bad. with great care.
eelletisd every bit OF information
iAai she felt would help him. There
80 a gentle. everyday steadiness
Ahaat her narration that steadied
hIm.
he thought, after all. she is not
- aesply toaehsd. and there IL
aemathing about Tem0teness, cal
leasnesa. that helps others at times
~llse these. Il she had cried
Nassa would l nave besni"
she thought. 4 am doing thisl II
b helping himi" she had rehearsed
= a9ain and again and again. but
as bad never oLce quite finished
ne rehearsal without a stiffening
e throag and that shaking which
faFsWarBs % going to pieces.
"Dia--dld she snffer?" he man
aaea O. ask.