The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-04
Chapter Eight
NEW PLANS

Chapter Eight
NEW PLANS
"OH. MORGAN. thank you! And
~ forgive me for being so horrid
to you"
Morgan frightened his arms about
Iris before he released her.
There's nothing to thank me for.
You've never been horrid," he said
inadeQuately.
"Let's go downstairs. Let's begin
right away!" she said.
AS he followed her slim erect fig
ure, flying lightly down the crazy
attic stairs. he realized that he was
lin spite of everything-in spite of
his cynicism and bitterness and ev-
erything in his past-in love again.
In love With Iris Lanning.
But won't tell her so. How do |
know she's any honester than the
rest of them? I'll wait. I'll see her
through this queer affair: it
wouldn't be decent not to help her.
But II. wait" he told himself.
Nevertheless, he quickened his
steps, following her.
They shut themselves in that sa-
cred and only private place. the
salon parlor that had been her
fathers studio. and eagerly leafed
Ella Lanning's scrapbook over to-
gether.
Its here all right" Morgan said.
"She didn't lie to you. She never
has. actually" He read the yellowed
scrap aloud:
"Je2n Ross Lanning. Suddenly,
June IL. 1917. Aged g."
There was no more than that.
"And then Josie Ross"
"She's your aunt. you know. AS
much your aunt as Miss Ella"
"Why. so she is. If she's alive. She
must have gone away and taken lit
tie Owen"
He smiled.
Little Owen must be twenty-four
now"
"Oh. he must be somewhere!"
Suddenly she was crying. Morgan.
Morgan. can understand Aunt Ella
she's never cared for anything
but Daddy. But Uncle Will-not to
tell me-"
Morgan laid a gentle hand on
her quivering shoulder. She was
crouched in her father sacred arm.
chair; her tossed questionable
lovely hair down over her hands
that lid her face. He hoped his love
did not show in the tone in which
he answered her.
"It's because they all loved you so,
they were afraic if you knew you
had people somewhere else they'd
lose you."
"But that wasn't honesti" she
cried out. You wouldn't do a thing
like that to anybody, would your"
The innocently implied faith in
him thrilled him. He answered hon
estly.
81 would try not to-"
AS he spoke he remembered that
he had no choice ABOUT trying. Be
fore he knew he loved her he had
given her his word that he would
find her brother for her.
She sat up. found a handkerchief.
and began setting herself in order.
"The girls you know don't cry. do
they?" she demanded. trying to
smile.
only when they're angry. You're
natural, Iris. want you to be just
the way you are"
COMETHING in his look made her
- drop her eyes.
Everybody does. The way peo-
pie want foreigners to go on wear
ing national costumes in America.
And | hate it the way they must
hate it. Don't think I'm foolish. Nor
gan. But I've been picturesque and
Victorian all my life. You wouldn't
like going round in sidewhiskers
and a stock. even if 1t was awfully
becoming!"
He laughed at her: she was so
pretty and so gallant and so alive,
sitting up in the big chair. tousled
and ardent
"Of course wouldn't"
"What do you think Owen is like?
she demanded. do you suppose
he'll like me? Don't you think it's
wonderful, having long-lost
brother like a fairytale ahead of
your"
Morgan's less hopeful mind fore
saw possibilities he would not Of
fer her: a day-laborer. an asylum
reared child, perhaps one of the
ragged hopeless young men hanging
about employment agencies.
perhaps he'll be like you. Per
haps he'll be like your mothers peo-