The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-30
Chapter 80
SITUATION

4 FEELING of being something
he might collect along with
Matisses and lion heads came over
Iris for the moment, and then she
felt she was being the little girl
from the country again. She rose
and began looking at the pictures,
commenting on them. She was on
safe ground here.
"You know an astonishing amount
about art" he said. do you like the
zoo?"
For a moment she was going to be
courteous, then she told the truth.
Honestly. / don't. They're too
much like putting traitors heads on
London Bridge, as they did in the
old novelist"
He liked it; he laughed.
They were on the low furry couch
again. He put a casual arm about
her.
do you know" he said, "why
the room went silent when granny
spoke of the benefit for the Anna
Lispenard Home? It's the accOlade."
Iris nodded. She didn't especially
like his arm around her but she
supposed there was no point to be-
ing Victorian. I'm quite crazy about
you," his soft voice said suddenly;
his mouth pressed her bare shout
der. "Be crazy about me too"
It was done lightly, his lips were
hot on her flesh. Before she could
move or speak, she felt something
else flung about her shoulders.
Don't move" he said, pressing her
gently back against the pillows, and
rising for a moment to adjust a
mirror. Il want you to have this to
remember your first evening in my
house by"
Over her shoulders he had thrown
a beautiful wide long fur. gray with
black rosetted markings. He held
her fast. the arm that had thrown
the fur over her shoulders still
around her, their faces pressed to-
gether. as the mirror made the pic
ture of his smooth light head, his
smiling face, against her dark hair
and startled flushed face.
He had pushed her into a half
lying position on the couch, and
half knelt, half sat, close to her.
She tried to move from him, but he
kissed her again. Cray over you."
he said once more. AS she sprang up,
scarlet, pushing the fur away,
Georgia's clicking footsteps. her
sparkling red frock. her bright an
cry eyes. seemed to fill the room.
II thought you promised me that
FUR" she said with the complete
lack of courtesy which was one of
her weapons.
"a fur" said Allan. quite un-
moved. mot that fur"
"You shoot a snow-Ieopard once
n an age, you told me SOL"
Iris had pulled it off her shoulders
to hand it proudly to Georgia, but
the girls words checked her. 1.-THE
rsual routine" Georgia went on
sharply. THE Matisse room. the
present from the Lord Of the Ha.
rem, the couch"
Allan's usually slow speech has
tened a little. Georgia. you're i'm
possible"
Georg,a's face famed. 1t was a
shrew's face. Iris had always known.
She clutched Allan's arm. and did
something close to shaking him.
"And you. You dare-after every
thing"
A man servant stood in the door
way. quiet and incredibly decorous
il. the middle of these whirling
passions.
"Mr. Beckley. Mrs. Morgan wants
to speak to you. sir!"
WITH what Iris could not help
w thinking was a certain male
relief at getting away from a scene,
Allan spoke a word of apology and
left the girls together. Iris braced
herself for a continuation of the
scene. But instead Georgia changed
as suddenly as if someone had
turned a key in her. Her face
smoothed to sweetness, and she
laughed easily.
Here. put il back" she said
throwing the fur about Iris's bare
shoulders again. what a pig |
was!"
But if you are engaged to Mr.
Beckley." said Iris. you are right,
he hasn't any business to give pres
eats to other girls without your
knowledge"
Georgia stared at her for mo-
urent, then laughed again. more