The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-28
Chapter Nine
The Nightmare And The Dream

Chapter Nine
Nightmare And The Dream
THEY were driving Through
l. quiet, residential roads. The
moonlight was SO bright that she
could look up suddenly into his
face, and meet his eyes. He was
telling her, she realized, with q
pounding heart that he liked her.
That il only he could have missed
his ship they would have seen a
great deal Of one another.
Suddenly Tony Lance,s arm
slipped round her shoulders. He
bent his head. His lips brushed her
forehead. Their escort was OBJ
lvious of them, staring stolidly out
into the shadows cast by the trees.
''Yes, it's a great pity, Petrol. But
these things can't be helped"
Pm sorry, too" she whispered.
She brushed her forehead against
the roughness of his cheek. Fate
fate-fate" throbbed voice in her
brain. She felt very cold. She was
Shuddering from the thrill of that
light caress. She wanted Tony
Lance to put his arms round her.
and hold her tightly; to tell her
that he felt as she did; suddenly
and blindingly certain that they
loved one another, that she had
been made for him. She wanted
hum to change his plans completely
Tor her. She did not want him to
sail for China tomorrow. But she
could not speak. All she could do
was to grip his hand tightly. cling
ing to 1t, and look at him with des-
perate, revealing eyes.
They had reached her gate. He
jumped out after her. He took her
arm. tightly. up the moonlight
drive.
I'VE may never see each other
again" She said It lightly, hardly.
She was praying that he would
protest. The moment he spoke, she
could have laughed at her fears, in
exulation. For he did not pretend
to misunderstood. He disregarded
her casualnesS, as completely as
he overlooked the unimportance of
time. They had seen one another
for less than half an hour. But they
were in love. He said:
Tomorrow you'll think I was
Just part of tonight--of its wild
improbability. That is what I want
you to think. Your not made for
horror, hloodshed, and adventure,
little Petrol. You'll be thankful
when it is over; when life is peace
ful and sunny ane settled again.
You'd better think of me as just
part &c the nightmare.
She stood facing him on the
doorstep. 81 can't--don't you know
that can't?" she whispered.
You mustn't say that. You will.
I'm going to remember you, but
you must forget me-" He was tell.
ing her that he did not want to be
remembered, with words. But his
eyes commanded her never to for
get.
I'm afraid I'm going to remem-
Der, whatever you tell me-"
Funny, for the moment, I'm
afraid Of the same thing. I'd move
heaven and earth to miss that
ship"
1--WE Shall Meet Again"
IF 1T is your job you must co..
4 she told him. at won't matter.
We shall meet again."
II feel that, too. AS if we can't
help ourselves. But that's a mad
idea. Good night, Petronella, dear"
Bending his head, he kissed her
hand. That was all he had in
tended, she realized. And it meant
a great deal more than if he had
kissed her lips. But the pull of their
attraction for one another was too
strong for resistance. In a moment
she was in his arms, he was kissing
her, and she was clinging to him,
her arms round his strong neck, his
hard shoulders. In her whole body
there was wild joy. For the first
time ii mattered. desperately, that
a man loved her. Tony Lance was
her man. This was the love for
which she had waited. She had
been born and had lived. only that
they might meet. and that she
might 60 on through life with him.
II he could, of course he would
miss that ship tomorrow she
thought confidently. If it was i'm
possible, there would be letters,
cables. They would meet again in
London. Or she would 90 to find
him, literally at the end of the
earth, to China, If ne called her.
She had never dreamed that fall
ing in love meant such ecstasy.
The police car gave two polite
boots. They broke apart. He took
her again, for one long, gentle kiss,
then released hel finally. She
thought, 81 shall always remember
this moonlit garden in Burma. the
scent of the flowers, the set of his
shoulders, standing there. his
eyes"
"You must 90 now"
"Yes, Petrol. Good night. my
dear. The nightmare, and the
dream are over" What did he
mean? But she was too happy to
care.
Bending his dark head he kissed
her hands. She watched him walk
out to the police car. At the gate.
he turned. He stood looking back
at her for a moment before he en-
tered it, and slammed the door. He
leaned out slightly. His face, and
the hand he waved, were white in
the bright moonlight.
Petronella tried to cali Good
night. Tonyl" but there was too