The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-29

lSn VOICE.
"Oh. Georgia has something up
he sleeve. Girl must have a claw
on Allan, or he wouldn't be giving
a dinner-party."
Sure" said the boy. 81 was
dumb bunny. Allan can stand every.
thing but feeling that something he
likes isn't liked by the crowd. Has
to be perfect for the Grand Mogul."
The words did something for Iris:
instead Of being hurt. she was furi-
Gus. Her fighting spirit rose. This
wasn't Georgia's house, it was Al,
lan's. Shed been asked to do it.
after all. She'd make these silly
amused "sophisticates." even this
embarrassing Georgia. in phrase
of Georgia's own, take 1t and like
it."
She ran angrily into the bedroom
they had given her for a dressing
room and tore off the Worth cos.
tune. She was to have put on a
quaint hoop-skirted frock next. She
stood for a moment staring at 1t,
her eyes blurring with tears.
Morgan would have fought for her
il he had been here. Morgan would
have backed her up. Would she
never stop loving Morgan, who did
not love her any more?
She put on the dark SHOW Boat"
dress; she thrust her hair down her
forehead like Helen Morgan's-and
she ran down the stairs, across the
room to the piano. She dropped the
music before Owen. and sprang onto
the side of the piano.
/ She never knew how we'll she
sang. All her longing for Morgan,
all the passion of her anger at the
girls and men who had ridiculed at
Georgia's bidding. all her natural
talent, went into the passion and
pathos Of that one song.
They were silent, first-then lapt
then moved, held. hers absolutely.
She sang it through. She went on
to the other Helen Morgan song
why Was | Born?"
The bright light shone on her slim
quivering figure. its air of brave
carelessness that covered only too
imperfectly Abandonment and hope
less grief. When she finished there
was a hush; hen applause, ap-
plause, more applause. She had won
out. She had made them take it and
like it.
She slipped down from the piano.
tossed dark head held high. red lips
smiling. Something hard and victo-
rious made her able to stand there,
taking their congratulations. their
admiration. Easy. after all. A pack
of cards. A flock Of sheep.
Mrs. Morgan detained her again.
as she began to move away.
81 want you Tor my charity per.
Torrance this summer" she said.
Iris could not think why there
was sudden stunned hush after the
OH Iduy Hdu SpOheH.
4 LIAM broke the silence after
"A old Mrs. Morgan's invitation.
speaking in Iris's ear, behind her, as
she stood ready to move away from
her position in the spotlight of ap-
plause.
"Dicky Hamilton's on the edge of
doing the worst soft-shoe routine in
Gods EARTH" he said. Come on up
and see my Matisses.
He Unanswered her with a wo-
mans ease behind the others,
opened an unexpected door which
led up steep flight of dark stairs.
and another which led to a quiet
low-lit room.
The walls had been so painted as
to make them seem to curve in
concave. Instead of the old-fash.
Toned chandeliers of the rest of the
house. this place was swept bare of
everything which reminded one of
anything but the man himself.
Tall lighting posts of sort she
had not seen threw a clear indirect
light over a-desk in c1e corner; on
another wall were hung the collec.
ton of Shlodernist painters: there
was a long wide couch covered with
fursE and collection of horns and
heads which told her that Allan col.
lected more things than odd pain.
tiers.
The draperies were few. more
skins lay on the floor 1t was an odd
room. 1t said. Anything which does
not concern and interest me does
not matter in the least" She looked
up at Allan. with the gentle limp
ness and quietude about him, and
felt little frightened.
Like it?" said his soft light voice.
He smiled at her. The pink spots on
his face were deeper than usual. as
II something excited him. She sat
down on the low broad couch, with
its cover OF dark silky fur.
Yes. do" She felt suddenly that
she must rise. move about look at
the pictures. talk about them-any.
thing but sit there. low on the couch
in her black Helen Morgan dress,
with Allan, flushed and quiet, watch.
ing her.
(coSvishf. 1850. RsrSarss Wi93smsrl