The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-17
Chapter 80
fRMA COMES HOME

fRMA COMES HOME
CEPTEMBER, when the heat re-
~ Taxed its grip each afternoon with
the setting of the sun. When every.
one came back to town. Rockbrook
emptied as if by magic. and Irma
packed her clothes with exquisite
care and much tissue paper and
went home to take possession of her
house.
The warmth of Blake's welcome
astonished her. He had driven to
Rockbrook to bring her home. and
during. the drive to Atlanta he
talked with feverish eagerness of his
plans for the fall He had bought
tickets for the community concerts;
he didn't see why they couldn't get
up a dinner-and-bridge club: he in
tended to take an afternoon off for
golf during the week, and he hoped
she would play with him now and
then.
Irma was vaguely flattered by his
eagerness. but with the perVersity
of her kind she retreated as Blake
advanced. She didn't know. I. :. She
hadn't been Well lately C'well," in
Irma's vocabulary. was always said
in capitals). :. She wanted to see
DR.. Freeman before she made any
plans; he might order her to Florida
before Christmas. -.
The core of Blake's being froZe
slowly. "Irma," his voice pleaded
with her. don't talk about Florida
when you're not even home yet" He
added bitterly: Good God, never
get to see you!"
Irma smiled to herself This, she
reflected. was the secret of Blake's
eagerness: he didn't see much of
her. If she slent whole winter at
home he might be desperately glad
to get rid of her, and she preferred
having him miss her.
And then, too, there was the ques-
tion Of her Health. She intended to
see DR.. Freeman tomorrow after
noon.
Her eyes darted about the house,
searching. hoping for signs of wear.
This place is a sight" she said
with emphatic relish.
The whole thing had gone sour on
Blake. He hoped now that Dr.. Free
man would order Irma to Florida
or to Mars. Irma's absence was the
supreme luxury he would allow him.
self. even at the expense of his own
necessity. He picked up two of her
bags and followed her doggedly up
stairs.
The next morning Irma went
downtown to see what they were
wearing this fall. Shopping was her
passion, and she had her favorite
salesgirls who greeted her with cor
dial smiles and sinking hearts.
But the fall lines were still incom-
plete. and dresses chung stickily to
her arms and shoulders when she
tried them on. There was literally.
Irma told the exhausted clerks. not
a decent thing in town. She ate a
peevish. expensive lunch and went
to keep her appointment with DR..
Freeman.
DR.. Freeman had an emergency
appepdectomy. and he kept her wait
ing almost an hour. She walked into
his office trembling with nervous
ness and anger.
1t was almost five when She caiife'
out. and she called Blake pereGiP to-
rily.
I'm at DR.. Freeman's." she said.
'and I'm completely exhausted. |
wish you'd come for me right away"
"Why. of course" There was dutig
full concern in his voice. do you
mind coming to the sidewalk in
about ten minutes, so won't have
to park"
She had to stand on the sidewalk
almost three minutes. and that ir-
ritated her still more.
Its next to impossible" she said
when she was seated beside him, Ito
get along with one car"
His mouth was set. He wouldn't
quarrel with her. he swOre; it was
too degrading. Irma seemed to relish
a good rousing battle; it stimulated
her like drink of whiskey. But it
left him sore and embarrassed and
ashamed to meet her eyes. He said
impatiently:
You have to take your choice. An.
other car and no long vacations. or
vacations and no car. It's the best l
can do"
81 have to have the changes" she
said plaintively. "Dr. Freeman says
the sooner | can go to Florida the
better it will be for me, He says I'm
in a rather serious condition" Her
voice shook.