The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-02-08
chapter 81
Eternal Adventure

IN San Francisco, Media plunged
= theoretically into her shopping.
First she bought her school clothes.
Then she looked at formals. Final
~ she chose one in peacock blue
shades that emphasized the beauty
Of her creamy skin, her dark eyes
and hair.
Strangely, though, the realiza-
tic1 wasn't nearly as thrilling as
the anticipation had been. For
some reason she was restless. un-
easy.
Media was more weary from
wishing that Bill hadn't proposed
TO her than she was from shopping.
Why did she have 70 hurt him after
he'd been 50 wonderful 70 her?
Ever since she'd met him there was
something about his quietness,
even his harshness, that gave her
strength. Fine way she had repaid
him. She wished fervently that she
hadn't stopped that day he waved
from his front yard. The expression
IN his blue eyes and about his
gtrong-cut, tender mouth haunted
her. II told her more plainly than
words could have done that his
arms and lips were hungry for her.
She was picture Of girlish love-
illness when she stood in front Of
the mirror that night. She turned
this way and that TO get the full eff
feet Of the ravishing blue gown,
then stepped back TO view her
1winkling feet.
All at once her spirit sagged. She
felt as II she were on the verge OF
tears, prodding herself to accom-
plish something she had set out TO
do and which she fc1nd not at all
70 her liking. She shouldn't be Ike
this. q rs
Reck arrived at eight-thirty.
Media was alone IN the big living
room when he came in.
You're beautiful" he said and
advanced as If he was going to kiss
her.
She found herself drawing away
from him. He looked at her in sur
prise, but he made no comment.
Outside she saw that he had
come N his own car instead Of a
taxi as they'd planned.
Then you didn't take the train
70 the ethyl" she exclaimed.
Mother wanted to do some
shopping"
-oh. she came with you'll"
She decided at the last minute
TO come"
They lapsed into silence. Media
noticed that he was nervous. She
didn't ask what troubled him. II
seemed that only her body was
there, riding beside him, and that
her mind and spirit were else
where.
She was in the first dance with
him when she caught a glimpse of
Vivian Nelson in an apple green
fEock that seemed designed espec-
ialiy for her blonde beauty. A
startled look leaped into her eyes
when her glance fell upon Media,
but Il passed quickly.
Reck danced the next dance with
the blonde girl. Media, dancing
with Val, cav that Vivian was talk
ing earnestly TO Reck who looked
uncomfortable.
Showdown
A COUPLE Of dances later Media
"A detected that he was induIging
too strongly in liquor and she eau
toned him about IL
Don't nag me" he growled- II
know what I'm doing.
He didn't return from the bar 70
claim her for the next number he
was 10 have had with her. To hide
her embarrassment. she went 70
the powder room. she found Mrs.
Reckless there, seated before a
mirror, patting her perfectly coid-
ed hair. Somehow Media had the
sensation the woman had been
waiting here, knowing that some
time during the evening she. Media.
would come 70 the room.
Oh How do you do, Mrs.
Reckless. she stammerad.
How do you do. There was no
n1istaklng the coldness IN tie
woman,s face
In silence Media sat down and
busted her cheeks with powder
WHAT, she thought. did she and
bfrs. Reckless have TO say 10 each
otherf What would they ever have
80 say % each other7
Where Is Eari7a the woman in
CURED frost on her voice.
Downstairs"
in the bari"
Il don't know" Media caught
back shrug. She didn't seem to
care where Earl was.
The poor boy is probably trying
70 muster up courage to talk 70
you"
..courage27
Hes going to tell you tonight
that he wants the engagement
broken" Mrs. Reckless stated
brutagly.
Media was for the moment struck
dumb with establishment and
showed IL She simply couldn't
keep her mouth from dropping.
her eyes from staring. The shock
was caused more By the expression
In hrs. Reckless face than BY her
announcement She thought she
had never seen such hatred on a
human countenance before. She
realized then that Mrs Reckless
had always hated her.
= VAS fhretsen st-ff1 ts,as s%es