The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-05-23
Nothing Is The Same

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Nothing Is The Same
Chapter AZ
yIOME! She might never have
/ ] been await looked SO ex-
actly the same! Meadows, gardens,
lawns lying in November fallow-
ness. Trees bare. Only the box
wood Haunting a defiant coat of
green. Inside - warmth. beauty,
order.
Gran! Gran-darling!"
Amanda's frail, silk-elad arms
about her. welcoming her royalty.
Amanda pretending not to see her
shabbiness while she made gay
plans dinner parties. dances,
shopping tours
Jim's bear hugh Jim, bit more
reckless, bit more lovable, care
fully refraining from asking ques-
tons. Enthusiastically drawing her
into his plans for the Thanksgiving
Hunt. jim was M. F. II. now and
proud of it. =.
And the tour Of the barns
Cozy, dim, sweet with, the smell
of hay. A heart Warming. soul
warming friendliness here.
Hello all you animals, I've
come home!" Judith greeted them
above a queer tightness in her
throat.
Judith passed on to Biddy
O'Hare-restless, reckless Biddy
pacing her box stall inpatient
ly, apparently unaware of her new
son who strove on unsteady legs
to keep pace with her. Making
friends with Paddy O'Hare. a
splendid, proud three year old.
ready for his trial hunt. And HUI
CO.? Fondling the settlers silky
ears. Judith involuntarily wished
that Reuben could see his dog.
Old frien d S and neighbors
dropped in to welcome her home,
bringing absurd, loving gifts to the
children; hunting for the family
resemblance
Soon these old friends would
have to know the truth. Know her
marriage had failed
Il hear Gary is coming next
week." someone said idly.
ITO put more improvements on
his house." Dick enlightened the
group. "A stone terrace this time
and sun room"
What next? He has the old
place dressed up like a Christmas
tree now. Do you suppose he is
getting married or what?"
What" Dick said.
Everyone laughed everyone
except Judith. In moments like
these she realized the Stiffness of
pretending she had taken up life
where she laid 1t down three years
ago. Nothing was the same. Moth
ing would ever be the same again.
There could be no going back
ward. No standing still in the
present
She had a tieeting longing to do
Just that To stand quite still in
this purpling twilight and let
eternity roll over her. But she had
to so forward. Whether she
wanted to or not she had to 60.
Il want to, of course. Want a
new life-with Gary"
But before she could 60 for
ward to happiness she must wade
free of the mist and mire of the
past. She couldn't dc that-yet.
She had much to remember first
Gary telling her that Reuben
wanted to marry Cissy. She had
much to forget too--Reuben tell
ing her Gary knew the timber
was rotten. No, she could not 60
forward-yet. She needed a few
weeks In which to recapture the
tranquility of the old life.
Thanksgiving came TO Goodies
Choice like a golden leaf torn
from a memory book. A still.
bright, frosty morning with fes-
tivity in the very air. Guests arr
irving for observation-disclosures jog
ging over stubble fields. being put
over the hedges. orr krptting de-
corously through open gates.
No Peace Here
CARY arrived spectacuiarly at
~ the last minute-not the an
cry boastful man Judith had part
ed with on Winding Hill, but a
Gary sunny as the morning. who
despite his lateness and the ex-
element of the start found time
TO murmur: Il love you so. judy
Love me2"
She nodded assent while her
mind ciamored 10 know: what is
love? What is it9s
And then the peace and beauty
OF old ST. Johns. Everything hap
pening just as Il should but Ju-
dith's unruly mind wandering
back TO that first drixzly. sleety,
horrible Thanksgiving in Ford
news Gulch. How she had ionged
for home and ST. johns that day,
Now, kneeling in the little cid
church she hardly saw il. she saw
s~eaaaI Daxshors mat ffrNA eoRFtssa