The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-21

Carol took the two o'clock train
after declining Ben's offer to drive
her to Atlanta. She had had enough
Of Ben for a while.
Even the Terminal station wore
a dress of Sunday calm. She raked
it quickly with her eyes and knew
that Blake had not met her. Her re-
lief was overwhelming. and she
breathed a prayer of thankfulness
that she had not protested against
something he had no intention of
doing.
A hurrying figure said: Carol"
and she stopped. Porter Murray was
| coming towards her.
81 nearly missed you," he painted.
Forgot to ask when you'd be back,
so 1 called Blake on the chance that
he knew. Gosh, I'm glad to see you,
sweetheart"
She laughed unsteadily. Porter
would no doubt fill her evening with
his gay and facile presence. and to.
morrow there would be work again.
"Not half so glad as 1 am to see
you!"
She would never learn, now. whe.
ther or not Blake had meant to
meet her.
NOVEMBER. The days were short
~ and bright, with the hard, clear
brightness of glass. Irma. abetted by
DR.. Freeman, made her plans to
leave for Florida Immediately after
Thanksgiving. She was keyed to the
point of hysteria, by the implications
of her condition rather than by the
condition itself. but she was still in.
capable of confiding in Blake.
The armor of his own indifference
was pierced at times by bewilder.
ment She acts. he thought. as If she
was afraid / would assault her.
He speculated several times on
the nature of her troubIe-correct-
| ly. had he but known it. But he put
aside the answer as improbable.
Irma had always revelled in her
nervousness; it made her tremen.
dously important to herself. and fed
her ravenous ego.
He made no further attempts to
detain her, partly because he sensed
that he was beyond any help lrma
might give him. She resented it ir.
nationally; she had no intention of
staying with him but her vanity de-
manded that he plead for it. Their
parting at the station was a travesty
on marital affection: words and ges.
lures as meaningless as the lines of
a fourth-rate actor.
He said: BE sure to wire me
when you get there. I'll be anxious
until l hear"
81 will"
She was preoccupied with the dis
posal of her luggage.
Blake said mechanically: 81 hope
this change is going to make you
feel better. :"
"Oh. think it will"
The luggage was arranged now
and she could give him her atten-
ton. He kissed her automatically
and her flesh was not even alive be-.
meath his lips. Don't think of the
last time you were at the station,
he told himself angrily. Don't think
of anything.
When he had gone Irma put her
hat carefully in it's paper bag (the
porter never did it properly then
lay back and closed her eyes. She
felt raw and quivering. as if small
pieces of her skin had been Clipped
away. leaving the nerve ends ex.
posed. The noise of the racing train
with its monotonous clackety-clack
echoed and re-echoed in her brain.
Relaxation came with the miles,
paid out by the racing train like a
tisherman's line. The monotunous
clacking became a lullaby. and her
thoughts faced forward rather than
back-towards the warmth and COL
or and ease of Florida.
Rose would be in Marston this
winter. although not until after
Christmas. and several people whom
she had known in other winters She
would be inviolate for four months.
and beyond those four months she
would not think.
Somewhere, long way of. tele-
phone was clamoring. Carol turned
uneasily and rose almost to the sur
face of consciousness. That can't be
the alarm clock. her mind protested; ;.
why doesn't someone answer It?
The clamor persisted. dragging
her finally from the depths of sleep.
It's my phone. she realized dazedly,
and stumbled across the room to an
swer it.
A hoarse voice said Carol :"
and stopped.
The voice was unrecognizable.
yes"
This is Harry. l hate like the
devil to disturb you at this hour.
BUT. ;" Harfys voice snapped in
two. and then with the jagged rem
nants he went on.
copyright. 1885. by Marian Sints)
Tomorrow, Carol puts In one OF
L the NEST difficult days OF her life.
( sStsss5sf,