The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-03
Chapter IL
A Confession

MENTALLY Kathleen began re-
furnishing, decorating, mod
ernizing the house. She confided
her plans t. Bridget.
Bridget waited a moment as
though dresding to crush this first
desire to create a home.
you'll have to let that 60 for a
little while" she warned. This is
a rented hGuse and you're a work
ing girl on SabbatieaI leave"
Bridget. investigating deep
chests for the bedding and linen
she'd been. advised they held.
lookedup. These smell to the high
heavens. They've enough moth
preventative-Cleo, what are you
worrying about?"
"rm not worrying, I'm just won-
dering where Dad, coming from a
home like this. gets his. fair for
color and rich fabrics. He's posi-
lively oriental in taste. OF course
ii could be psychological revolt
"Looki" Bridget's arms had
dipped into chest. Now they came
up dripping with cascades of col
ored lights. the CLEAN If scarlet
satin. silk of peacock blue. sheen of
golden velvet, brocades. furnished
metal cloth.
Here's your answer" she told
Kathleen. "These are ancient. and,
my dear. there's a mystery in this
house we haven't known existed. "
Kathleen said nothing. She felt
she was on the Threshold of new
world and a word spoken. might
shatteI its fragile entity.
Bedding was found and aired In
the waning sun. then darkness
gathered and the girls dined before
the living room hearth on bread.
cheese and tea, refusing to share
the kitchen with the pack rats.
Joey's contribution to the house.
hold, sprawied. jumped and rolled
on the hearth-stone. II wasn't the
season for kittens. he explained, so
he'd brought q mother cat with her
latest litter now grown to formid-
able proportions.
The mother cat, a cross between
a tiger, and "a calico. with white
vest and few black spots thrown
in for good measure, was promptly
called Gree: the kittens collec-
lively tabulated as the forty-nin-
ers.
That night Kathleen slept in the
bed from which her grandparents
had departed. She neither thought
nor dreamed of them. Her mind
was occupied with bitter triumph.
Here she was. literally in the same
building with Donald Macdonald.
And he was coming into this side of
the house, not to see Bridget. but
to visit a damned Gregory"
Curled into the one warm island
on vast. hard sea of icy sheets,
she mapped her campaign. First
on the list was control of her tenn
per. Instead of retorting in kind,
she would give that Macdonald
person such sweet answers he'd be
ashamed of himself.
BY remaining on the scene, she
could turn on the charm which had
reduced other men TO subsection.
then when she had him Just where
she wanted him, she'd bargain for
the right-of-way.
Pack Rats
CHE slept on that and awakened
~ TO new day; a day filed with
trials the first of which rested on
her white bedspread and brought
q shrek Of terror from her.
Gree was sitting there. her
whiskers, spraying from'her mouth
nth pride. Between her forepaws
lay the corpulent remains of a rat.
Take Il away she screamed.
tI&ke II aWaeee-A 80 80 -
Bridget hurried IN yawning.
you sound like radio announcer
at an. eeekl" She fled and Kafh-
leen jumped from the bed, grabbed
her clothing and fied after her,
Gree. rat forgotten. bounding at
their heels.
They took one look into the
kitchen. slammed the door and
breakfasted on bread. cheese and
tea. The forty-niners had proven
their efficiency.
While Bridget swept and
scrubbed. Kathleen tried washing
windows. It was fun. she thought
Il was like watching 3 photograph
develop. the view outside becofn-
ing stronger. more detailed with
each swish OF the cloth.
And then. toes securely fastened
about the rung Of a chair, she sat
on the sill, and frame pulled into
her lap. polished the outside.
Hills the vivid colors sofEened
BY reflection. formed q gay back
ground for her own reflection. One
swipe OF q cloth and her head.
bound by towel. appeared. An
other swipe and brown eyes smiled
back AZ her. A last swipe and she
tipped her head back 20 laugh.
Tkara rrar n ansxs II 49,. aaaee -