The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-01-26

Noel sent a wire to-, David to meet
her at the station. And on the train
she tried to eat the chicken sand
witch she ordered with a pot of hot.
tea. The first bite made a lump in
her throat. She knew her decision
was made!
She should be so tappyi But the
darkness outside her window was
aiwinter bleakness-comfortless. a,
little frightening.
David, worried, rushed toward
her at the head of the steps in the
big station rotunda.
Where have you been, darling?"
David took her arm solicitously,
waiting her answer.
Il went to see my old home"
Noel's voice sounded tired. 81
needed to, David" She was asking
his understanding, without further
question.
In the cab that took them into
the brightly lighted Manhattan
streets, Noel turned to David sit.
ting quietly beside her. She let her
hand slide into his and marveled;
at his eager acceptance of her ges-
ture.
you're sweet to care about me,
David; maybe don't deserve it."
Encouraged by her attitude he.
put his arm protectively about her
shoulder. She drew away slowly
and said with regretful apology:
I'm so tired, David. There's
been so much. L had to. think
about"
And when they reached the ho-
tel. she made that her excuse to
leave him.
David was substance, security
all the rest. make believe and I'M
certainty.
Practically Cured
NEXT morning note came by
Y messengerfrom David:
II woke UP with a beastly cold,
and temperature" David wrote.
Noel called David's apartment.
His servant answered and told her
Mr.. Norris was in bed. The doctor
was returning before luncheon.
ASK him If he'd like me to drop
over and see him, Josephs." Noel
said impulsively..
When Josephs came back, to the
telephone, he reported:
mfr. Norris would. be quite
pleased, Miss Marchand. If you'd
do that"
When Noel saw David's eyes
light UP as she entered the room,
she was glad she had come. She
thought he looked CHASTITY. His
face was tired and much older.
Noel walked to the bed and
touched his forehead. She was
shocked at the dry heat of the skin.
''I'm sorry you're ill.," she MUIR
INJURED as he grasped her hand and
held it hungrily between his palms.
You're like visiting angel" he
told her. 'It makes the room diff
lferent the whole world has
changed with your coming"
All the while they talked and
Noel tried to make herself cheer
full. She kept thinking that David
was so much older than she'd real
lied. Did illness do that to middle.
aged men? Gone was the sureness,
the jauntiness. He lay back on his
pillows, a dressing gown folded
over his chest.
Their she was standing beside
him. II mustn't stay longer. I'll tire
you"
David's eyes spoke their refuta-
ton. "pm practically cured by just
watching you," he treasured Noel
She though it wasn't so easy as
that. Before she left, Noel bent
down and kissed his cheek. like q
child taking her farewell!
''fsot that way" David pleaded
as his arms encircled her body bent
toward him. Noel let him kiss her
lips.
Out in the cold air again, Noel
couldn't shake off the feeling Of
David removed from her almost
by the years between she hadn't
realized until then. She tried to
lose the sensation as thought II
were disloyal to David, and dam
gerous to her decision of yesterday.
But she couldn't dismiss the feel
ing that she hadn't wanted poor,
sick David to kiss her.
Next day she went back again.
His secretary had just finished GO
ing over some mail when she ar.
rived. The business side Of David
was alien to Noel. She knew he
managed some large estates-his
own, as well. But it had never in.
terfered with his engagements
with her. She brought him flowers
and magazines. And her own pres
ence, which was the best gift she
could offer him. He seemed better.
But the temperature and hard
coughing persisted.
mo more visitors for WHILE"
the doctor announced that after
noon.
Noel was the exception. David
insisted nit. But Noel didn't know
about that.
A quiet dinner at the Swan
stroms' duplex apartment occu-
pied Noel's evening. When she re-
turned to her hotel. David's num-
Der had been left among other
messages. With strange sense of
foreboding. Noelcailed Josephs.
Mr.. Norris has taken a turn for
the worse, Miss Marchand." The
mans voice had the rare personal
tone Of his worry. 'The doctors
been here most of the evening. ]
thought you should know"
frns,,,.srAe soea Amneln yn~,3a0I