The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-30

II
the house. always talking about
Spaih?"
mo. They haven't anywhere to
CO."
One evening, during the second
week in August, James went to the
shop, where she had told him TO
call for her. He found that she had
gone TO the Post Office to tele-
phone,
mo bad news?" he asked Ia
| mara quickly. She indicated the
evening paper. and staring head
line.
"No-just that" He read: "TtDo
British journalists reported killed
in air 0Uer Madrid Craze mistake
By dhti-dircrdtt"
There are dozens of journalists
in Madrid But. of course, she Is
calling up Mr.. Rowdon for news"
Poor Petrol" But Tamara shook
her head. with the same nom
chalance, and smiled at him.
Poor James 2andalll Until
Peter marrieS and lives more often
in London. it will always be like
this for you. Half her attention.
Half her thoughts. half her love
You must love her very much to
be content with 1t. | should think
you would be very fed up with
Peter"
Trembling
LIE looked at her. He flushed.
II Even as be . gave his loyal
answer. he knew that he was blus-
tering and lying. r.1.a,-
''Tamara: you're uncivilized."
"Of Counsel Because speak the
truth. | do not pretend"
I'm anxious for Peters safety.
too"
why should you be? He enjoys
danger. One cannot spend life
wearing oneself out about such
people" In his heart, he agreed
with her. She was right about Pet
rel. too. 1t was not enough. for
any normal man. Petrol was only
half here. he told himself. Her
graceful mind and body moved
in Ballield, dutifully. sweetly.
Tamara cut in. completing his
thought.
II think her spirit is long way
away. James. The gypsy told her
that, didn't she? She told me
things, too. | was pretending only,
when l ioked about the desk"
Her eyes met his. in challenge.
He hardly dared to ask his CUES
ton. But he must know. What
did she say?" II
Tamara looked startled. and. OBJ
stinate. 4.
mo, want tell you .i
"You must" He caught at her.
no, mol" Before he realized the
unsuitability of this scene. Tamara
had jerkea her arm free, and was
running up the stairs. with him
pounding after her. He caught her
at the top of the landing. He
trembled. to find her trembling in
his hand. She was like gaelic.
with her soft. frightened eyes, and
the 1.-THE body. Or warm, soft
bird that he had rescued from beat
ing against an imprisoning window
pane. Feeling her pulsating in his
hands, gave him a thrill Of life
and power. and sudden tenderness.
Tamara was alive. He did not let
her 60. She was alivei Petrol was
asleep.
Now will you tell me, Tamara?
Don't you realize that / have a
right to know?"
She looked up at him, anxiousIy.
Things are not an idyll between
you and Petrol. are they? You are
both trying hard, but"
Leave Petrol out of it." He was
suddenly angry with her. His
hands slipped to her wrists. II she
was trying to put him against
Petrol - TamaraIs answer came
through angry. defiant tears. He
was hurting her.
'Hew can /, when the gypsy told
me that / would live in that house
you are building for her, and use
the things we have been buying
for her. Now you know" Tamara
flung away from him, faced him.
THAT is what she told me, and !
love you, and I want il TO be true.
Now tell me what you think Of
me. that you hate me. that you
love Petrell But I have told you
the truth" The next moment he
pulled her into his arms.
Tamara. my dear, don't cry.
This is awful"
'SYes, awful, awful"
'Tt had to happen, I suppose. ]
used to laugh at you; then I knew
you attracted me. But it didn't
seem serious. We've grown into
each others lives. just as Petrol
has grown out We can't help t."
"You don't hate mel" she sobbed.
She was warm. small, passionate.
Il think / love you
"But you love Petrol"
Differently" he said miserably.
cit Is you that want, like this,
close to me. How the devil am I
to tell her? ] must, but when do
she'll 60 TO Peter, In that hell,
Tamara. I shall be responsible for
cutting her adrift again. We must
wait."
eyes. I don't think she'll notice.
When Petrol Joined them they
felt guilty. as eonspirators. But she
seemed scarcely 10 zee them. She
told them her newa
fCoetria1s. 1sss. Grace Hflgoft rsslsr,