The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-04-07


4 really sOould stop. Kilian.s snI0
GEORGES unhurried baritone behind
her. 4 don't think she likes Il :
Jack kilian released his grip. looked
foolish. then recovered himself ana
managed grin. Always buftine ia.
Cleveland. Eve and ] didn't want
| you"
Better take this down with soa.P
said George. handing his friend the
handbag Eve had come for. And
kiiian. 80 matter-of-fact was ceofne,
actually went, ss...
See you soonl" be said to EyS He
tried e be iaunty, but his air vas
rather cresifallef. a
Thank you." Eve said. scarlet
Anen. 4 hate your friend. He's hot-
rible."
mot my friendl- said George.
here. sit down. you poor child He
was talking rather faster than Usual.
and more angrily. Il happened to 20
20 Groton with him. and he cams
pranclng and wagging up to me when
Mother dragged me to Mrs. Powers:
that's al. And Mitzi's tried 70 team
US ever since. ! know he's q boundef.
Thank heaven. I came up for the bnf
too"
She took q long breath. Things were
less important suddenly. at his steady
coolness She stood. forgetting to
move or speak. leaning against the
door. Downstairs the front door
slammed. The car started up outside,
dlmmed In the distance. The party
was gone. all but the Featherstones
A sense Of spaciousness settled down
over the old house. There was no
sound except the normal country
ones. . sleepy hen remarkina that she
had laid an excellent egg. the cfeak
Of . tree outside the window II the
wind.
Eve 81 down on the bed. She did
not know how piteously and YEARLY
she loo<ed up at George. nor why be
suddenly came and stood over her
with his hand resolutely behind him.
and said. Eve" and stopped. and
then said. Eve" again. He said Il
q third time. and then:
Il can't stand it any longer. Yours
50 sweet and beautiful and piuck1
and alone. with not a soul to look
after you. / meant to keep quiet for
. long time. but can't Brutes like
that being able to jump at you. be-
cause they think you have nobody 10
fght them off,"
She stared up at him. scarcely able
20 believe what she heard: she was
too tired 10 move. She put her hands
fat on each side Of her and leaned %
them and listened helplessly.
"Please don't look frightened a
me-" George said desperately. He sat
down opposite her on small sti8
chair. i won't rush you. There's
nothing 70 do about It for q month,
Il you like. I tried to prepare you
little yesterday for what thought I'd
be saying maybe in month or two
about what my life is. and the sort Of
things Il would have. -. thought
you understood little ] always know
what want out Of life immediately.
I don't act like II or look like Il,
know. bur it's the way am about
everything. My profession. Getting
this Seymour house. My university. !
knew that first night Mitzi Power
dragged me over to your party. where
didn't at all want TO come--l knew,
when I saw you and talked TO you
that wanted you for my wife"
he stopped talking. He had flushed.
but aside from that. he seemed per-
fectiy collected. He waited to hear
what she would say. as II he had been
asking her to 60 for walk.
Her Inevitable Answer
1--we continued to sit on the edge 81
Il the spare-room bed. She was
too astonished to answer George ira-
medialely. He was by no means the
hrst man who had wanted to marry
her. but he was the first who had ever
surprised her when he said So There
he sat, quite motionless in the little
walnut chair he had pulled up before
her. His steady bright blue eyes vera
on hers; his lips were shut close. She
felt afraid. suddenly. OF the strength
she sensed behind that seemingly un-
emotional waiting. And she realized
suddenly. with a sinking heart. what
loss her inevitable answer might
mean; how much. in spite OF shorts
lived angers. she had come to depend
on this strength and kindliness Few
men we're friends If they once had
wanted to be lovers And Eve did
want him for a friendl
Nevertheless. she spoke.
Il can't. George"
Il don't mean now. / mean-thirk
about IT,"
Il can't even think about IT."
"You don't know that" he said.
$50 long as there isn't anybody else,
you might want me after awhile. II
worked hard at it. don't think you
liked me when you met me; think
you do now. You might-care for me
enough to marry ..ie-after awhile.
She shook her head.
George, can't" Al
mot ever"
"Not ever"
He said firmly: "You don't know
that. And so long as there isn't any
body else. I'm going on thinking YOU
win. Except" he said naively. "that
I'm crazy over you, we scarcely know
each other yet"
His eyes never wavered, but she
saw that bis hands, those broad strong
hands laid fiat on his knees. were
trembling.
fcopyri0ht. 1857. Margaret WiddensefJ
Friendship survives fer George and
Eve, tomorrow.
1