The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-05
THE WORLD-A~xVsS
WITH A FENCEHE@
NeD Novel By MsrLas S5as -H-Fd<.


ion. The spontaneity and informali-
ty Of her copy had become such a
habit that no one-except perhaps
Blake-would notice that the heart
was missing. There was even a re-
spite from unhappiness in work:
certain satisfaction in discovering
that your brain could function in a
ruined city. :tlt.-E
But there we're few conferences
| with Blake regarding the work. She
found assignments and suggestions
on her desk when she arrived in the
morning. and she left the copy on
his desk when he was out for lunch.
When he came into the room to con-
suit member of the force she never
dared to raise her eyes.
Apparently no one noticed it: any.
thing Blake did was excusable and
understandable in these days. Laura
confided to Der that he certainly was
taking 1t hard. and hat he ought to
get away for a couple of weeks:
Mrs. Martin had remarked in dis
tress that he was apt to catch any.
thing in his rundown condition.
Carol murmured suitable words of
concern and felt an intolerable ache
in her heart.
March. Winter turned and plod-
ded back northward. and spring was
once more a whisper from afar,
sensed rather than heard. She was
the last to leave one Saturday. and
she went to the, window and stood
looking at buildings tinted with a
! thin gold wash Of sunlight.
The window was open and the air
that brushed her face seemed to
come from another place and an
other season. Strange that a breeze
through an Office window could be
laden with the odor of daffodils in
the rain. -.
CHE turned away from the window
~ and went to get her hat and
coat. Blake's door was open. and she
saw him sitting motionless, staring
at his desk. Without knowing what
she did. she turned and walked into
his Office.
He got awkwardly to his feet. like
a puppet. and stood and looked at
her. She heard herself saying harsh
ly;
"lt's late. Why haven't you been
to lunch?"
The words astonished them both,
and he smiled slightly.
Il was waiting for you to leave.
Haven't left here before you half
dozen times sinee-in over two
months"
She knew that 1t was no use. No
matter what happened she could
never get away from him; he was
the other half Of her self. She closed
the door and stood with one hand
behind her. clinging to the knob.
Il don't know why you're this
way" she said. because I'm not
worth It. I'm afraid. Maybe I'll al.
ways be afraid. But I'm more afraid
OF living without you than I am of
anything that could happen with
you. Do yeu want me-even that
way?"
He said: Il want you-any way. I
lied when told you I didn't" He
said. almost angrily: Come here!"
She came. astonished into obedi-
ence. He put his hands on her shout.
ders an gripped her so tightly that
she WINGED.
But you've got to help" he said
bluntly. 81 won't have you be a cow
ard. You've got to turn your back
on what happened and hold your
head up. Will you?"
With his hands on her shoulders
and his face close to hers It seemed
easier. Alone in her apartment the
dread would come back. but then
when the time came-she wouldn't
be alone. She would have to remem-
Der that. And II you could not re-
capture ecstasy, you could at least
hope that the gods had had their re-
venge: that henceforth they might
leave you IL peace.
YES" she said.
Copyright. 1885. By Marian SimsJ