The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-30

nucleus Of a little group Of build
ings that included the Officers
Club, the chapel, the Post Ex-
change and the Service Club.
Sanctuary
AN occasional khaki-clad flare
"A crossed my field of vision, out
otherwise the post seemed ae-
serted. Elizabeth negotiated u.
abrupt turn, halted the car in its
tracks, and the hush of the summer
afternoon closed about us.
Colonel Wright's quarters stood
in majestic isolation at the near
end of the plain, facing the review
ing stand where the band played
lugubriously on Sunday after
moons. The outlook vas lovely, but
the house itself was uncompromis-
ingly ugly. Built of red brick, like
most of the buildings on the post.
it was squarish and tall, with a
broad veranda across the front and
sides. Inside, the rooms were too
large, the ceiling too high, the win
dows big and ugly: and within the
bare white walls were crowded
the motley furnishings peculiar to
army houses. There were plain,
heavy mahogany pieces. tables of
carved ebony, black-and-white
peacock chairs from the tropics
side by side with deep and we'll
worn easy chairs. There were brass
trays and countless little brass
boxes, ugly long bolo knives and
a row Of ivory elephants parading
across the golden oak mantel Of
the living room. The Chinese rugs
were magnificent and overlapped
each other on every available inch
of floor space.
But in spite of its startling lux.
tapositions, its candid violation of
the laws of good decoration, that
interior had its own distinctive
charm-a charm that partook of
the perfume of spices and myrrh,
Of the flavor of an unfamiliar
world. Within those walls there
was sanctuary from the humdrun.
Elizabeth led the way upstairs
to room ! had occupied before.
It was Immaculate and cool, and
trees murmured outside the open
windows. The smell of green grass
was good after the city staleness
I had left behind.
"WeI' have some cold lunch
when you're ready" she said,
pausing in the doorway. II told
Annie to wait. because ] don't like
to eat alone, and Father left for
Omaha early this morning"
Somewhere a clock struck two
as her measured steps retreated
down the stairs. made haste with
sketchy toilet. There had been no
diner on the train, as Elizabeth
doubtless knew. 1t was liks her 10
know.
In the big dusky dining room
lunched hungrily, cheered on by
middle-aged Annie. a fiery little
daughter of Erin whose friendly
chatter was interrupted only BY
the swinging door into the kitchen
through which she vanished and
reappeared with speed and gusto.
Sure and 1t does my heart good
to see a young miss that's got the
good sense 10 eat her food and
relish it and not be all the time
banting and thinning and nibbling
like a rabbit at two leaves Of let
tuce."
"That win be all, Annie" said
Elizabeth. "As soon as you clear
away you may 60. You remember
we'll be out for dinner"
"Sure. and why else would be
feeding you up so hearty7 tn be
hungry you are by morning. what
with the cookin' o. that Bridget
and danein' all the night and what
ever. But I'll be in by eleveny 10
usual. and III be leavin' you some
sandwiches: I make no doubt
you'l be havin' in some OF them
fancy young men that throw their
cigarette butts in my clean sink.
Well-have good time" And she
f1ounced out
Elizabeth distinctly blushed.
! wondered whom Annie meant
by fancy young men" Did Eliza
beth have heart interest on the
post?
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