The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-01-18
Chapter Four
The Choice lie Made

Chapter Four
The Choice lie Made
YOU'RE being terribly unfair"
L Noel flung at David Norris as
they rode across town in the warm
taxi.
Noel had loosened her black vel
vet cape and the lights from the
Swift-pasSing streets caught the
glow Of her white satin gown I'M
derneath.
David sank in his corner and
grumbled an answer. They were
silent for a moment until he said
petulantly. You talk of unfair
ness. You know how I counted on
Christmas with you. We half
promised the RoWlandS, and now
you're rushing away to some Cod
forSaken country house to leave
me miSerably alone. How can you
treat me like that. darling?"
David reached for her hand and
she let hers lie lifeless in his.
-}"You won't understand, dear"
heSitantly giving stress to the word
of endearment. II don't want mod
erniStic blue trees and silver COB
lets Of eggnog and lot of people
who'd forget me in twenty-four
hours wishing me a Merry Christ
mas" h
The mans hand crushed ners in
his strong left palm. "Well. you
say the woodland we'll find an
old-fashioned Christmas. Or"
eagerly he said tiff you'll
marry me first we'll go on a holi-
day cruise and pick our own poin-
settias In some warm garden"
NoePS head shook vehement
denial. Il like you so much, David.
That's what makes it difficult. But
my life is too disrupted these days
to make such an important de-
cision. You promised you'd wait a
while for my answer"
David sighed and let 60 her
hand. In the silence of the next
few minutes, she was already pick
ing up pine cones in some white
carpeted woodland, and sitting
around a table where families had
sat for so many ChriStmases. Some
place, over a snow-capped hill, a
church bell would be ringing love-
ly Yuletide music solemnly.
I'm going to Claiborne" she
announced emphatically.
At the entrance to NoePs hotel
they alighted and while she
stopped for her key, David got her
the morning papers. She carried
them and the few enveloped mes
sages to the elevator where David
told her a reluctant goodnight.
Once in her room. Noel casually
read, over the telephone messages.
She gasped with anaZement at the
second She read:
Mr.. Ceilings wants you to call
him. u IN
What could he want at this late
hour? Slowly picking up the re-
ceiver, she asked for the Lancaster
Hotel and when she had been con-
nected, she heard Allan's voice
answering her sleepily. ..
did ! waken your" she asked
remorsefully. . ~ -
"Tve been reading some drivel,
waiting your call. The Star called
Mother after dinner and wanted
some information about the adj
vertisement. Luckily I answered
and told them we were acting for
another party. / did everything
but threaten their Office with
bombing if they didn't lay off. So
we'll have to be especially careful.
since you two are determined to
60 on with this mad scheme. I've
decided we'd better work it
through the man l got this Rfter-
noon to look up the applicants"
Better Than You Think
you don't approve of or plans
at all, do you, Allan?"
What sane person would?" was
AHan's retort. "But Mothers get
ting such a kick out of it, suppose
my protests are useless"
at may turn out much better
than you think" Noel lightened
her voice with laughter.
did you have good time at
the dinner?" Allan asked, after a
hesitant pause. 81 s-
1T was nice"
"Just nice is hard on your
David" Was there a satirical twist
to the words? Noel couldn't be
sure.
"fIe's not my David yet" She
strung out the answer, as much
to herself as to Allan on the other
end.
"Well-" Was he saying Good
night? Noel waited.
'"Noel Marchand! 1t sounds nice
when say it. Almost like sister"
Noel grimaced. Sister indeed!
wouldn't it be step-sister?" she
managed. eff were that lucky?"
And then she said quickly before
he could answer her, well, good
night, Allan; I'll see you tomor-
row. We've those letters to answer
and it won't be so easy"
Goodnight Noel" Allan re-
piled.
Happy Dreams" she whispered
into the mouthpiece. And do put
some holly around them"
"Or maybe mistletoe in the Of
fing?" His laughter came out of
the night air. "Goodby, till tomor-
row." Then he was gone.
Shifting their preferences, max
ing selections, then changing their
minds occupied Mrs. Marchand
and Noel through the hours when
they were together during the