The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-22
Chapter Eight
MAGNIFICENT YOUTH

MAGNIFICENT YOUTH
CAROLS next class was second
year French, also made up OF
seniors. Fourteen girls and seven
boys, the beautiful youth among
them. She spent the twenty minutes
talking about France and the things
that had happened during the
months she had spent there five
years ago, the summer CATER she
had graduated.
She made them see French as a
living language, not something that
had been elected the previous year
because the course was Grip"
Avignon, and the Palace of the
Popes; Cannes and Nice. and the
ancient towns of the maritime Alps.
Paris and the architectural legacies
of Napoleon; Pere LeChaise. the
resting-place of the great and the
near great; the vicinity of st. Sui
pice, Of which they would read in
Lies Trois Mousquetaires." /.
Then she dismissed them, conscious
of one more victory, at least for the
time being. ...- II
Her third period was vacant, and
she began to post names alphabet
cally in her roll book. Someone en-.
tered the room, and she glanced up
to find the magnificent youth tower.
ing above her.
She smiled at him. How do you
do?"
Morning" He hesitated. Can l
talk to you while?"
"Of course. Sit down." She mo-
toned to the first desk and he
crowded into it, filing it completely.
He was more than six feet tall,
and he must weigh a hundred and
eighty. she thought-most OF 1t
above the waist. His eyes were a
brilliant blue and his features
might have been by Praxiteles. He
moved and spoke with a drawl. and
she guessed that his brain drawled
too. She was consumed with curios.
ity about him.
my names Mike Hannigan," he
said. Il wanta tell you about me and
get you to help me-"
Who wouldn't help him! she
thought, and kept her face serious
as she said: That's quite compli-
ment. OF course I'll help YOU"
81 been out of school four years, "
he went on in the same deliberate
voice. as IL he tested every word
before ne said it. Il got expelled
when was sixteen-a week before
school closed. studied this summer
and took examinations to get back
In"
She wondered why he was ex-
PEELED, and didn't ask. Instead she
said: what did you do il those
four years?'
Travelled around on ships" His
voice was entirely casual. After four
years of it there was nothing 70.
mantle about travelling around on
ships. Il ran away and got job
on a coastwise freight boat. Since
then / been about everywhere in
the world" He said it simply. with
no hint of boasting.
Carol felt suddenly small and un-
important in the face of his com.
plete simplicity.
what made you come back?"
Il wasn't getting anywhere" No
where, she thought. except all over
the world! "My father works in a
cotton mill. and he's had a terrible
time till right now. didn't want ta
be like him. aud didn't want to
be tramp SEAMAN all my life. And
you have to have education if you
want to be somebody, so l came
back to'finish high school and 60
to college. l can get t. college on
football" he explained. 1--WE al
ready got an Offer"
CHE laughed in relief. That's the
- first time | ever thought much
Of the system. Now where do I come
in?"
When you been knocking around
for four years it's kinda hard to
settle down In any high school.
may start off fine. and then get tc
slipping. and l want you to sort oil
check up on me. I'll study for you
Id do anything for you," her own
quick pleasure startled her-"but
may get rough with some Of the
other teachers before l think. II de
get rough, you call me in and re
mind me about all this. Cuss ms
out"
Without doubt, she thought wild
~. this was the most astonishin.
conversation she mad ever had. Sht
said judicially: