The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-09

clasp on her hand frightened. His
fingers were pressing into her
knuckles. She couldn't meet his
eyes-they were asking. so. many
things. She tried to focus her
glance on the bandage round his
forehead.
did you. Noel?" he asked again.
Eyes the answer was a faint
whisper.
Say it now" he pleaded, forcing
her eyes to meet his. -.
She tried to laugh it off. The Of
fort was a failure.
Dear" she said lightly.
mot like that" AwkWardness
passed She bent her head toward
him-she had to steel herself
against touching his lips then: "'Al-
Ian, my dear" All her feeling for
Allan went into the words.
Noel. darlingI" He said that
again. too. He caught her hand to
his face. kissed the palm. held it
there against his lips.
Noel was so thrilled she couldn't
think of anything except that Allan
was calling her darling!
"All the time I've been lying
here, | thought about you, Noel.
In the darkness ! dreamed you
were in the room and during the
days | waited for you to come
Il came-you knew l would"
Her heart was bursting with hap
piness. It would only last for this
heavenly moment-she couldn't
think further ahead.
you're so wonderful - I've
known that a long time" Noel
held her breath then. What did it
mean? He was in love with Elaine
Schuyler. He was marrying Elaine!
Why was he saying this to her
now? Now. when it was too late!
Perhaps it would have told
her the meaning - but someone
knocked on the door. Noel pulled
her hand away, sat up straight in
the chair. She tried to compose
herself. 70 still the wild beating of
| her heart.
I'm Dying Now
ZONE in" Adams voice was
~ husky. The summons held an
echo of his emotion.
"Oh, my dear. I'm sorry! didn't
know you had visitors" Elaine in
a soft blue suit with gay little
gray hat walked into the room.
Her arms were filled with garden
flowers She was a beautiful pic
ture as she stood there. A patch of
adhesive tape covered part of her
chin. She wore it like decoration.
Noel stood up,
Good afternoon, Mrs. Schuy-
ler," she said formally, making
way at the bedside for Elaine.
Hello. Miss Marchand. Have
you been cheering our invalid?"
Elaine laid the flowers on the foot
of the bed and with a proprietary
gesture stopped over Allan, kiss
ing his, bandaged forehead.
my poor dear" she murmured
soothingly. "Pll never forgive my
self for doing this to you. I'll do
penance for the rest of my life"
She turned then to Noel:
I'D have died if anything hap
pened to Allan" she said drama
tically.
Pm dying now. Noel thought,
watching you there with him. she
moved toward the door.
Don't go yet" Allan said, his
voice so urgent that even Elaine
looked up in surprise. Her manner
was frosty.
IF Miss Marchand has to leave,
we mustn't detain her, Allan" .,.ie
reminded him.
Noel came back to the bed. She
didn't offer to shake hands with
the patient. "Goodby, Allan. I'm
so glad you're recovering so quick
| ly,"
You'll come back tomorrow"
he asked. pleading with his eyes
and his voice.
Eyes. I'll come back tomorrow"
Noel looked at Elaine. I'VE must
pamper the invalid" she said smil-
ingly and left them together.
But the next day her flowers
came instead. with note:
Dear Allan, | wanted to visit
you today but I'm detained in town
with business / can't postpone. I'll
see you soon. Noel"
Those few moments with Allan
IN the hospital room were beauti-
tul vagueness she chung to. '4I'm
giving it undue significance" she
said several times. But she couldn't
forget his Darling" to her. She'd
remember it the rest of her life.
Elaine had brought reality in with
her-Noel couldn't dismiss Elaine
from her conjecturing.
I'm having costumes made for
Rita" Swanstrom told Noel when
she went to the theater. "She can't
wear your type of clothes"
Rita knows then she's taking
my placer" AS Noel said it she
realized that in few weeks she'd
be leaving the play-to marry
David. do the others know. too?"
mot YETI asked Rita to keep
the secret for a while"
Noel knew that was too much to
ask of Rita So she said to Gerald
during the second act intermisSion.
I'm leaving the play in three
weeks. Gerald"
Il should say I'm sorry to hear
it-but we all know you're marry
ing Norris. He's a swell guy. Noel
] hope you'll be happy"
Noel's eyes filled. Il hate the
thought of leaving all this" she
offered weakly.
Gerald accepted her explanation.
But you'll have the real thing,
Noel: this is only make-believe."
Copyright. 1858. angela Lordem)
Tomorrow: A tense moment.