The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-11-05
Chapter IL
Hunting-Eve At Harmony

Hunting-Eve At Harmony
THAT night in the Capitol, they
L were munching popcorn out OF
a rustley paper bag-much to the
disgust of some naughty neigh
bors.
'Tf can wangle car" he whis-
pered. would you drive down into
the wilds of Long Island with me
Sunday? Long Beach is fun in the
winter, windy and deserted. We
might find some ioowelry in the
sand"
ooh. DEAR" she whispered back,
81 wish / could, but Pm already
dated to spend the weekend there
not at Long Beach, but Long
Island. I'm sorry. I'm hunting, Sat
urday. with the Jamestown Hunt"
He managed to look properly
crestfallen, even with his cheeks
G bullying with popcorn. 'rTm deliv-
ering a car down that way, on Sat-
urday. Maybe I'll run across you in
all your glory /. fact I'll cruise
about looking for you. viii you
wave to poor landlubber, Nina?"
At her door. he said: Zone Of
these days Pm going to kiss you.
Nina. Pretty soon -. one OF these
days"
She hoped that when he did, it
would do something tremendous
TO her but she was dreadfully
afraid il wouldn't.
ais that promise. David?"
'Tm glad you didn't call it
threat. Yes, my dear. you can count
on me-"
Goodnight, then. and thank you
for the loge seats"
He was looking at her with a
look that was both hungry. de-
vouring :. and awed and adoring.
What? !. Er, oh. yes. Good
night. Nina"
Nice David.
Richard and Honey, with their
arms entwined, were just going up
the stairs.
"That red-headed chap again,
Ell, Nina? Now what kind of
swain Is that. who doesn't even
make a move to kiss his girl good
night?"
Honey looked up at him. wor-
shipfully.
There was certainly nothing
backward about your tactics. dar-
ling. thank heavenl"
"Come here, Nina. I'll finish that
young mans fob for him =" and
Honey stood back. laughing, as
Richard kissed her daughter, slow
ly on the lips.
Carl And Hester
NINA was to spend the weekend
1 ' with the Semples. They had
been friends Of the family since
long before Mr.. Stafford's death.
She went down Friday afternoon
so as to be able to hunt with Carl
on Saturday. Carl lived and
breathed horses. He thought like a
horSe-taking up one thing at a
time: and he attributed a good
many lucky escapes in his life to
his horse-sense
He was big, bluff. hearty man
Of 40. or thereabout. All the rou-
tine things were said about his be-
ing a centaur :. part of his horse.
and all that. The fact was. he liked
horses It was pretty clear after
you'd known him five minutes.
Hester Semple beautiful,
dark Hester well, she was very
different.
When Nina got of the train,
smart young groom in a whip-cord
livery raised two fingers to his cap.
The cart from Harmony. miss"
he said. and led her to a high dog
cart with huge yellow wheels.
Carl had cars. three Of them, but
~ was part Of the tradition at Har-
mony that they were only used at
might. or In the rain.
They set of down the main road
at a smart clip. and presently
swerved off into a dirt lane. After
q mile or so they made a right
turn and drove between high en-
trance gates into an avenue OF oaks
and dogwood and natural under
growth. They were bare. and a lit
tie gloomy looking now. but from
past years. Nina knew their glory
In the springtime.
Then. suddenly. they were in
full view OF the great. familiar
Georgian house: the two-story en-
trance porch. with its slender,
nuted columns. and carved Corin-
THAN capitals: the lovely entrance
door. with its fine palladian win
dows above: its two long, low
wings with glimpse OF lockwood |
of 70 the left above the brick wall |
that enclosed the garden the
magnificent copper beeches and
fha tusa afd holly traae -. ~stL.-