The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-05-07
Chapter Sc
SCENE

4 8 the days went on, Iris thought
\ she saw a difference in Owen
toward Camilla; growing friend.
illness, at least.
The afternoon dress rehearsal for
the Anna Lispenard Concert-or
revue-was nearly as important as
the actual thing In some ways. in.
deed. more so. for attendance was
by invitation. Iris had become used
enough to it all to forget its con.
notations. She was recalled to all 1t
meant to Phina by seeing her sweep
down the stairs.
When Phina said. taking a long
cape from Honora, This means So
cial acceptance, Iris, | hope you
realize it. I'm proud of you, dear, "
she only smiled.
Honora. behind them, spok e
quietly.
"Only the love of God and the
will to do well count, Miss Phina. I"
81 don't know why keep you,
Honora." Pima said sharply.
Honora smiled. who would you
have to cry on. acushla?" she said
unperturbed, and smoothed the cape
around her mistress shoulders.
Iris knew by now how to get into
her rose and black 1870 Worth cos
tune and the others. by herself. She
was standing before the glass at
the hall. adjusting the quaint small
hat with it's bright rose and black
velvet streamers. Camilla watching
her from a chair against the wall,
when someone knocked at the door
and entered without waiting for a
word.
1--WE brought Miss Mary Dorrien.
the cousin of friend of mine. to
meet yOu." Georgia said silkily.
pulling forward thin timid-looking
elderly lady in dowdy black. This
is Josephine Rosss niece. Miss
DOrrien."
Miss Dorrien appeared still more
II I6utcHeu, anu lutAlui Gu SOIIS
thing.
1--WE sent for Mrs. Morgan"
Georgia pursued.
"Georgia-GeOrgia. my dear"
the unhappy Miss Dorrien tried to
leave. with a bleated excuse. But
the door opened again and Mrs
Morgan. weary and disheveled. with
Allan b~hind her in the white satin
of his chorus number. appeared.
What can | do for you. Georgia ?"
she asked. none too cordially.
please be quick; l want to get back
to the committee. All. Mary.
Back from France?"
81 brought her up here" said
Georgia. getting between the poor
flurried lady and the door. because
she remembers the two Ross girls
and their cousin Honora McGrath.
when they came over from ireland
in the steerage thirty years ago.
HOnOra was old Mrs. George Dor
rien's housemaid and Josephine
vac hCl 0Ch IL ID .
mother. had a seamstress' position
at first with some other family
think it was the Goelets-and then
went out sewing by the day. AS
you prefer to believe Iris Lanning's
unsupported word about her
mothers phony Southern ancestors,
To mine. had to wait till | could
catch a witness. l suppose you'll
believe Cousin Mary Dorrien."
Georgia. now. Georgia." gasped
poor Miss Mary. it isn't a disgrace
TO have earned an honest living.
They were sweet good girls"
IRIS stood for the moment frozen
to silence by all this AS Georgia
saiG. who would believe the fact
that nobody ever had told her: that
she had never even known about
Phina and Owens existence until
this year?
Courage from somewhere came
up to carry her. She faced Mrs.
MOrgan's unmoved waiting eyes,
Allan's watching face under the
white Colonial wig.
at is true that | didn't know
who and what my mother was. My
fathers people never told me, even.
that l had a brother and an aunt
over here. / can't expect you to take
my word. stranger among you. But
/ give it to you"
And still Allan stood facing her.
smiling a little, silent. away from
her. Allan. who had said softly,
when are you going to make me
happy?"-Allan. who had singled
her out, who was her lover.
But as she stood there in her rose
and black 1870 finery. feeling more
outcast and betrayed than she had
known anyone could feel. CamilIa's
strong arm came around her waist
Camilla's steady voice spoke.