The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-11-27
Chapter 80
Business Conference

Chapter 80
Business Conference
"LJONEY Is much more apt to
Il obey you, Doctor" Nina went
on. And besides. you can see my
position +. just newly married and
all-still honeymooning, really
it might look as though / wanted
to be well. left alone. for a
while"
Old DR.. Fellows laughed.
swell, I'd be glad to speak to
her about it, Nina. but you know
your mothers a bit obstreperouS
when it comes to acknowledging
i'll health :. or fatigue. as it is in
this case"
Speak to her husband Ito Rich
ard, then" ia aias 40
THAT might be better" s
"Call him up, see him. and
and let me know what he says. will
you? IF that doesn't work, though
I'm sure it win, I'll get on the iqb{i
"All right, child. ri do that:
Now you won't alarm yourself
about your mothers condition.
will you? Rest is all she needs"
CDR. Fellows, that ards an attack
Of grippe she had, wasn't it,"
eyes. It was grippe"
They said goodby and, as al
ways in her thoughts concerning
Richard. Nina found herself torn
between two conflicting things:
what was right :. and what She
wanted.
The door-bell rang. and Nina
took a deep breath {. opened it.
Nina.
She backed away, hastily.
II asked you to come here,
Richard, dear" she found herself
using an absurd, Sunday-school
voice. because there's nothing
well. clandeStine, about it. This is
a business conference"
MAY / put my feet up on a
chair. and light a cigar? May l
keep my derby on them"
Nina said, repro chfull y:
you're making fun Of me--bad
Richard"
And he said: "of course am !.
bad"
She moved to an isolated walnut
chair.
"sit down. won't your"
Thanks"
He was evidently humoring her.
Honey tells me that you're
planning to leave on cruise. in
about 10 days" she began :. in
nocently.
Richard pulled out his cigarette
case. but stared at it without
pressing the spring.
'sYe-s-s." He frowned a little.
''Nina. my-dear. ! couldn't do
anything but agree to 90 -. urge
Honey to. in fact. since it involved
a matter Of her health"
Something more than the terri
BILE feeling Of attraction she felt
for him. welled up in her a
feeling of admiration. as well. He
was fine.
II was especially moving. be-
cause 1t was the first time she had
felt 1t about him. Her love for him
had been wrong thing. and there
fore. his love for her was, too. She
had had to acknowledge that. But
now he was being -splendid; and
she had a hard time TO keep from
going over into his arms.
1t Was A Miracle
QUITE suddenly, she found her
" self asking a question that had
been in her heart for weeks. -
Richard tell me. how DO yol1
feel about Honey2" She had to
know.
He lit his cigarette now. blew a
puff of smoke up 10 the ceiling. III
looked like a cloud against the
blue of the walls.
Il wonder II | can explain to
you" he answered slowly, weigh
ing his words. "Pm tremendously
;. fond Of her, Nina. :. / love
her. | think, too: only :.
why did you marry her, Rich
ard. so suddenly? You have to
have some greater urge than fond
ness than thinking you love
someone to do a thing like
that"
He laughed a little bitterly.
'You had one. didn't you
dearest?"
"Yes :" softly. She was look
ing down.
ITO answer your question:
thought. at that time. my feeling
for Honey was the biggest thing
had ever known il was--then.
Nina >. Nina. dear, am I to be
blamed IL do a perfectly honor
able thing. and then a miracle
happens like our meeting?"
She said. more softly still: How
can you be-"
1T was--a miracle. you know. ]
think ! knew il from the FIRST
but ] wouldn't admit IL 10 myself"
"Ohl Who manages these
things9 i. What a dreadful. Gym
ical sense of humorl Oh. Richard.
why. :. SChn couldn't we have met
before7"