The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-20

only way know how to behaved"
"You mean you're real"
"As far as know I'm real"
Never thought 1t up or any.
thing? Gosh. Iris. from now on I'm
your TRUE knight. That is. until you
turn into something else"
There was no visible hostess In
the big studio apartment where
Dicky led them. A red-Sashed negro
was playing a frenZied accordion
to which fifteen or twenty girls and
men were dancing. There were col
ored lantern-like lights hanging here
and there.
The story-and-a-half room was
misted blue with cigaret smoke.
Two painted Iife-size wooden Rem.
aissance Madonnas brooded. lost,
above the place. There were pes
tries on the dark panele walls.
1t might have been a revel of
Cosmo de- Medici's but for the &C.
cordionist. and the taxi horns crying
louder or softer. recurrently. below
the enormous frosted windows
draped in red damask fringed with
gold.
Georgia Blair danced past them.
in scarlet velvet pajamas that made
lris's costume seem quiet by con-
trast. She reached out unceremoni-
ously for Owen.
Here. take the platinum blonde"
she ordered her partner. who effect
ed the exchange swiftly and neatly.
Dicky saw table under window
with cocktails and hors-d euvres.
Come along" he said to Iris. and
dived through the dancers without
waiting for her to follow Two other
men stood there with glasses. They
all began to discuss polo loudly and
continuously.
IRIS stood still. gl | OF a moment
to look about her. Off in a corner.
needless of the accordion. a boy
with girls chiffon scarf tied round
his head was playing the piano. The
scarf's possessor, severely tailored.
one foot on the piano bench, was
singing to him why Was | Born?"
in mock-tragic voice
Two or three other couples we're
perched on stills and cushions maxi
ing cheerfully open love. Empty or
half-full glasses were everywhere.
An arm came round her waist: Allan
Beckley was with her, swinging her
IN his long stepped dancing She felt
his thinness. his cas- precision,
smelt lilac water family and cigarets
of a very good kind as he swung her
down the room.
the dance was so nearly done that
they stopped directly before a fire.
side seat. Allan drew her down into
it, There were embers of a fire
which opened windows had kept
from overheating the room. His
light-blue eyes considered her as if
he were looking at something very
new. very interesting which had
been given him for a plaything.
But what he said was simple
enough. Like all this?"
I'm crazy over it. It's living. And
the way t looks-the lights and
spots of color. like a Matisse. Nature
does initiate art even if Wilde had
to say it,"
He looked surprised. "Who told
you to talk 10 me about Matisse and
Wilde. young lris?" he said lightly,
but still as if he wanted to know:
and as if anything he said. Iris
thought Indignantly. was all right.
Is there any reason why 1t is for
hidden? Doesn't your mother let you
refer to modern painters? You asked
me a question and answered It.
You're the second man who has act.
ed as if said things to make an
effect. don't. and don't know any
body who does
Il am very sorry" said Allan SIM
ply. his voice amused again. "Unfor-
tunately. do know people who do,
too many of them: and knowing your
background"
But you don't!" Iris said in sur.
prise. "Or do you feel as If ought
to talk in effects because Aunt
Pima is a dressmaker? Frankly.
don't understand your attitude or
Dicky's. Or perhaps it's because |
don't belong in New York, and you're
laughing at me-"
He answered her directly. looking
at her in new way. almost as If
she were a man.
I'm not laughing at you. am
known to be interested in the things
you referred to- Most girls try to
talk to men of things of which they
themselves know nothing, to be,
shall we say?-kind. AS for Madame
Pima, it wasn't her profession I
meant. have the highest respect
for her: she is female Napoleon,
have always heard. And If you
have forgiven my slip. please tell
me about your background. l hate
New York myself"
Before she realized it she had. in
answersto few swift questions. de-
scribeds the place, the people, she
came from.
(coAriszt, 1856. Margaret Ri9lewsrI