The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-04-22
Chapter %
ENCOUNTER

ENCOUNTER
DUT before Iris could open her let
- ter the light caught the silver
of her jacket, and Owen danced near
her; he had in his arms someone she
did not know. who was caught from
him. He stopped beside her.
Having a good timer" he asked
affectionately. Before she could re-
ply, Camilla saw him. Iris could feel
the culver of excitement which ran
over all her body.
Camilla. taking the speech as
meant for her. answered. "It's-its
wonderful. I'm crazy about parties.
Pm-Oh, Owen, v here were you this
morning? | wanted to see you and
Miss Pima wouldn't let me"
Owen sat on the floor in the dusk.
touching his sisters shoulder. She
could feel his shrug of Impotence as
he answered.
al was busy. l have work to do.
Camilla. though people like you
never seem to think So
"I-Oh. Owen. didn't meant to
saw the wrong thing. | always do
put my foot in it. Please forgive
me"
Georgias carrying voice broke in
on them. Camilla, where on earth
are you? There's nobody to clear
off the glasses, the tables are simply
full of them Take a candle and dc
it. will yOu?"
Camilla numbered to her feet ODE
diently, casting one last despairing
look at her lost joys in the person
Of Owen. as she went.
81 wish shed leave me alone
Owen said. Because some day III
get so discouraged about everything
-Sigrid hard as nails about marry
ing me unless | drop doing what
ought to do. and hating doing it
that I'll marry that woman. And.
suppose, make her life misery. and
she's a decent sort"
He spoke. not irritably. but Will
n Respondent note in his voice.
"OWen. Owen, you mustn't dc
that! I'm dreadfully sorry for her
| don't see how she can be 50 Oper
about being i'll love with you. but
couldn't be with her and not fee
that she's honest, and dreadfully un
happy I'm sorry for her. | don't be
lieve anybody has ever loved her oil
been kind to her in her life, The
way she acts"
mo That's where | got into
trouble. Her mother wanted a beau
tifuI attractive daughter. and ha:
punished Camilla all her life fol
looking like her father. Old Wen
dell is the ugliest man you ever
saw Her mother hoped my silly de
signs could do something for her
If anyone can. Pima can make
people look as they should and
was sorry for her and showed it
Result-as you see. She doesn't
mean to be forward she's like q
bewildered. bullied child She has &
vnOI hrain ron itr "
Iris stood there a moment. think
ing. the candle in her hand max
ing her a picturesque Illuminated fig
IRE in the dusky corner between the
tall wooden Madonna and a teak
table full of Chinese images and
cocktail glasses.
4 LIAM BECKLEY took the can
\ die from her. set it down. and
was away with her again.
81 heard you talking" he said. 81
think you're wonderful. want tC
have 4 dinner-par:y for you. It's your
duty"-his voice was little teasing
to attend it. I'll get my grand
mother to matrOnize it,"
He said the last sentence as if hC
were offering her a jewel of grea
price instead of a grandmother: she
wondered who the grandmother
might be that having her as a chap
eron was so wonderful. and then de
cided that he was simply one of thOs,
people who think everything the.
have is wonderful because it be
longs to them. But he was kind
1t was getting late. Peopl
were drifting away from the party
some Of them speaking TO Georgia
some merely piling out as though
from q restaurant. There wer
more lights now disclosing the ash
scattered. devastated place;
couple of the caterers men ca
milla was paying for. bored an,
obviously hoping everyone els
would go. fused about the ruin
of sandwiches and glasses and over
turned chairs and rolled up rugs.