The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-10
,ssssseessssssssessseseses
I'll consent to that, too. And help

Il 04SbC0 w AAC46C4 Sl4C ~
her feeling for Allan. It was past,
something beautiful she wouldn't
want to forget, ever. But it was
already in the pastl
Noel told herself she was sure Of
her own emotions when she went
back to the hospital to see Allan.
AT lastp he exclaimed not too
exuberantly when he saw her. Il
thought you were never COM. e."
He was cheerful, cordial and
friendly. He didn't hold her hand
this time nor ask her to draw her
chair close to him.
You'll soon be back at your
desk" Noel suggested.
A dark frown crossed his face.
ut won't be that quickly" he re-
piled seriously, then smiled at her.
''That hats very becoming" He
was changing the subject. sit does
things to your eyes"
And you're doing things to my
heart, Noel thought. For all her de-
termination she couldn't help it
she reached over and touched his
hand.
1--WE been thinking about you
so much, Allan" She meant about
their last meeting. the way he had
called her darling, the way he had
looked at her ardently.
"I'm glad you haven't forgotten
our friendship, Noel" He said it
slowly. keeping his voice even
and pleasant.
Noel drew back as though he had
struck her. There was no installing
the meaning of his remark. He was
putting her in her place. He was
trying to make her understand the
last meeting had been nothing i'm
portans-she was to forget It'll Well.
she would!
She'd show himl Pain Of the first
shock was submerged in her rising
anger. ''Pll be going away soon,
you know"
Kind About It
LIE turned his face away from
II her. "When?" he asked finally.
I'm a few weeks" was all she
could manage. She didn't tell him
this would be the last time she'd
see him before that. She couldn't
stand it again. She didn't want his
calm, placid friendship. What then,
did she want? Her emotions and
reason were all entangled in incon-
sistencies not even she could UNI
derStand
The room was so still she could
hear the small clock ticking on his
table. 'T'll miss YOU" Her voice
was low, unsteady. He couldn't see
that her Lips were trembling.
He didn't answer. She couldn't
bear the silence. I'D better be 60
ing" she suggested.
Not yet" as he turned. It was
plea, so insistent! you've only
just come" he protested. Cant
you stay a while longer?"
But when she sat there he was
quiet. She wanted to ask, "Am
boring you, Allan?" She couldn't
understand his mood-it was so
strange, for him. "How long will
you be here?" She had to say some.
thing!
They'll let me home soon. I'll
60 up to Claiborne, with mother"
he replied. There's not much more
they can do for me here"
Then back to your officer"
II don't know when I'll go back"
His tone closed the subject. Noel
understood him to mean that when
he'd recovered he would be mar
rying Elaine.
She stood by the bed, she had 10
get out, away from him. II must
be going!"
But she stood there as though
she couldn't leave him-this last
time.
Noel leaned down, brushed her
lips against his. BE good pa
tient and remember me, Allan"
she said. struggling to keep the
quaver out of her voice. His hand
clutched her shoulder, holding her
face close to his.
81 can't bear it'll"
The choking words came out be.
fore she could stop them. Allan's
arms frightened round her, pressed
her face against his. "You mustn't
cry, darling" his own voice was
strange.
81 don't want to leave you.
Allan"
His arms loosened their grasp.
His hand touched her face, brushed
away the tears under her eyes.
You're so sweet, Noel. You mustn't
feel sorry for me-" His voice
seemed to come from far of.
That's what it is"
She Strengthened up and walked
to the window. took out her mirror
with a shaking hand and tried to
cover the marks of her crying. Why
had she made such fool Of her
self? He'd been kind about it,
''pm. sorry ! was so si1lyi" She
couldn't see her face in the tiny
mirror, there was only blur. By
the time she turned from the win
dow she could smile, little shak-
lily. and say with what passed for
laugh:
about people ! like"
you're the loveliest person I've
ever known" Adams reply came
slowly. His face was ghostly white,
his lips were straight thin line
across his face. I've hurt him, she
thought frantically.
"Are you in painf" She was
thinking of his poor injured back.
"a little. I'll be all right when ]
rest" He spoke as though with ef-
fort. He was telling her to 60, she
believed.
Allan's eyes closed.
fcopyricht. 1858. Angela Lerds.I