The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-03-31

n.y.
The two younger people glanced At
leach other. with the same thought.
Sixty. His farm lost. his only son
wasted on a war. nothlngto look back
on but lifetime Of farm work and .
Ifretfrl wife. nothing in the future but
dependence on a uone-t0o- pleasant
niece. And yet old Uncle Henry. with
lhls weathered face. his shrewd kind
brain. his still strong body, could saw
calmly that he had done the best he
could. be sentimental-no. il trasn'f
thatl-be strong enough to say like !
pre-war enthusiast that he didn't be-
grudge young Henry to his country.
He meant It. Uncle Henry was as real
as he was simple. Life failure from
every point OF view. and he wasn't
broken. II was creepy somehow con-
ing ac.oss somebody like that: like
finding q temple still standing In q
place where you had thought every
thing was smashed long ago.
Ewes throat choked She glanced at
George. and saw that he. too. was
moved.
You're pretty fine. Uncle Henry"
George said abruptly.
Why, | dunno Why" he said In 4
mild surprised tone.
Then the two men went on with
their moving.
They did an amazing amount that
day. Eve placed and supervised. and
hung back the old pictures. She could
take them down when she rented.
and they hid the faded places where
they had been; the little woodeny pic
ture Of Patrice Denton. aged SIX. IN
1904. With her staring eyes hnd bunny
slan skirts: the beautiful Stuart 81
Colonel Mannersfield. bach Is the
dining room above the old crossed
swords: the photograph of Aunt Lima
with her ,coronet braids. and her Honf-,
too lace on the pnfpls crepe Eve fe-'
nembered: the currier prints In the
bedrooms; the oval gilt-framed Civil
war twin water colors OF her great
grandparents in the back parlor above
the little piano which had arrived
from the city during the day.
Il like seeing you there" Uncle
Henry said. coming in to say good
night and finding her. tired. oil the
love seat by the front-parlor are. She
smiled up at him. No use to keep tell
ing him she wouldn't stay-of that
she wanted to sell the Stuart II she
got the chance. Too sleepy to think.
anyway.
Mrs Cleveland For Tea
III INCLE Henry came back next
" day and next: and so did George.
But by Thursday. Eve was alone and
could rest. She found. to her surprise,
that she liked being alone in her do
main. She stayed about the lawn and
orchard and meadow. finding old de.
lights and showing them to phan-
tom Denny. When he came. Saturday
or Sunday. she would show him this
she would tell him that--he would
sit here
He would be crazy about the house.
she knew. he loved such things, His
phantom walked and ate and talked
with her. 90 the high old porch or &C
the little card table by the parlof
ere. or up through the budding or
chard. And he might have good news
when he came: but good or none. he
was coming. So was Ellen. certainly.
probably later Sunday because Of
playing Saturday. She and Denny
would have a little time alone. at
least.
Il broke into her happy dream when
George stood at her back door mo-
ment Saturday morning to say that
his mother would drop in that after.
noon. But she set out thin bresd-and-
butter on the old Sheffield tray with
the black and white Spode: she had
tea III ready. the long parlor immacu-
late. and herself smart in the thin
green wool which had been her last
city purchase. Her glittering rings Of
hair wer= smooth and her lips and
cheeks bright.
Eve did not like Mrs. Cleveland at
first sight. She was wiry, sallow above
her huGdled furs. with bright black
eyes and a nervous hurried way. She
sat close to the hearth fire and fretted
about maids and worried about mod
ern morals: and all the while her
black eyes darted from chair to table.
from picture to vase-always return
ing 10 the lacquer cabinet In the back
room. Suddenly Eve didnt want 10
sell II. or anything. IDHIrHt ~. I
"Not a bad piece" the lady said
finally, eff one likes that sort Of thing"
So she was going 10 tEy to run It
down? -
1T was brought over ID 1872 Eve
said. smiling and hinging open the
doors covering the tiny countless
drawers within. with their shining
birds and flowers. "And ii Is museum
piece"
Mrs Cleveland looked disconnected.
But she went on.
IF you are thinking Of disposing Of
IL you should remember
George walked in. He had walked
in and out so much that he had given
up formal entry.
where's Uncle Henry?" he began.
Then he saw his mother, and was de-
fected TO having tea. Before they
could return to the cabinet, Uncle
Henry himself was heard calling.
Somebody here to see you Eve
linal Where are you"
He followed his voice into the par
Tor. And behind him. gay and excited,
swinging his suitcase in one hand and
a box in the other. came Denny.
copyright. 1887. Margaret WiddemeT)
Denny makes . faux pas, tOmor-