The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-12-10
chapter al
sThe Cheap TIing Ann,

ORCHARD took away the hand
N that was underneath, and
reached in his pocket for his ciga-
rette case. Then he took the top
hand away, patting hers first, and
reached for his lighter.
They were both quiet until he
pulled out the first puff.
Suppose you tell me-" he sug-
gested, then, what you had in
mind
well, only that | wanted to be
--aboveboard about whatever we
decide to do, Richard, darling /. i.
whatever you tUdnt me to do. Our
love has been a hidden, secret
thing long enough, hasn't it? :"
She blushed furieusly, but she
said, bravely: I'VE had better
go away, hadn't we, dear?" and
added: "Courageously-like Rian
and Hester"
He put down his cigarette, and
took her hand again in both of
his.
When you speak Of going away
together, Nina / become quite
incapable of constructive thought"
But Nina had the feeling he was
evading something, stalling for
time. A prickling sensation crept
UP her spine. in little waves.
Now was the time for Richard to
tell her that they must each break
away from their old life and start
a new one, together.
Now was the time to plan about
telling her husband and his wife.
Now I. but he wasn't doing
either of these. Something was
wrong. He Uds Sailing for time.
He said: "Our biggest thought,
Nina, bigger even than our love
-. has been not to hurt people !"
What did he mean? She waited.
But as he talked on, choosing
words with care, the little waves
that had been creeping up and
down Nina's spine turned into a
heavy undertow that seemed to be
drawing the very blood right out
Of her.
-. Not to hurt people. You
speak of telling Honey and David,
darling but wouldn't that hurt
them, quite beyond any healing?"
He looked at her very gravely,
and, to her horror, Nina realized
that he was not sincere. She didn't
know just yet, what he was going
TO say, but she was certain that It
was going to be awful.
II came:
"Nina-precious-I want you
with everything that's in me. L
want you to be undoubtedly
YOU must; but, lovely, have we
the right to break up two homes
by by going away together, as
you said Just now? Couldn't we
be-happy without doing that?"
She sat so still, looking down
into her lap, that he had no sus-
picion of all the things that were
seething through her.
He thought that she was agree
ing, and drew her over close to
him. She allowed herself to be
drawn.
His lips were against her hair,
now, and he could not see her face.
Eat Our Cake And -
MY way" he said, nobody
1fA need be hurt"
She remarked, quietly: "Youl
mean, Richard, that that we
can eat our cake and have il
too :"
'Why not, darling2" He laughed,
softly ). and then, remembering
his pious role: Wouldn't that be
kinder"
She said, still in the same quiet
voice: .. to have me for your
mistress, to sneak off 10 hotels !.
or were you planning on using this
h0use2 To deceive Honey and /
David, but so right on living, in
their homes, accepting their love
their money was that /
your good-kind-plan?"
''Ninai"
He started to turn her around, /
but she jerked away. Stood up and |
faced him.
Tell mel Was it?"
nina, my darling, don't make it
sound--ugly."
Her brown eyes were blazing.
Your -. your stained-glaSs ex-
preston of sanctity amuses me no
end, Richard. II Is ugly. AS foul as
Il can be, and you know il. Do you
know what was willing TO do?
Face them, and our friends, every
one. Face their condemnation, and
live together, quite openly. Let
ourselves be divorced anything,
but be honest about 1t. Do -
Richard had risen, too. A dull
red had crept up under his heavy
tan. fa1tk ~ Nc
Nina . he r,,A =, a,,n,, 1nn,t m.