The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-13
Chapter Is
NAL PROSPAL

"DARDON me-" Ella Lanning said
in a detached voice. "a did not
know anyone was here. 1t Is Jo-
sephine Ross. think?"
She passed between the two en-
crossed people as If Josephine were
not there. Your tea. WILL" and she
would have gone out again in her
quiet. automatic way If Pima had
not reached out a hand and stopped
her. LET me pass. please" Aunt
Ella said. still In her quiet voice.
But Josephine held the thin little
wrist.
you'll look at me and you'll lis.
ten to me, Ella Lanning. you that
smashed everything in four lives
because you had a complex on one
lazy brother" sac said.
Ella stood and looked down at
Josephine's white. strong hand on
her wrist as if it were a speck of
SCOT fallen on it.
II can't discuss things with you
that you don't understand. Jose
phine. Lawrence was genius.
That came before everything" she
said. and would have moved away.
do you think Id try to convince
a fanatic?" said Josephine with an
edge Of contempt on her voice.
That's not what you're to listen to.
It's this: When | went off. said
something to myself, Ella Lanning.
and as long as I'm here, I'll say it
to you.
81 said to myself that you'd
broken my sisters heart and kept
me from believing in men or love
any more. because the grand Ian
nings that were geniuses and aristo-
Gratis were too good for US. And |
said that some day I'd come back
here with everything they'd ever
had and more.
I'm a famous. successful woman
now But there's more. and I'll come
back and show it to you. Perhap s
Ill help you out with little money
II you ask politely. That's all. now
you can go. FL be back when I've
got everything, and ii won't be long
now"
She released Miss Elias wrist.
"You are quite through. Will? If
not, I'll come back later" Ella said.
taking no notice of anything Phina
had said. Pima might have been a
scolding servant-maid. She n
quietly out without the tray.
smoothing down her cuff b er g
Pima had rumpled it.
Josie. my dear. you shouldn't
talk 10 Ella that way. Just one OF
your old storms" said Uncle Will.
To Iris. young as she was. 1t was as
il she were watching the third act
Of a play whose second act had
been played years before. They had
all taken up their roles where they
had dropped them when they were
young.
But as she stood there half be-
hind the door. still forgotten and
unheard. Pima suddenly changed
again from the furious woman she
had been to the smooth and capable
lady Iris had seen first. and sat down
in the chair by the bed.
Every we'll. Win. It's idiotic to
lose ones temper. but rather pleas
ant. Now let's talk about the thing
came for"
IRIS. limp from the brushing wings
OF the storm, moved unseen from
the doorway. Owen was no longer
with Morgan in the small room al
the slairhead. Morgan was sitting
there alone with moody face. He
rose and came to her impetuously.
$50 you're going TO let them sell
1t to him?" Morgan demanded with
a darkening face.
Morgan. how can you?" Iris pro-
tested. 1t did seem 10 her that one
scene was enough. You talk almost
as IL you hated me-"
Hate you?" Morgan said passion.
ately. That's just the trouble.
wish ! did hate you. Here, we might
as well have 1t out"
He drew her into the queer little
room at the stairhead. once prob
ably a sewing room whence the
mistress of the honse could watch
her maids as she w0,l.~I - .s-,