The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-30

to do so"
Her body sagged. He was speaking
the truth and she knew it. At the
sight of her ravaged face pity stirred
in him. and he said more gently:
Wouldn't it be wiser to follow my
suggestion. Irma, and get the divorce
yourself? People will think you're
tired of me, and God knows that's
plausible enough. -"
"And if do, will you promise to
wait a decent interval before you
marry this woman? A year?"
So that people might possibly be
deceived. he knew she meant.
"Of course won't. I'm not child.
and neither is she. Our time is too
precious"
Then you'll have to make a cad of
yourself and joke of me. Because
1 won't do it."
She was bluffing him, Of course;
thinking he would not dare. And he
knew she was blufing. He stood up.
"Tm sorry you see it that way. I've
already talked to a lawyer and the
papers will be filed Wednesday"
Irma sprang to her feet. You'll
never get it. They'll throw you out
of COURT"
He shrugged. "All can do is try"
He turned away. sick of the sor.
didness and of her presence. He
wanted never to see her again.
There's no use in prolonging this
cheap wrangle. I'm taking the next
train home. and the papers will be
filed Wednesday. If you want to re-
consider you can phone me in the
next few hours"
He laid his hand on the door knob
and looked steadily at her. "And I
hope you have very merry Christ.
mas.
He opened the door and went
quickly out.
When he had gone Irma flung her.
self face down upon the bed.
She would be-from now on-one
of those homeless. undesired women
who drift from place to place: wild,
owe and divorces who migrate with
the seasons. Wherever she went
whispers would echo in her ears.
And if she left the South she would
hardly escape it: the migratory birds
covered the face of the earth. and
spread their gossip like pollen on the
winds. She had no way of knowing
that she was exaggerating her own
importance; that what she did or
where she went was of vital con.
Germ to no one but herself.
She thought wildly: I'll get back
at him somehow for the way he's
treating me. I've got to get back;
I've got to make him suffer. -.
THE apartment seemed Indifferent
L and empty after the warmth and
life of the house in Meredith Carol
closed the door softly and went
straight to the telephone without
taking of her hat.
Blake answered the telephone him.
self with an eager "Yes?"
BLAKE. :" The sound of his
voice shook her so that she could
not go on.
He said quickly: Carol, darling.
Where are you?"
"At home I've just gotten in"
May | come right out?"
"Of course. You're not busy?"
There's no one here but me. I've
been sitting here cursing the hands
u my watch"
She did not dare to ask if his news
was good or bad; she knew too well
that he would have told her il it had
been what they hoped for. A porter
rang and handed her a florists box;
tea roses and delphinium with card
that said only: with my heart. :"
Blake rang just as she finished ar
ranging the flowers and she almost
ran TO meet him. He came in quickly
and took both her hands and they
stood for space looking hungrily at
each other. Then he muttered. ooh.
Carol :" and took her in his arms.
She braced herself. "Was livery
bad. Blake?"
He WINGED. You knew better than
did. Carol-how do women get like
that?"
81 don't know" She laid her hand
against his face and he caught it and
kissed it. They're blind from birth.
l guess. You'd better-telI me about
it,"
He told her, duly and accurately,
because every word and gesture was
burned upon his mind with acid.
81 must have gone crazy at the
end" he confessed bitterly. 81 threat.
ened her and browbeat her as il I'd
been a savage. understood how
civilized men commit murder:
could have strangled her-and
laughed"
She said quietly: mo, you
couldn't Not really"
"Yes could have. wanted to-"
copyright. 1885, by Mdrsos sinasJ
Carol makes a decision she will
not Penret. tomarreW.