The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-16
Chapter 90
INTIMATE MEAL

INTIMATE MEAL
lPLAKE had found two glasses.
- Say when"
"When." Carol took off her apron.
r'I'm all through. Let's take that out
and enjoy it."
They sat on the couch and drank,
and the electric fan whirred busily
to meet an echoing breeze that
drifted through the windows.
Blake said lazily: "Now that I'm
not even pretending to work. l guess
I ought to put on my coat"
"Why" She rested her head
against the couch and closed her
eyes.
Search me. Because it's the cor
rect gesture, suppose"
81 hate gestures, because they're
nothing but-well-gestures.
81 like some of 'em," he insisted.
"They do oil the machinery. have
an, idea we're sloughing them too
fast; the. effects disintegrating.
Maybe it's the disintegration
that's making us slough them"
He shrugged. That's regular
hen=or-egg argument, and it's too hot
to think about it." He got up and
went to the bookshelves. mind If !
look?"
"Of course not. Why should II"
81 don't know. Looking at peoples
books is sort of like looking at their
minds-unless the people are like
some of my friends who cleaned out
the parental shelves when they mar.
ried. just to decorate the living.
room. Say this is lovely!" He had
set down his glass and taken out the
copy of South Wind" II haven't
seen this edition"
The book brought Denis Ford
sharply back. "For Carol" he had
written, who deserves the world
with a fence" Well, she hadn't found
it, and never would: this friendly
hour with Blake was as close to Il
as she was likely to come. She could
rest with Blake because they were
united in their aloneness.
"It is lovely. isn't it," she said.
He turned and looked at her. one
eyebrow lifted. smiling Quizzically.
'You mustn't blame that on the
book" he said.
She stared at him in establishment
and then laughed. "It's all right to
read my books, but I'll be hanged If
] want you reading my mind" She
got up abruptly.
"I'm going to set out the lunch,
as our cook says"
To save space she served the
plates in the kitchen, and Blake car.
ried them in.
81 never saw such a girl" he pro-
tested. Where the devil did you
learn to cook?"
81 can't-much. I'm an exponent
Of Milly's theory. She says If you
can broil steak and make cream
sauce you can always get by"
sit sounds logical. Some night I'll
bring a steak over, and see how we'll
you do that"
LIE ate ravenously, hardly stop
II ping to talk. When they had
cleared the table to make room for
the Camembert and liqueurs he
gave a sigh of pleasure. The peace
in his soul had deepened with the ap-
peasement Of an unaccustomed
physical hunger.
"Tell me about your family" he
begged. Il have an idea they're a
swell lot
'"They are" She told him eagerly:
OF Pats talents and wit; of Jill's
serenity and beauty; of Milly's
sweetness and courage. And finally
Of Evan. who had been everything.
Blake's eyes were thoughtful. 81
can't imagine anything better than
a family like that. l was an only
child. and my parents are dead"
He added abruptly: 81 wish some
OF your family would come to visit
you, so l could meet EN-"
"They probably will. when it's
cooler. wouldn't wish an apartment
on them in this heat"
The thought occurred to both of
them that he could hardly make the
acquaintance Of her family IL the
family did come. You couldn't ex.
plain this sort of friendship. nor
could you explain away Irma. And
In the fall. they were thinking. Irma
would be back-to replenish her
wardrobe for Florida. -.
She pushed uer chair back. Lets
get this table out of the way; don't
like to sit and view the remains"
He stood up. "I'm washing the
dishes"
1.-THE devil you are"