The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-01-26
81 Chapter II ~.
A Decision Made

A Decision Made G
ct ETS talk of something else,
l. dear. had miserable trip
and would rather not think of it
again"
Noel, sitting with David at one
sive restaurant, felt an angry flush
rising in her cheeks. She was back
in New York, with the pleasant
days at Claiborne behind her and
this was. her. first. meeting with
David since his return yesterday
from Bermuda. He was different,
somehow. She had a feeling he was
blaming her for all the unpleasant
ness of his cruise. She felt, too, that
he was being deliberately woeful
about the whole thing.
"Swanstrom expects the revised
play script from Dixon on Mon
day." David said quietly.
Noel looked at him startled.
81 was going to cal, him this
afternoon. How did you know? !
should think he would have told
me first"
well" David's words came
slowly. II happened to be talking
To- him and he mentioned it."
=, That wasn't like Swanstrom,
Noel realized. So instead of phon-
ing her producer as soon as she left
David she took taxi to his Office.
I'll expect the world to come
tumbling down on my shoulders If
Dixon keeps his promise" Swan
strom told her when she arrived.
Noel thought he would offer her
the contract then, limited at such.
Even suggesting that if he waited
too long, some other producer
might sign her.
I'll take that chance" Swan
strom told her cynically. Both Of
them knew there was no other We
hicle into which she might fit. But
his mood changed quickly. He
talked of her part, of how much
he counted on long run-of the
other members of the cast.
David didn't call her but the
next morning a huge box Of flow
ers was delivered early with his
neat writing inscribing the peni-
tent message:
Noel, my dear one, it's because
love you so much"
David, she decided, was over his
peevish mood. When the mail was
brought up she found charming
note from Mrs. Marchand:
ALLAN and I.are coming down to
New York for New Years Eve. I'll
call you when l arrive" she wrote.
Then she added, 81 dread it so
much. as the time for his going
back to South America draws
near"
Noel's spirits sank as she read
that part of the letter. She, too,
hated to think that in two weeks
Allan would be going so far away.
There was nothing important on
her list of engagements to make
the day interesting. Then she made
a sudden plan.
Using Her Head
1T SEEMED foolish all the way
i down to the Pennsylvania Sta
ton, but she bought round-trip
ticket to Orson and learned she
had only twenty minutes to wait
for the train.
Sitting. staring out through the
train window. past the towns and
fields of New Jersey, she thought
about the impulse that had driven
her to this journey. She knew more
than she cared to admit that an
other line in Mrs. Marchand's let
ter had something to do with it.
Elaine seems to realize she
made mistake in not marrying
Allan. ! wish they'd decide one
way or another. / want my boy to
be happy"
Elaine, Noel thought bitterly, al
ways had gotten what she wanted.
And now obviously she wanted
Allan again.
II was nearly three o'clock when
sc walked through the narrow,
r0Igh streets of Orson, familiar
yet so different. She stopped, in
front Of one house, smaller and
dingier than the rest. Almost ex-
DGClGQ, IOI q DIlC1 OICdIil1GSS I1lO~
ment. to see a familiar face at the
window.
That's what you came from
that's what you'll go back to if you
don't use your head" she whis-
pered vehementiy to herself. And
knew that using her head didn't
mean depending on the whims of
playwrights like Dixon, nor the
uncertain calls from producers of.
fees.
In shabby old taxi she went out
to the cemetery carrying the white
winter flowers she'd bought at the
only florist shop she could find.
While the driver waited outside
the gates, Noel laid the blossoms on
two mounds near weatherbeaten
fence. Tears fiIled her eyes. and
flowed down her cheeks as she
spoke to herself. Vs.
Mother. dsfling &, can YOU hear
me? You told me to watch out for
myself sobs punctuating her spo-
ken thpu2hts sand 7 &ill! Look
what love RoI goiils
Ridine back % the train, Noeps