The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-01-17

Hard Driving Wind
CHE was burning with impa-
y tience for the weeks to pass to
the harvest time when their finan-
cial worries. at least. could be al
teX1afeo- sssss4 ~ssfs@ -
By the end Of kGareia the ettuce
was heading. It looked Ike row
after row Of green rosettes.
Around the first OF May il would
be ready to cut Ray Powell told
her that nothing could hurt It ex-
cept z hard rain storm and hot
sunshine afterward. Such con-
tingency seemed impossible. for
the days were cloudless and the
sun shone down invigoratingIy.
Several times. when she was
going 10 or coming from town,
Media saw Bill At work IN his let
tuce field along with the men he'd
hired to weed il. Doris Powell told
her that he expected to make over
s.. 900 on his crop.
That was good news to Media
because she had about. the same
amount Of acreage planted that he
had.
As April progressed the days
grew warm. Ore morning in the
latter part of the month Media
awoke to hear a hard wind driving
IN from the Pacific. She rose hur-
riedIy ana ran the shade 70 the
top Of the window. The sky was
overcast. Thunder doomed IN the
distance.
She thought Of the lettuce which
would be ready 70 harvest In an
other week and experienced a
sense Of depression as If a cold
finger were pressing down on her
heart She tried to take herself to
task
Il can't be like this" she scold-
ed. i can't let every little thing
get me down"
The skies grew steadily darker.
The wind increased in volume,
racing across the earth like a mad
demon Around 10 o'clock there
came a swi-ling downpour that
seemed intoxicated with the ac-
companying gale. The big drops
dashed against the ground like
vicious little elementals bent on
destruction
Spring shower" Uncle Ham
observed. stirring the ashes in his
pipe with a burnt match.
And howl" Media gazeo SOM
berry at the sodden yard which
was dotted with little pools Of
water. She went into the living
room and looked out a window
that gave a view Of the lettuce
patch All she could see was rivu-
lets between the rows.
K rained all day and all night
Next morning the sun anne out
and gained in radiance as it rode
westward acrsss tie sky.
Media drove over to the Powells
to ask II they thought the rain had
hurt the lettuce. but they were not
at home.
It's Gomez
a S THE day grew warmer her
= fear mounted. She recalled
that Ray had said heat after rain
would harm the lettuce. She went
out TO her field, but everything
looked the same IA her.
Next morning she was just I'm
ishing her household tasks when
she heard the chug Of a motor out
side She went to the kitchen door
and looked out.
Bill was stopping his old sedan
under the eucalyptus tree. There
was a gravity on his face that was
different from anything she had
ever seen before. even in his most
serious moments. This expression
seemed chiseled on his features.
I'm terribly sorry. Media" he
said as he stepped out Of the car.
She thought he was speaking OF
his abrupt departure upon the oc-
casion Of their last meeting.
That's all right, Bill she as
sured him I said the wrong thing
without meaning to"
I'm referring 70 the lettuce
You mean" She couldn't 60
on.
IT'S gone.
Shed known what he was going
70 say the moment he mentioned
lettuce. yet she stared at him IN
horrifed disbelief.
Then the rain She paused
again from sheer panic.
I'm afraid so. Lesisvga and look
al Il. His tone was kenth.
They said little as they walked
70 the field. AZ the first row they
stopped. Bill pulled . head OF let
tuce and held Il out TO her. There
was still moisture between the
leaves.
This heat win make II turn
shiny and brown, he said.
Do you think it's a total lossf"
She stood fhere-slender, lovely.
the sun catching her figure In a
blaze OF light, her face, white and
worried. upturned 70 his.
You may realize = few hundred
dollars on it-but not & third Of
what i would have brought other
wise"
Looking az the green rows, she
thought. 1t can't be true. II cant
Be. Such things don't happen."
But glance AZ BIZ told her 70
was only too true. Suddenly. sl1e
fell deSolate, helpless. She reached
3 trembling hand 70 Bill Re t16k
Il Their fingers elung in a bead Of
mutual misery.
fcopsrscAt. 1851. Aiscs Maris DaassJ
NelAa and Reek are n > arsasea-
u--t. t-mrrruw. -s-----