The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-05-05
Chapter ga
ENDLESS PARTY

DHINA came back then, and Iris
made an excuse to go upstairs.
The stairway was immense like
everything else. with a beautiful
turn, and fifteenth century tapes
tries along it. "Your bedroom is the
one with the FANS" Pima called
after her.
She found It finally, at the far
end of the house. 1t was exquisite;
paneled in rose brocade. draped
with Honiton lace over rose SILK.
with old fans framed at intervals
along the wall. a mirror-topped
dressing-table in the center OF the
room with drapery over its carved
top fine enough for wedding veil.
She dropped into squat rose
covered chair and saw through
doorway something she had read OF,
but never seen before--an unmis-
takeable boudoir. The period of the
whole thing. like a film over its
overt Louis Fifteenthness. was OF
evenly years ago.
Then her aunt's Iris, 1risi"
brought her out Of her dream and
downstairs.
Phina was a magnificent or
ganizer In a week it was as If the
family had lived there forever. In
a month Iris felt it was her home.
She would have liked to wander all
day in the woods and gardens OF
is incredible demesne. But she
had little time. except when Allan
Beckley appeared.
And he made love to her. Not in
the short-phrased brusqueness OF
the other men who picked her up
in their cars for golf or tennis. who
drifted in increasingly of a late
afternoon for what was called tea
cocktails and hors d'euvre served
by a superbly impassive man SER
want In the foyer. or il it was sunny
b. the swimming pool.
If-this being a season when even
the most strongly rooted were re-
trenching-they came partly for the
openhanded hospitality Phina gave,
Ihina said it did not matter.
CHE talked this over with Allan
~ next time he drove in and car
ried her off from an impending
bridge expert.
81 told you you shouldn't expect
to live up to love me for myself
alone Few do for anybody. ever.
Though I might, If you'd let me
practice. Maybe l do. anyway"
They were walking together
down a path hedged by rosebushes
hich lowered tall above their
heads. and were now. toward the
end of MAJ, beginning to bud. He
held her hand lightly as he talked:
a. he ended. he drew her to him
and kissed her lightly. there in the
warn clear sunshine. 1t was nearly
June. Everything felt like exquisite
spring, happy summer. And one
must be happy.
Phips'a said she mustn't be prim.
Aunt Elias code was thirty years
OLD. She kissed him back. d. And
tIcn she realized the excitement,
the warn thrilling. the warm hold
of a mans arms. his lips pressing
kiss after kiss on hers. He was half
laughing. but he was in passionate
earnest too. The casual manner. the
mockery. had gone.
you're wonderful adore you
your wonderful fresh Iove-when
are you going to make me happy"
she heard him mutter ardently be-
tween kisses.
The month that had passed had
seen him an almost daily visitor.
She was very fond of him and
sh was young. she loved love.
There was something missing. He
was not Morgan.
And yet. as she moved away from
him. she told herself she was fool
ish. Morgan was lost; Allan was
here; every path led straight to
him.
do you really think could make
you happy--and you me?" she said.
against his lips.
81 know it." he told her. He held
her tighter.
Then give me time-and |
think I'll try" she said.
She had burned her bridges-she
was promised to Allan
A ND then Camilla. tired of wait
"A ing for her at the house. was
coming towards them. and Allan
released her and was the casual
charming friend again: he was max
ing bis excuses al the lTn"hnon in
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