The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-05-09
Chapter 80
Cinderella And The Prince

Cinderella And The Prince
IN The log cabin Gary provided,
i they had dinner. His eyes rested
hungrily upon Judith's animated
face, as though he was trying. to
preserve a mental picture, trying
to recall--what?
Two moths cireled the candle
fame in mad ecstasy.
Judy" Gary burst out, when
ALI had brushed away the last
crumb and they sat on at the gay
little table with the haze OF Gig
arctic smoke between them. I'VE
made an awful mess OF our lives.
didn't WEI"
She was unprepared for this
from him.
Twas thinking about it walking
up the hill tonight" the man
frowned perplexedly, trying to
figure out how u happened"
As if he didn't know! She moved
a candle an inch nkare. arlG stared
at him as ne stares at q stranger
whom one doubts. He appeared
hon estly bewilderadl She longed to
cry out: You're trying TO figure
out? You know you went away
with CisSyl You were always going
away-finging me kiss- Keeping
me waiting -leaving me ITO heart
break" y3feI
Gary said: 'Tt came over me to-
oh 20 III
/ shouldn't be here this way-just
spending an evening like any
casual caller. You should be mine
my wife,"
Loyalty to Reuben demanded
that she should contradict him.
But she couldn't contradict him.
How did il happen?" From this
distance Gary could almost forget
that Cissy's wit, charm and celeb
rity had fascinated him. That her
money mad lured him. That If it
had not been Cissy it would have
been someone else" How?"
How does everything In life
happen and-why?n She achieved
q lightness.
Because we're like those
moths" Gary said bitterly, "daz-
zled, stupid, laundering, blindl"
It was an entirely new theory
for him. Until tonigh' he had ale
ways been quite sure he could
make things happen as he willed.
Now, looking at her. so near he
could touch her, yet remote as the
moon and utterly forbidden, Gary
realized with q sort OF physical
shock that he had been trieked by
his own ego, his own cocksureness.
There was a time when he could
have had Judith. Now
Face to ace with that thing
called Love-the thing he had
played at lightly all his life, even
as those moths were playing with
the fame that sooner OF later
would destroy them--Gary found
that the hour Of reckoning - the
adding and subtracting of the bal
ance sheet, with the defici. on the
wrong side, could be devastating.
Total bankruptcy A devil of a
thing to happen to Gary Brent who
had been so surel
One of the moths fell into the
fame.
Judith sighed: II should have
put out the candle"
mo. One high moment IS worth
all OF life"
Fascinated they watched the re-
naming moth draw nearer to its
doom.
The moth, from SHEER exhaus-
ton. fell into the flame. The candle
sputtered and futtered briefly,
then resumed its steady burning
Love You
a FTER moment Judith said: Il
"A hear music"
"It's nine o'clopk. .Thel dhfQa ds
starting. Wantto trip the light IAN
tastic, Judy7 Crackerjack music
Not too crowded" TT
''Gary--if ! could dance once
1nore!e
We're sn the wayls
'sBut the babies"
Afraid 10 leave thel with AIT"
"N-no. I've never left them
since they were born
"Well-of all things. Why notgn
"Never had any reason to. Had
been living back in Maryland. I'd
have gone out every night
Cinderella going o her fairy
ball never felt n re excited than
Judith walking down Winding
Hill, on trePcherous silt heels with
her arm through Gary's.
II didn't dream there was such
q place In he world Judith said
happily. "The privacy of the will
derneSs, but people within hailing
distance love itl"
"And I love you'll" He had 10 say
It. It was torn from him--not on
the old fli' iatious note--with the
gruffness OF deep feeling, 'T've
been the worlds worst fooll Ju-
dithi ] love youl"
Hove you'll Judith tried to steady
The whirling eartl. "Gary-don't-
spoil q perfect moment"