The Key West citizen., 1939-10-10
Chapter 35


THE door opened and two more
Il women came in.
Hello, Cecily, you've quite a
large party from Darelea, haven't
your" Nora Goodale greeted her.
Mrs Goodale's place was the most
pretentious in Vickersport. She
kept a staff Of nine servants. It was
rumored that her husband had
made his money during the pro-
hibltion era in some manner with
which the government wasn't ac-
Quainted. The colony went to Mrs.
Goodale's large parties and invit-
ed her TO theirs-sometimes. She
wasn't yet accepted. Perhaps in
ten or fifteen years
When she had gone out and Gee
ny was still struggling with her
new hsir-do. trying to make it roll
rp and not out, Laura said, 81
really loathe myself for gossiping
but Nora Goodale would get some
where quicker If she wouldn't al
ways be so fiamboyant Did you
notice her necklace?"
Cecily said she hadn't.
@Just a little platinum chain and
an emerald drop that must be
worth a fortune. Not exactly what
Mrs. Brewster would consider de
Tsgueur for simple Yacht Club
dance"
A blast Of music greeted them
as they opened the dreSsing-room
door. Philip rose from a chair near
the dressing room. "I've never
danced with you, Cecily," he said.
Are you terribly good?"
Practically Pavlova," she said
modestly. "But you'll have to
dance with the two of us. :" She
turned around to include Laura.
Laura had gone.
She fitted smoothly into Philips
arms and they glided off, falling
into perfect rhythm. "You are :"
he said.
I am what?" She was thinking:
Glide smoothly on this beautiful
hoor. / wonder how Locke dances.
I'll bet he can't negotiate a turn
without knocking into two other
couples. He's just the kind of a
man who couldn't dance.
Perfect" Philip said.
Cecily had forgotten what she
had asked him. II didn't make any
difference whether a man could
dance well or not. You didn't
spend all your life dancing. At
least the Cecily Stuarts didn't.
General Harboard cut in. Guess
these young fellows cart corner
the prettiest girl in the room," he
said CALAMITY and swung Cecily
of her feet.
Cecily. making an effort to keep
her balance and feeling not a little
like a storm tossed craft, devoted
Der attention to keeping an even
keel.
The dance was long one and
there were no young men who
dared TO cut in on the General.
After they'd cavorted, hoped,
skipped and careened around the
room a seemingly endless number
Of times the music came to an end
and Cecily disentangled her tulips
from the Generals old-fashioned
watch-chain.
THAT was great" he painted.
~Tll claim another dance"
"It was fun." Cecily said aloud.
Under her breath she said. "Not if
know il. siri"
Freed of the General, Cecily
found herself instantly claimed by
. procession of the younger men.
She danced for a solid hour with
out sitting down.
She finally gave up when she
was dancing with one of the Penny
boys.
~One more twirl. Jim. and I'll
have housemaid's knee. Let's sit
this one out and you go get me
nice long, cool drink. please"
Furtive Figure "ore1
THEY walked their way off the
u floor and went into the trophy
room where cooling drinks were
being served.
II was chilly there. Jim Penny
said. 'I'll get your wrap. Hold this
tsble-rll be back in iiffy."
You'd better take my check.
An polo coats look alike"
Over the top of her frosted glass
Cecily's eyes sought Laura. She
hadn't seen her dancing and she
didn't see her anywhere about.
She's probably holding hands
with the smitten medico." Jim
Penny offered. He folded Cecily's
coat over her chair. 81 say, that re-
minds me. I've asked Mrs. Fernan-
der for this next dance. Where'll
] take you. Cecily?"
~Just leave me-" Cecily i'm
plored, and wriggled her toes in
her sandals. my feet need a rest"
Sure it's okay?"
~Of course, it is. / want to give
my feet a rest and If 90 back I'll
fail into the arms Of the General
or the indefatigable Grandpa Mac
Donald"
Cecily finished her drink, put
her glass on a table and walked
out through the French windows
intending to return at once. Back
Of the clubhouse it was deserted.
And breathleSsly beautiful. The
music was muted there. The night
was alive with beauty, the trees
stirring in a September breeze.
The dock running down from
the clubhouse was a Shadowy Skel-
eton IN the moonlight. A tempting
oath 10 walk. Cecily stood unde-