The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-05-06

They were dressed after their swim
when one of the maids raped on
the bathhouse, door.
"a young person with the cos
tunes, from Madame Phina's," she
said.
"Oh, bother. I'll have to see her.
Phina's golfing," Iris said.
"All right" Camilla said. "I'll
wait for you under the striped UNI
brella."
"In the housekeeper's room," said
the maid. Iris entered. And there
sat a small stiff figure in Grand
girl black. Sigrid, with devil in
her eye.
why on earth are you waiting
here-and what are you dressed
like that for?" Iris demanded.
Sigrid lifted face which Iris saw
was deadly angry.
Madame Phina sends me to bring
down pageant costumes. l come.
properly dressed. to the proper
room. When Miss Iris has seen the
costumes" Sigrid went on stiffiy,
81 would be glad If she would ask
the young master if might speak
to him. l have something to tell
him."
Il have something to tell you.
you idiot! Owens breaking his
heart. You're tormenting him to
DEATH"
"And what about me?" She glared
at Iris. Owen talks about gratitude
and duty. and all the while he's
getting deeper tangled in this life
Phina's playing for, with the two
of you for pawns. And what do
count. what do I matter?"
"But|he loves you and wants tc
marry you"
Then he has to break with Pima.
This is showdown. Send for him.
IRIS rang: she send a maid for
Owen. Meanwhile she tried TO
reason with Sigrid.
IF you love him. why don't you
marry him and let him go on doing
what he considers his duty to Phina?
think the trouble is you don't trust
Owen"
Trust man? If you still believe
in trusting men you don't know wha:
trouble is: you won't know till who
ever it is lets you down. | know.
was married and divorced when /
was sixteen. A gentleman who met
me across glove counter. and then
let his family divorce and buy me
off. Where did you think | got the
money to buy into Phina's?"
owen stood in the doorway. She
turned on him, icy angry again.
"Owen. | know you will be glad
to hear of any good luck that has
happened to me. | have an offer
to go to Paris. very advantageous.
am selling out at Madam Phina's.
| sail next Monday. We are through.
you and l."
"Sigrid-" He caught her in his
arms. he bent down over her. Iris
slipped away-her last glimpse was
Sigrid moving from his arms with a
cold finality. and beginning to speak.
Camilla looked keenly at Iris She
laid big shapely brown hand over
Iris's ivory long-fngered one.
you've been wonderful to me,
Iris. l shan't forget it. You know,
Iris. you're real, no matter what
Georgia says. Oh. do be careful Of
Georgia."
why. what else could l be?" Iris
said gayly. las for Georgia, l am
as careful as can be. But l have
to see her along with the rest"
Before Camilla's slow voice had
begun to answer. owen was there,
standing above the two girls. He
was as white as ghost; he was as
angry as Sigrid had been: he spoke
to his sister in a voice she had
never heard from him.
You and Phina have succeeded.
| see you have Camilla here. You
would"
Camilla looked up at him, a little
hurt and frightened.
"Am l in the way. Owen? / was
going in a minute" she said.
meekly.
mo, you're just where you should
be-" He stood before the two girls,
his stern, sensitive young face tight
Tipped. Camilla. will you marry
me?"
Camilla never saw his bitterness.
She lifted her face to his, 1t looked
as il heaven were shining on it.
In that moment she was beautiful.
why. Owen-Owen. l didn't think
you cared" she put her hand out
to him. Iris sprang up and ran.
In the days that followed Camilla
bloomed. The engagement had, by
Phina's insistence-and doing-in-
|stantly been made public. Iris was
afraid Owen blamed her for this
too: the only blot on those triumph.
ant days was her brothers attitude
of detached civility. instead of the
warm affection he had given her
before. To Camilla he was quiet,
courteous. no more.
(CoswiSht. Io,s-j6. Margaret Wi3xs.e,J
iris enters the most bitter scene
of hAr "a