The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-12
Chapter 26
DEAR IRMA

DEAR lRMA
TRINA looked demure and deprecat
ing, and hoped Blake wouldn't ar.
rive in that horrible old linen suit.
She said sweetly:
swell, like him. -" And cut the
cards for Mrs. LaConte to deal.
Blake arrived at half-past five,
wearing the horrible linen suit, be-
cause it was cool and he didn't care
how he looked when he got there. He
slid from under the wheel and
walked stitfiy up the steps; dusty
and wrinkled and hatless, with his
thin, fair hair in complete disarray.
Irma rose and went quickly to meet
him.
BLAKE. darling! You look like a
tramp"
He grinned without mirth. Il feel
like one"
She was lifting her face to him,
and he kissed her in surprise. II was
the audience, no doubt; in the pri'
vacy of their room she would have
waited until he was clean and then
offered her cheek. She presented
him to the three women and then
said:
Shall come down to the cottage
with you?"
Thanks" his voice was dry, 81
think can fird it by myself. l want
to clean up first of ALL"
"Then I'll be down later, when
we've finished this rubber. -"
But he was back again. shining
and smelling of soap and talcum.
before this rubber was finished. He
looked much better now-almost
handsome, lrma thought COM
placently-but. oh. he still looked
too youngi He looked sometimes,
desperately and pathetically young.
She said eagerly:
Come take my hand. darling"
ing OF chairs followed. mo. take
mine. really must dress for dinner.
anyhow. -"
Blake held up his hand. I'm not
going to take anybody's. I'm going
to sit here and read the paper. if
you'll excuse me"
Irma glanced at the women and
smiled tolerantly. Let him alone.
You know men and their wretched
newspapers. -"
wonder why l come two hundred
miles to be so bored? he thought.
could stay at home and be bored
with so much less effort and ex-
pense. God knows how Irma stands
it.. . He wanted to feed his heart
and eyes on the quietness and beau.
ty before him. but If he put the pa.
per aside those old harpies would
start dragging at him again, so he
chung to it doggedly.
But there was no escaping the
harpies that evening after dinner:
he had to play with Irma against
two of the worst of them-a set
game at twentieth of a cent. He
abhorred gambling with women, but
he couldn't insult them b. refusing.
When the hands of his watch had
creaked rustily to midnight the or.
deal ended. and he was alone with
Irma in their cottage.
She began fastidiously to undress.
81 never saw such bridge" she com.
planned.
He shrugged. too weary even to
unbutton his coat. We'll. you saw
who won"
Eyes. but you got by with muir,
der"
Damn the bridge anyway" he
said. and kissed her with his mouth
quick anC thirsty.
Instinctively she stiffened and
then relaxed. but he had noticed her
reflex.
Revision swept him suddenly.
icily. and his arms dropped like
weights TO his sides. He turned slow
ly away.
"Never mind" he said DULY. "Ill
let you alone"
He heard her draw in her breath
in. sharp establishment. She was 81.
lent for several seconds, then she
snapped:
ooh. very well. -"
And the thought penetrated his
weary. beaten mind that she was &C
tually insulted and a little disap-
pointed.
LIE arranged a golf game the next
Ii morning with another weekend
husband who was champing to get
away, and Irma furnished another
surprise.
81 think I'll walk around with
you" she decided.
He glanced at her delicate clothes.
at the high. sharp heels on her white