The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-03-27
Chapter 20
The RIFT

MT
DIG TOM was projecting himsel
Dfrom the other side OF death Int
Judlth's thought. by cleyerly pre-
conceived communications.
To Norman. Morton Lampere. hiI
partner. his fathers partner befor'
him. was person to be admired. al
most revered. His word would weigh
more than that OF q young girl. Lam
pere was q friend OF q lifetime. and
Norman had known her compare
lively short time.
Perhaps Norman was right. and
she with her self assurance was
wrong. Perhaps Lampere was right!
She weighed this thought as she
locked out on the terrace where the
lights which had blocked yellow OBJ
longs on the greensward were sud
denly blotted out.
She would discuss this with him
and II he could prove her wrong she
would gladly make any concession
She prepared for bed. turned on the
bed lamp TO let him know she was
awake. then waited.
She heard Delphy's goodnight
t.en Lige's. heard the kitchen door
close and voices in the servants
cottage. And then she heard Nor.
man coming up the steps. He
stopped In his dressing room. then
q few moments later went out by
the hall door. down the corridor to
the guest room.
The door Of the guest room
opened. the hall lights flashed OF.
The door closed.
Judith turned OF the lamp, a hot
pain cutting through her. What had
happened to make Norman do such
q thing? Mathile's laughter echoed
- her ears. but 1t was not her in.
fiLence. more likely Lampere's. He
was wise In the ways OF women. he
knew II would take firm determine.
ton to keep her from seeking Nor
man. and In the end giving In to his
wishes.
She slipped from the bed and went
&c an open window. A soft wind.
faint echo OF the previous evenings
gale. came In with the breath Of
sleeping fields. The servants cot.
tage was dark square topped with
moon icing. The little stream was
q irlekle of quicksilver among the
shale.
Judith looked II and shuddered.
She felt as though there were tears
In her heart which trickled along
TX. quicksilver.
All of her life she had wanted to
belong TO someone. Her father. en-.
balmed in grief .. her mothers pass
log. had been companionable. but
she had felt her love for him was
more maternal than his was pa
ternal Big Tom. in his loneliness.
had filled this need.
But Norman she knew II he
were 10 come In. slip an arm under
her pillow for a cushioned rest, and
she we're to awaken knowing he was
there. her trust would be thrown
to the Winds for fear OF nights TO
COME when there would be no pro-
tecting arc OF arm.
And yet she knew II this hap.
pened she would hate herself. and
Ia time turn bitterly on Norman for
causing her 10 disregard her own
sense OF what was right.
nELPHY, round eyed. brought her
- orange juice Al the usual hour.
She surveyed the untouched pillow.
said nothing. but tucked Judith in
with unnecessary thoroughness con.
slderlng she was about to rise, Then.
glass clinking on tray. she stalked
down The hall TO the guest room.
judith chose her morning frock
sKllh a dslIherRss intent to charm.
She had one 81 yellow linen. EN-.
kroIdered In marguerites. that Nor.
nan hadn't seen. She put this on.
Z crushed her black hair until It shone
IKE lacquer. erased the tell.tale
signs OF sleepless early hours with
clever artlfice. then went for stroll
IL the garden.
There were few daifodils bloom,
ing. Judith studied their laneins
heads. hesitaled. then regretfully
shipped the long stems. Back 10 the
breakfast room she laid the table
with green grass linen. q Bavarian
breakfast set Of ivory trimmed with
held flowers.
u was gay. that breakfast table.
The sun slanted In through open
windows and warmed Judith. who
stood thrnsting the stems OF the
danodIls into an ivory frog.
Upstairs. Norman was splashlns
around. slammlng doors with early
morning thoFonghness. In the