The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-08
Gypsy 91safGes:&NS
~ o. BY MARGARET BELL housroN nj ~

* ~
Rupert TO know Of her connection
with that life, or with the boy.
"She thinks, I'd tell Rupert"
thought Dirk. "She thinks perhaps
I've already told him what / know,
so she doesn't intend that I shall
know more"
But he did not discharge the men
at the gate, and he did not order
Martin to relax his vigil.
Through November" he told
himself.
DIRK saw that Hope was bundled
~ in her new raccoon coat next
morning. tucked the robes well
about her. The day was dawning
crisp and clear. with promise of an
April-blue sky. Traces of the storm
increased as they drove north, and
that afternoon when they reached
Big Moose they found a world
buried in snow.
Dirk left the car at the railway
station. and telephOned to Sandy. a
native guide. to meet them with his
sleigh. Sandy's sleigh took them to
the Joris camp. lOg-cabin of three
rooms. boat-house and garage. all
rooted and piled with drifts. The
lake was frozen. the color of pew
ter, and gray skies brOoded over all.
heavy with more snow.
There was no trace of Rupert
The hunks had not been sept in.
and the aSfes on the hearth. the
empty bottles about the kitchen.
might have been relics of former
visits Sandy told them Il; once that
he had not seen him.
"LOOxs like he would have let ME
know. seeing always look after you
folks
Dirk and Sandy organized a posse
that afternoon. and they searched
for Rupert through all the frozen
woods. Hope went too, though Dirk
urged her to remain al the cabin
with Sandy's big birch-tire.
Toward evening Sandy asked that
they both return Ia the camp.
You're tuckered out. driving all
day. We can find him without you"
And the guides went OH searching
with torches and lanterns. while
Dirk took Hope back to the cabin
and the fire.
IT was showing again now. blow
L ing in little whispers against the
came down the black NAV of the
chimney. scattering gray feathers
of birch-ash out into the room. and
driving the flame of the candle side
ways They had forgotten to buy
kerosene. and had had to empty the
lamps into the stove to cook their
steak. Somewhere Dirk had dug up
the candle.
They washed the dishes. too. in
front of the. fire, for it was bitter
cold in the kitchen, now that the
kerosene was all gone. 1t was bitter
cold in the bedroom too, and even
here in the big liying-room, except
close to the fire. while the little
bathroom was like all ice-box.
But Hope was not complaining.
Together they sat in the wide-armed
hickory chairs, watching the fire,
and waiting.
Dirk said.
81 wish you'd lie down. and rest"
She shook her head. Her eyes
looked hard and brooding. He had
suspected for some time that she
had begun to care for Rupert, not
as she cared for that other man, per.
haps, but as friend, a benefactor
whom she desired to please. He tried
to reassure her. Rupert might have
gone elsewhere, he said.
Perhaps" she answered. "Wher-
ever he isl blame myself. | might
have stopped him f.. for a while.
anyhow. And then he might have
forgotten"
She seemed to be talking to the
fire. or thinking aloud.
Dirk said quietly. not to intrude
h m e f. merely to steer her
thoughts into the light.
How could you have stopped
him?"
by holding him that last day.
By loving him back. Only it wasn't
love. He was thinking of her
of Elinor. 1t was because she was
getting married. 1t wasn't because
he wanted me. 1t was almost like
=. revenge. Like avenging himself
on her. l couldn't bear but
now -"
She paused. Dirk in his astonish.
ment was silent. 1t was perhaps the
wisest answer, for she spoke again.
He loved her. He still loves her.
knew it the night of her dinner,
when | saw them together"
So that was why she had been so
quiet that night. She looked at him
now, her brooding eyes full of the
freight. Before that" she said, 81
wanted him to love me-"
(cotyriSht. 1888. Margaret Bel RoHssosJ