The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-04
Chapter Is
Life In London

Ak4O k@OuuOh
DETRONELLA, helped by her
L friend. Marigold Earnshaw,
found a three-room apartment.
She took it on a years lease. She
hung cheap, bright chintz curtains,
which she had made herself She
covered their divan beds with the
same cheering flower-garden ma
terial. Peter helped hammer in the
nails, and hang their pictures and
restain the shabby floors. Petro-
nella knew that it was small, poky,
and in need of redecoration, but
Ii was the best they could afford
without being an unreasonable
burden on Aunt Maisie. She loved
1t dearly. She felt a fine feeling of
possession. It was her first indi-
.vidual home.
Throughout the early summer,
they lived as socially as they could
afford. Freedom was new to them.
Peters first misgivings with re-
gard to his job were gradually
calming. They changed gradually,
to an arrogant Impotence, as he
mastered it. Once more, the devil
of restlessness, and boredom, and
ambition to press forward, con-
sumed Peter whenever he left him.
self time to think.
II can't go on doing this sort of
thing much longer. Take today!
Find out how Mrs. Smith has been
spending the money she won in the
Irish Sweepstakes! Triplets at
Hoxtonl A centegenarian (tooth-
less old foolD in Putney. Look at
the real headlines. Spain, Russia,
Germany, the economic crisis-the
things that are really happening
in the world
To escape the depression of dis
enlargement, be filled the apart
fnent with his friends, at all hours
of day, and night. They had less
sleep than ever before. She found
1t hard to learn her shorthand, and
pass her tests. The largest item
Of Petrel's housekeeping bill was
beer. A smell of stale tobacco
smoke seemed to hang permanent
ly in the sitting-room.
One of the most regular visitors
was Marigold Earnshaw. Marigold
was engaged to the only son of
Charrod's Universal Stores. He
was a wealthy, weak-faced, but
presentable young man.
Hes a very good pilot" Mari
gold told her. "He proposed to me
in mid-air. In his beautiful blue
cabin monoplane."
"You sound as If you accepted
the monoplanep She brought this
flying fiance to the fiat, once. But
Jeremy Charrod preferred anus
ing himself in more exalted places.
A gas fire, beer, and conversation,
soon palled on him.
But Marigold die not cease COM
ing. She came alone.
One night, Peter followed her
into the bedroom, where she had
left her coat. He caught her in his
arms. and held her.
"Marigold, don't 60 yet. Come
back. The sitting-room won't be
the same without your copper
head cleaning in the freight. I've
been staring at it; and at you, in
that dress. I shall miss you ter
rlbly." She wrenched herself away.
She was trembling.
She laughed at him. She put on
little black hat. with a veil.
Il shouldn't have thought red
hair was much attraction to you.
carrots!"
at oughtn't to be-" His arm
went around her. ,c.....
Honestly, Peter, l must 60. l
don't want to. The incest people
on earth come to your parties. But
Jeremy will be waiting"
He released her like a hot plate.
Damn Jeremyl"
Romantic Fools
AGARIGoLD stopped laughing.
~ They stood looking at one
another, She had beautiful eyes.
They were deeper blue than Pc
tiers, between dark lashes. Now
they were startled, lustrous, and
frightened. like a child's.
:. You've had an awful lot of
beer, Peter"
From the way Marigold's love-
1y, unwise lips said it, she wanted
to hear his denial. He could. if he
liked, prevent her ever going
anywhere with Jeremy Charrod
again. He could take her in his
arms now, and kiss the reason out
of her.
But the contrast between the
CnArred money and his present
salary was ch a tening. He
-wrenched his glance away from
-Marigold's face.
yes ! have, I'm drunLl Sorryl
Good night"
She did not understand the alb
rupt ehange in him. Women were
romantic fools, he thought. If he
had let her, she would have thrown
Jeremy over, gaily. For what? For
nothingl And later, she'd have
blamed him for it, most likely.
She drew herself up within the
frame of her silver fox collar.
s1sm afraid, after all, I shan't be
able to come next Wednesday"
Even II she hadn't any brains. he
would find it hard to forget the
way she looked at him.
When they had all gone. he
dumped into a chair. Petrol was
emptying ash-trays. She turned,
and stood looking down at him in
cuiringly.
feeling detected, somehow" he
rreaned.
sBecause you're wasting time,