The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-01-03
Chapter II.
CONVERSATION PIECE

O0IN tON Fb6S6
A LLAIRES father and mother
IA hadn't cared a farthing for
tradition or memory. They'd pur-
chased the estate as happy COM
promise between her mothers love
of Washington society and her
fathers reverence for Kentucky as
a more suitable location for his rae
ing stable.
And they'd done their best to re-
model 1t into a showplace-long
sweeping wings to accommodate
more guests added to the original
mansion. destroying it's simplicity
and solidarity: the old driveway
winding its leisurely course through
thick-growing evergreens changed
at great cost of money and trees
into a cleaning paved double drive:
the picturesque coachhouse de.
rnolished to make room for an
eight-car garage. They would have
to pick that one spot.
But even at that they'd failed to
wreck the atmosphere OF the old
place entirely. They had failed in
other ways too-for her mother had
long since retired to her home In
Washington where from behind the
buiwarks of her own social circle
and private income she made soph-
isticated nose-thumbing gestures at
her husband, except when something
with social and displomatic lure
like that polo trip brought them to-
gether again.
And Allaire's tall slim father, his
best polo days over. had settled
down here either to break his neck
In q fox hunt some day or else
drink himself to death. either of
which he would probably do very
gracefully.
1t was sunrise alone that gave
Westlands any dignity.
In the distance through a grove OF
trees she could see the red roofs of
the stables-smart modern build.
ings surrounded by a covered tan
bark track and adjacent to a pri-
vate three-quarters of a mile exer-
else course.
A couple OF her fathers brood
mares were running up and down
near white fence. Be too bad IL
he ever bred a Derby-winner-he
wouldn't have anything in life to
live for.
. Allaire smiled slightly and sent
the car into motion. She flashed in
through the gates. sped up that long
cement drive. and stopped under the
portico. Homecoming 1t hadn't been
home to her for years.
The drive was full of cars so she
knew some sort of party was on,
= but the great house was quiet as
she entered. Everybody seemed to
have retired. although Ray was
usually night owl.
But no. there were still some
stragglers clinging to thu ghost of
the evening. Allaire paused on the
threshold Of the living room. A man
was asleep on divan with his hands
folded across his chest. A girl in
green evening gown had evidently
just awakened. She was walking
around uncertainty.
Allaire had never seen her before
In her life. Her fathers policy of per.
petual open house brought many
strangers in with the tide.
What are you looking for?" she
asked politely.
THE door. think" said the girl
In green. Party seems to be over.
Look at me walking around like a
perfect sap" She giggled.
a LLAIRE obligiEgly guided her
to- the staircase.
There you are" she said. Good
luck and good morning."
"I'll take the luck and you can
have the morning" said the girl.
Allaire went back to the living
room and pulled a bell cord. Blythe,
the butler. appeared. sitting a
yawn as he saw who had summoned
him. She gestured at the recum.
bent form on the divan.
"Please put him to bed" she re-
Quested. And then go to bed your.
self. The party" she added. seems
to be over"
bly, b e and mis- unconscious
charge having woozily disappeared.
the girl sighed as she glanced about
the room.
She'd always liked this room. II
was wide and hish-ceilinged and
had a huge stone fireplace. There
were pictures OF famous racehorses
on the walls. and trophy cases OF
silver loving cups. blue ribbons,
and other mementos Of horse shows
and steeplechases. She'd won a lot
OF them herself. So
But the spirit OF the room was