The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-06

always had into Miss Elias hands
for the memorial fund: she wore
her shabby dresses, made over irom
old things in the attic, or years old;
she had nothing for pleasures. And
she was gayer. happier than Nor.
gan had thought anyone could be.
He took her to movies occasion.
ally-not too often. she would not
let him. They went for long walks.
He would have been caught up in
the tide of small-town life himself,
the parties that went on steadily,
including Iris on their edge. II he
had permitted it. But ne would not,
more than once in {. loLg while.
"You know. you put your worst
foot foremost. When 1 met you l
thought you spent your whole time
grousing," he said to her one lay.
when he mad man; gcd to lure her
from her sewing for one of the long
walks in the leafless woods that
they both liked taking. 1t was No
vember weather, but she laughed,
swinging along beside him. in her
old brown fall coat.
We'll. to begin with. do it only
on my Saturday afternoons off;
and besides. since you've been here
life's so much better. It's a little
lonely. being the only young person
in the house all your life. They were
all middleaged when | was born. 1t
was a grand day for the Lanning
family when you and | met on he
courthouse steps with our mutual
bad tempers. You're not so lowering
yourself, you know. Morgan. In fact.
think, you're grand person" She
laughed up at him with her sudden
brilliance that was sometimes al
most binding. ,ioy
He was on the verge Of telling her,
he loved her. He put all arm around
her, and she leaned against him as
if he had been her urcle. No. He'd
wait, just a little longer.
CUDDENLY she stopped and
- looked at her watch, lady's
gold watch of the eighties. swung
around her neck on black ribbon.
and tucked into her belt as unlike
a modern girls possessions as
everything else she owned.
You'll just have time to get to
Kay divers. She'll never forgive
you or me or anybody if you don't
turn up at her party"
"Ill go if you will"
ats the same old story. Morgan.
I can't go like this. And l can't go
any other way. But you can. and you
must. One of our best-dressed young
men. you are!"
Her pluck, her smiling bravery
and generosity, suddenly came over
him.
IF go this time will you come
with me next?"
81 will. But will not be lured into
taking even bungalow apron from
the ten cent store at your fair
hands"
She laughed. Uncle Will actually
held out ten dollars from the nav
Of the memorial fun1. If he'd given
it to me yesterday could have
blossomed out in an elegant gar.
ment and even new shoes but he
forgot till this morning. bless his
absent-minded old heart, and the
layette for Mrs. Warden had been
promised. You go on, and she'll in
vite me some more for your sweet
sake. You don't know what a boon
a young man from the city is?" She
began to recite cheerfully:
There was young man from the
city
Who saw what he thought was a
kitty.
He gave It a pat
And said Nice little catr 80.
"Only you didn't! You said 'horrid
little cat
You're not cat! You're a grand
little sport" I'm,
Morgan. this from you! Why. II
will keep me proud and pufed up
till l see you again." II .
She gave him a little shove.
"Come with me-"
"No. have something to do"
"Place-cards again?"
"a singing lesson to a small child.
I'll have tea for you and Uncle Will
when you get home"
She shook her head. turning and
going. :. Well. he'd go on to Kay
divers party. bad imitation OF
New York's whoopee-before-last.
Iris wanted him to. And he would
make sure of an invitation for next
time for Iris.
Kay, friendly. exuberant. brown
eyed. met him on the stone porch
Of the Oliver house.
"It's simply swell to see you." she
said. putting a couple OF tanned. eff
ficient hands on his sholders and
giving him a friendly shake. Come
on in. I've got some OF the grandest
new records you ever saw. and they
say you know how to make Dali.
Quiris just like old man Daiquiri's
eldest son. You should have dragged
Iris along"
(coSyriEAt. 1856. Aarsarss WiSdswsrl
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