The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-31
Chapter IS
TORTURED PARTING


TORTURED PARTING
DENIS left Wednesday night.
- On Tuesday Anna Ford tele-
phoned. "Carol? I'm expecting you
for dinner tomorrow night. Then
you can drive over to Erskine with
Denis and Bill to catch the Wash.
ington train. I'd suggest your taking
Denis alone. but It's thirty-fve
miles and you'd be pretty late get
ting back. :"
One OF the worst things about not
marrying Denis. Carol thought, was
losing Anna as a mother-in-law. She
said quickly:
You're an angel; Of course ri
come"
about six, then" Anna said.
"WeIl have to eat earlier than
usual. daresay Denis will consent
to bringing you over"
In a town where eating was nee.
essary evil Anna Ford succeeded in
imparting grace to her meals. She
had dinner instead of supper at
night. and wore soft, informal
dresses. many of them shabby.
There were cocktails tonight, to Gre
ate at least a synthetic gaiety. and
the talk was all of Washington.
Their farewells were as casual as
her own had been, little more than
a month before. Mr.. Ford said:
"Well, Denis remember to give
us the lowdown . :" and Anna
kissed him and smiled.
Come back with your shield. dar-
ling. or on It,"
That was bravado: she had no
illusions about Denis.
The drive to Erskine was almost
silent. Denis sat with his arm
around Carol. holding her as tight
as he could. and Bill kept his eyes
on the road. When they drew up at
the station Bill grinned at his
brother and held out his hand.
"Well. old man, so long. I've got
to see fella about a dog. -"
They gripHed hands without
speaking. and Bill glanced at Carol.
"I'll be back when the train leaves.
God bless you. my children"
DUT when Bill had gone they still
- couldn't talk. There was. as
there had been on the first night.
too much to say-ahd not enough.
They heard the train whistle finally
with the relief of the condemned
who prefer to have done with their
ordeal.
Denis said huskily: Don't come
with me. If you do I'll never get on
the damned train"
She shook her head. Don't
worry; wouldn't for anything.
Denis :" Her voice failed.
His mouth on hers was quick and
hard. and she shut her eyes in order
not to see his face. When she opened
them he was walking down the plat
form.
Bill appeared suddenly from no.
where and started the car; drove
the first few miles in compassion
ate silence.
eff you want to use my shoulder"
he said gruffly, "it's at your dis.
posal."
She laughed little. Thanks. but
guess not. Denis told me once
that wasn't the type"
"Boloney: they all are" Bill said
firmly. He was twenty-three. and he
knew.
After that they talked. and she
managed fairly well. Hadn't she,
once, wanted Denis to go and leave
her in peace? Even the ache was
shot through with the realization
that she could begin now TO try to
forget him: to wonder what lay
around the next corner. She was
still young enough to speculate
about corners.
At Mrs. O'Connor's door Bill sur.
prised her by patting her cheek.
You're honey. Carol. Garry on"
He turned and ran down the steps.
She climbed the stairs slowly,
Z dragging Off her hat as she went.
Ellen's door was closed. and she was
glad when it didn't open; she didn't
want sympathy just now.
In her room a pile of history tests
lay on a table and leered at her.
She looked at her watch: nine
o'clock. and early enough to deprive
her of an excuse to postpone them.
She drew a chair towards the light
and began on the papers.
A minute later she laughed aloud.
Allen Lester had labored long and
hard over the question about what
held the British Empire together:
Aliens mind had been unable to
cope with an abstract concept of
God. King and Country as a unity.
Ing force. He had replied, with sim.
pie. unassailable logic: