The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-04-23
By BLANCHE 4


Sun streamed in on brightly at
tired women, on black coated men.
An orchestra under the stair
way played softly. The brides
maids-a veritable al n b w
ushers, flower girls, assembled in
the hall, in chattering expectancy,
among them Cissy, feeling as
though she was about to witness
an execution, but looking ger-
geous as Cleopatra in shimmering,
yellow brocaded chiffon velvet
with touches of golden brown.
Mammoth brown hat. Brown Slip
pers with high gold heels, gold
buckles that brought glances of
praise and envy to Cissy's lovely
feet. They were wasted today.
An unruly tear splashed down
her tiptilted nose to the chrysan-
themums il her hands. In five
minutes Reuben would be mar
ried. All her aircastles founded
and built years ago in the black
mud of Warder were crashing
down-while she stood here with
a lot of giggling people!
She couldn't bear it! She broke
from the waiting line, slipped
through the open door.
Savagely she winked back the
tears that threatened to blind her.
Hurriedly she walked UP and
down the terrace. regardless of
her filmy train dragging over the
stones. She mustn't cry-she must
not! Her stilr heels beat it out in
sharp tattoo. She must not cry
She didn't see the messenger
boy on bicycle until he was al
most upon her. Startled she asked
Grossly: what do you want?"
Telegram for Mr.. Oliver. I'M
portantr" >f4*t
Give it to me-"
Mad, Dizzying Hope
CHE signed for it with not too
- steady fingers. Her heart was
racing like wild thing She knew
pretty well what the envelope in
her hand contained. The new ma
chinery had been tried out yester-
day It had failed then. 1t had
failed today. 1t would fail again
tomorrow. The Lutte Justis was
done for.
For a long moment Cissy stood
like a craven image, whilc turbu-
lent emotions seethed within her
and a light wind sent the yellow
train swirling about her feet. What
must she do? If she gave this to
Reuben now-would the wedding
90 on?
Cissy shut her eyes. A mad, diz-
Tying hope surged through her. If
the wedding did not 60 on?
She crushed the telegram in her
hand. Tried q crush her longings
with it. No use. This was her
chance, her one chance for happi-
ness. She had right = fight for it.
1t would be different if Judith
loved Rube-
I'm not made of the stuff of
martyrs" Cissy decided. Il want
my happiness - warm, human
here and now-If Judith is a good
sport - Everything's fair in love
and war" She was Just Cissy--
No one expected her to be fine and
noble
"T'll get this to RUDE nowl"
She walked towards t. e house.
An ushe., called excitedly from
the doorway: Hurry. we're wait
ing!"
Cissy stepped indoors - The
bride was coming down the
stairs
An old stairway. A young bride.
Youth and courage - descending
slowlv--step by step.
Judith still walked II. a sort of
trance. the leading lady in a great
drama. which was unfolding mag
nificently. If there were long hours
in the still of the night, when the
stage was cleared, when she was
seized with panic. it vanished with
the rising sun and left her high
hearted to meet this day.
Sweet and untouched as an ap-
0leblossom she came family Smil-
ing She 0oIe her great grand.
mothers wedding cow worried
with age and shrouded in folds OF
priceless old lace.
"Ah-h~h." A murmur like a
June breeze blowing over a field
Of clover. THE Bridel"
SubconSciouslv Cissy stuffed the
yellow envelope deep into the
heart of her bouquet and moved
forward with the PROCESSION.
Moved mechanically - without
sense of direction. She saw Dick
Blout. rotund and warm beside
Reuben. very straight with taut
Inns His ewes adored Judith.
God" prayed Cissy, into her
woodbrown chrvsanthe NUNS,
Don't let her fail hirr Help her.
nlease. and forget ali about me.
I'm used to hoeing my own"
The bishop impressively began
| to council the Young pair before
/ him 10 be patient. TO be true. To
bear with one another's weak
nesSes.
What does she know about
wearing 0NFt1lN8t tI1ou2nE GRSSy
fiereelv. What does she know ex-
cept having her own waT and be-
inc fused over and"
Mechanically she took the show
or Of white bridal bouquet judith
handed her. She knelt beside The
bride II she drew the telegram
cut az her own flowers nowf Her
fingers itched to draw il out.
/ ft'esrsiF&f. 1855. 5Aa.s 10 ssxs.k FsvKwsswf