The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-31
Chapter fl
BRIEF VISIT
TERRY came down the river fina

TERRY came down the river final
ly. He'd been gone nearly three
months. Leaner perhaps. and little
tired about the eyes and the cor.
ners Of his mouth. but striding as
easily and tirelessly as ever.
1--WE wanted to get down so damn
Often" he said. but | just couldn't,
Allaire. And have to go right back
tomorrow"
How is everything. Terry?"
IF it wasn't for this rotten rainy
season that's coming up - :" he
stopped. and waved a dismissing
hand. Lets not bother about it.
Things been pretty tough for your
She didn't answer. Absently. she
plucked at the sleeve of his shirt,
her eyes dreamy. He wondered.
What's the matter. Allaire?" he
asked quickly. Anything wrong?"
Terry. would you mind awful.
iy if-?"
Willett felt something chill him
for an instant. Would he mind
what? - if she went back to the
States?
60 on. Allaire." he said steadily.
Terry" and again her color
heightened. 81 - you - that is we,
were going to have baby"
1t was men that had to be pre-
pared for some things. WiIlett felt
GREATNESS. stunned. He tried to say
something and couldn't locate any
thought waves. And then he was at
her side. one arm around her. and
she put her head on his shoulder.
"Are you glad?" she murmured.
"Oh. Allaire. should have
thought"
She sat up straight, alarmed.
TERRY. don't you want him? Be-
cause If you don't"
He drew her to him gently.
"Of course do" he said quickly.
81 was just thinking about you. |
want to take care of you. honey. and
I'm marooned up there and you're
alone. You mustn't be alone"
He paused and ran his brown
hand over the shining hair at her
temples. Don't you think you'd bet
ter go up to the States where you'll
be among friends and your own sur.
roundings?"
NO." she said, 81 won't. That
isn't my idea of married life, to be
stuck away like some dollhouse
plant"
We'll, the capital, then? Much
more comfortable and pleasant and
SAFE" His voice didn't quite take
that last word in stride. Maybe his
father had tried to get Vic to safer
place. too.
Terry. l won't. I'm going to stay
here and wait until you finish that
job"
Finish that job! She might wait
long time. Willett's hands were
hot.
Terry. you don't feel sorry or
tied down or anything. do your"
He sprang up and took a nervous
restless stride UP and down the
room.
mol" he exclaimed. "You may
have married busted engineer. AL
laire. but you haven't married a
heel"
He stopped and looked down at
her seriously. Take care of your
self. honey. be careful and" he
suddenly knelt on one knee by her
side. You know have to go back,
don't you? | wouldn't leave you
otherwise. but have to. Allaire-"
OF course he had to. She had a
feeling that the bulk Of his conf
dence and his courage was locked
in his death grip with the Palva. and
he was drawing on all that remained
to bolster her In the face of what
lay ahead of them both.
THE procession of weeks had
l. started again. broken only by
Terry's quick visit. Once again he
had disappeared into the still, fate
full silence of that camp up the
river.
AS the weeks went by she began
TO rebel at sitting around down here
while he was off somewhere. II was
likaasRarrying sailor on a furlough
Ext time she saw him to be
tue 1ut the halfback on the To-
30 On school team as his son.
poh at wasn't the way she'd
teamed OF marriage. She wanted to
be with Terry.
The doctor who came to see her
once In a while as the days passed
was no help. He had a doleful. fu-
nereal expression. and his attitude.
coupled with the empty hot loneli-
ness Of Propionoire. caused her to