The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-11

| iris.
as Iris all you have to talk to me
about, after all these years. Col
leen?"
1t had been a love-name. Iris.
standing at the door with her
brother and Morgan. knew that, and
| felt as II she were eavesdropping.
But Uncle viii had forgotten
everything but the fact that after
twenty years he was seeing wom-
an he had-Iris knew it now-never.
in his gentle, romantic way stopped
loving.
Josephine Ross's face broke up
suddenly into convulsed lines. The
m Doth massaged youthfulness
went: in its place came haggard
youth she was like ravaged girl.
Her blunt-fingered capable hands
wrenched themselves. Then she
stiffened, steadied. She too had for
gotten her young people at the
door.
Iris turned, self-conscious for
those who were not self-conscious
for themselves, and found that
Owen and Morgan had gone. There
was a small room at the stairhead,
glassed in: half conservatory. half
sewing room. She leaned her head
back. Yes. They were there. with
the doors closed: talking pleasantly
enough. 1t seemed. That was all to
the good anyway. -.
"And you can reproach me now!"
Josephine was saying furiously.
standing over the bed where Uncle
Will lay. propped with pillows. his
thin cheeks flushed. his hands play
ing uervously with the edges OF his
gray dressing-gown. "You. tn at
treated me as you did! You. that let
your sister treat Jean and me the
way she did"
- wanted to marry you, JOSIE" he
said. 81 loved you. I've never
IOVeu dHyDOuy else.
"And what good did that do? What
did you do to prove it?" she de-
manded. "You asked me to marry
you-you that were twice my age.
with twice my knowledge of life.
But We had to wait because your
brother Lawrence was a genius.
save the mark"
And so my fine genius comes
with you to the little house where
Jean and l were working: young
girls who asked nothing but to earn
living and be let alone. and the
first know he. that you had to
help support because he was a
genius-a genius. when he'd done
nothing to show it at forty. walks
off with my little sister to Phila-
delphia and marries her.
HE didn't stop for thoughts OF
duty. No. with all his good looks
and his selfish charm and his clever
talk and his grand ways. he sweeps
off little Jean who would always be-
lieve anything she was told. and
love anybody for a kind word. the
poor little pretty thing. And still
you persuaded me to wait, and still
waited.
You were too well-bred and
proper to marry me and let me go
on working. and there wasn't the
money to support Lawrence and
Jean and for your marrying too. You
loved me. but your duty to every
body on Gods earth came before
me-or your sister Ella and your
brother Lawrence had you so coTed
and hypnotized that you thought So"
Her voice had risen: it swept on
like a flood. She came closer. and
stood above the bed with clenched
hands. Il even went to Philadelphia
to work. so that your poverty.
stricken fine family wouldn't be
shamed by a wellbrought-up girl
earning an honest living-young af.
fectionate fool | was!"
Josie. Josie. If you had only ex-
planned some OF this to me. long
ago!"
Explained 1t to you! Didn't say
1t and scream 1t for five years? But
what could two girls do against
three middle-aged people who were
all set one way. and two of them
selfish? For I'll say for you. Billy.
you were never selfish for yourself.
only for Lawrence"
He held out a thin hand. She
pushed It away.
Never mind" She had gone back
to her hard. smooth. English-ac-
cented voice. "We're through with
all that, you and |. and | suppose
should thank you. 1t was the hate
of you and your sister Ella that
drove me along. To where I've got.
To where I'll be. ="
She caught her breath.
He sat up in bed and caught her
hands. Josie. Josie. I'm sorry. We
were selfish-we were cruel. But"
She laughed suddenly. harshly,
Jerking her hands away.
She seemed about to come closer
to him. when Aunt Ella. carrying the
five o'clock tray OF tea brushed past
the rapt Iris, and then stood sud.
denly still.
(cefyishf. 1855. Gsrss,st Ri&SsmsrJ