The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-07
Chapter 10
LETTER FROM OWEN


TAY was warm and cheerful and
! = friendly. She was honestly en-
chanted with the idea that she was
giving a cocktail party: that she
had on a brand-new maroon sheer
with puffed sleeves and lace tie.
all tucked to look like waffles; that
she had lost five pounds this last
week (she was the stocky kind that
has to watch pounds; that her
brown hair was curled in three
rows OF tight little smart ringlets.
and that Morgan Black had come 10
the party which could be heard yell
ing happily within the lacedraped
windows of the divers handsome
semi-detached stone house.
81 tried to drag her. but she had
some work to do" Morgan said.
"She said she could have come II 1t
had been next week."
"I'n ask her to the very next one.
then" said Kay. her eyes crinkling
I'D with the pleasure of doing some
thing nice.
You could do worse. If you were
a simple honest small town lad.
than go after Kay Oliver. Morgan
thought disinterestedly. You would
always be sure of bounding physical
good-nature. OF kindness and eff
cheney. cheerful obvious jokes told
with a burst OF laughter. of-every-
thing.
And perhaps that blunt friendli-
ness. and that nice friendly obvious
ness weren't the worst things in
the world for that lucky small-town
lad to have ahead of him. He slipped
his arm through the one Kay held
out to him and went inside and
helped with the yelling.
There was a friendly rough-house
going on inside. AS one OF the other
men grabbed hint was leapfrOg.
something to do with fOrfeits or
some other parlor game. he gath
cred a letter dropped from his
pocket. He had stopped for mail at
the post Office. and then forgotten
all about it. AS he stopped to pick
It up the name across the back
caught his eye.
Here. let me out of this" he said.
Got to read a letter."
IRIS went briskly home. her sing
L ing lesson once given. She was
little tired. But the men would be
coming in soon. She would hear
Morgan's quick light step. and Uncle
Wills heavier one. on the creakIng
porch.
She sprang up. smiling little at
being so clever as to hear from her
seat In the dining-room window;
she ran out to the kitchen. where
the kettle was boiling. and every
thing set ready for tea: sliced
lemon. teapot. sugar. cream. and
thin bread and butter.
She had been doing this for a
month or two now. Morgan liked It.
4 and Uncle William. tired from the
days work. was picked up by 1t;
1t made easy their two hours wait
for seven-thirty dinner. which Aunt
Ella still kept to because Iris's IA.
Their had preferred 1t.
She had the big defaced beautiful
black japanned tray on a corner OF
+ the table 5y :hia time the men were
with her. Before Uncle William
could bend to kiss her. Morgan had
her by the hands.
Iris. I've found hint"
She did not need to ask whom.
What she asked was When?
1 Where?"
Uncle William looked dispirited.
He did not speak.
Your brother wrote me: | picked
up the letter at the post office as
came BY"
She stood nearer TO the window
to get the fading light. and bent her
tossed dusky head above 1t. Her
hands shook so she could scarcely
hold the paper.
The writing and stationery were
correct. He was no tramp. at least.
Owen Lanning and his aunt. Miss
Ross. would meet Mr.. Black and.
they hoped. Iris. al the Persia Ho
tel. at five-thirty on the day they
received this. That was all.
Am to go?" was all she could
find to say. now # had happened.
1t did not seem real.
"Yes. dear. you must 60" her
uncle answered. and Morgan was
putting her into her heavy rough