The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-28

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4 telephoned Ma1leTss chunmery:
when MIR. Malone comes in, will
you tell him to call Miss Mallone?"
she asked the butler. She could not
keep anything as important as this
1 to herself. She must tell Peter.
/ She could not sleep, so that the
telephone did not Waken her at
half-past six. She threw back her
mosquito net and ran to it.
Peter? Are you terribly tired,
dear?"
Pretty dead. What is it?"
4 Peter, the most romantic, ex-
citing thing happened TO me last
night. I've fallen in love. Who do
you think with? Tony Lance. who
bowled against you that last match
at Suffers. Remember"
yes, but my dear girl-how?"
i His voice was rough.
Peter, Pm so happyi" Her
words tumbled over one another,
as she explained. Peter answered
her brusquely: "But you can't
| meet a person once and be sure
you feel all those things about
him." he objected. "'And you say he
sails this morning for China"
oh yes you can, Peter" she
laughed. "And ! don't think he will
sail. He's probably cabling the
Ddtty NeaDs now for permission to
stay here a few extra days. But
even If he doesn't. it can't make
any difference"
WELL, it's certainly very ex-
w citing and romantic. If you're
happy, so am ]. ! think he's prob
ably a darn fine chap. Only don't
count on it too much. ! mean, make
sure he feels the same as you do
about it before you fall zheadlong."
But Peter, I've never felt surer
about anything in my life"
Even as Petronella replaced the
receiver she saw a messenger ride
up the drive on bicycle, carrying
an armful of vivid, exquisite flow
ers. She waited. trembling with
happiness. for Ay Maung to bring
them to her; Tony's first present!
But when she glanced at the
card her heart turned suddenly
afraid, and cold. The flowers were
from Crampling.
After that Petronella was no
longer sure. Minutes passed in an
agony Of waiting. In moment, she
told herself, Tony would tele-
phone. Everything would be all
right: She would laugh at her
d o u BIT. Or another messenger
would cycle up the drive, bearing
a note, more flowers. But Tony
Lance did nothing
The paper came at seven. Open
ing it feverishly. Petrol found a
central column devoted to her
honor. British Girl Runs Riot
Canteen." Had he done that for
her? She believed so. It was dra-
matically, but unsentimentally
written. She scarcely troubled to
read it. She had done nothing to
deserve it. She had faced no actual
danger. Il had been preferable to
staying quietly at home, enduring
suspense. Surely, surely that tel.
ephone must ring? =:
Her father came in at eight, He
looked i'll with tiredneSs. He was
hungry, and in need of bath and
shave. But the paragraph had mol
lifted his anger.
Since they seem te think you a
public heroine. it's no use saying
what ! really think. Mrs. Grant
promises she, Jean. and Betty, will
help YOU tonight. if the trouble
continues" He kissed her.
But Petronella was no longer
thinking of her canteen. All She
could do was watch the clock. the
drive, and sit near the telephone.
In her mind the certainty that
she would not hear another word
from Tony, struggled for mastery
against incredulous optimism.
Men did not treat you like that; as
good as admit that they loved you,
yet hold love as if it were an in
significant thing, of no importance.
She must know, for certain, she
determined. She telephoned Tony
Lance's hotel.
After minutes which seemed
years, the clerk told her that MIR.
L8nce was not in thephotel. or in
his room. He had gone out early.
Petrel's heart leapt with sudden
hope. He was on his way to see
hert
But when she sat opposite her
father. the orange-colored papya
fruit between them on the table,
her coffee cup empty, she knew
that she was mistaken.
She spent the hour between ten
and eleven in a STATE Of hurt pride,
misery, and anger. How dared he?
He had taken her happiness. He
had escaped with complete free
dom. Tor would the telephone still
ring?l She felt shackled, helpless
to make any move. If she had been
made differently she might have
taken the car, driven to the quay
to see his ship sail. But pride for
babe it. If he had wanted her to
see him off he would have asked
her to come. All she could do was
watch the clock in the diningroom,
until the last minute, eleven. That
was the time his ship sailed. She
heard ship down in the river,
family but distinctly. That was his
ship. It was moving out into the
brown river.
She felt stunned. Tony Lance
wantonly killed something gay.
young, and beautiful, for her,
which she could never feel again.
Going to her room, she threw her
self on to her bed, and sobbed. He
loved her, but he had gone. She
was fool to have believed he
meant to seek her out again. He
hadn't. She did not fit into his
| scheme of things. So he had cut her