The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-22
Spite MLAlRRIAlGE
1z1Esase .2as4za<sySs

| And one night as she sat In the
chill, iimly lit room she fell asleep
to wake with start and q sob be.
cause she had heard Bob say, my
dearest dear! My poor. tired child.'
It had made her tremble violently.
you spoke, mother?" she fal
tered.
Water, dear, please"
She stumbled as she moved
toward the table upon which was Q
pitcher. but the ache and the depres
sion that had rooted in an unusually
long and trying day, were gone.
Bob must not know how bad II
was. she decided again and again;
ne must never know! When he re-
turned. she must keep him from the
room at the bad hours. She consid.
cred, and at length, ways of doing
this. She decided that she could
with the help Of the servants and
the nurse, who would certainly I'm.
derstand the futility OF his having
more hurt than must be his.
You'll break down." said the
nurse one morning that followed a
sleepless night; It'd just within of
hers. wanting to see you; it'll wear
you Quit"
For brief moment a little of
Marsha chill arrogance returned:
Never suggest to her, please, my
being tired. Do you understand,
Miss Thrope?"
''Yes, Mrs. Powers. didn't mean
to annoy you, but you're too self.
less"
Nor did l mean to be sharp But
want to be with her, to do, eyerF,
thing l can for bert And If she
thought was being worn down, 1t
would make it too difficult, you
seer" f'42''A@a1
TsHE nurse did see, but she did not
L cease to be troubled. She re
leased pressure through angry NUT.
tiers to Hannah, to Ellen; mutters
in which she said, "She's wearing
herself out! That's ALL The human
body won't stand more than so
much. When's he coming back any.
way? She's saint and"
But Marsha was finding new food
as we'll as new fatigue through do
ing what she could for mother"
The diversion she best liked was
looking. with Mrs. Powers at Mrs.
Powers many portraits and snap
shots of Bob. Bob In the photog
rapher's high chair. Bob in his first
short dresses, Bob wearing his first
sailor-suit with the real whistle
OF which he had been so proud,
hanging from a cord that was
around his neck.
Bob in military-school uniform,
later, in college and on the crew;
Bob at some picnic. (The girl seated
by him was really beautiful, Marsha
realized with a chilling of hearth
Bob with his father. that happy year
they spent together abroad.
Under this heading too, came
Bob's dogs; horses; the Adirondacks
place. "0f course you will go there
often with Bob" said Mrs. Powers;
Bob loves it"
And Mrs. Powers life ending,
Marsha was certain, was the very
reason Why she would never go with
Bob to the Adirondacks place. His
loving it would, of course, wall It
away from her.
All that the faded, wasted, small
women had been to Bob began to be
too apparent to Marsha and it led
her to write him, In extra letters
which Marsha did not show to Mrs.
Powers, every small detail concern
ing his mother which she felt could
interest him: his mothers enjoy.
ments: how she spent her time:
what they were reading: Of her ap-
petite. (if good, that day. who had
called upon her. The chronicle was
faithful in narrating all that could
cheer.
Marsha felt that such word would
help him; but once and again doubt
crept in through her WEAKNESS,
which reduced her judgment and
left her certain only Of the fact that
she loved two souls with all her
heart and must live, In the chill fu-
ture, without both of them.
She wrote. one doubtful day,
when her head acted from lack Of
sleep and she could not see quite
clearly.
II have written as I have, think
ing It might help you. II my extra
letters annoy you. put parentheses
about "Your letters are so long and
good. dearest" and I'll understand
that you wish terse report and no
more.
II don't want to make things
harder for you than they must be:
and thought you might. and most
naturally, feel intrude where /
can't belong through telling you OF
your mother.
1.-THE only thing I could not for
give is your letting me continue to
annoy you, IL I have.
(cobyis4t. 1884. S1 X. EGviiasd-T4yisr)
Marsha has, tomorrow, q teIe.
gram from Mexico.