The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-01
Chapter 81
Decision

TELL me more about it. can't
promise. There are reasons
] don't think | can go. But | might,
Petrol stcmmered.
Clare put cut hand and touched
hers. My dear child. I'd quite for.
gotten OF course, you have reason.
l saw the announcement in the
Times. ! should have congratulate
ed you. No, one couldn't expect a
fiance to let you go to Spainl"
THAT a. just over" Pet.onella
told her. That isn't the reason"
Instead of questioning her. Glare
explained.
Il wan; to make camp some
where in the mountains near
Madrid Soon. the city is going TO
fall to Franco" Clare assured her
with conviction I'VE shall keep
the children safe while the air
raids finish their job. then return
them to their homes. when Madrid
has surrendered" uI1va.
Petronelia's expresSion was
agonized. as she met Clare's eyes.
There's nothing I'd rather do.
It would be fine, to try to save
something from the awful wreck
age, and pain. men inflict on them.
selves. and their children. I've seen
so much suffering. I've seen chill
dren as you've seen them. pale,
starving: and babies. with eyelids
aa TnaIIuo g nrOaucac Dat 20 all,
you'd ask me to go somewhere
else Not TO Madrid"
Quite bluntly. Glare suddenly
asked heI question.
"Why?" She leaned towards her.
tive known since first met you.
that we ought TO be talking about
you" she stated quietly. IF it can
possibly help? OF course, if it can't,
shut me up. I'm so used to organiz-
Ing people" she smiled.
Il wish you could organize
me. You = you remember Tony
Lancer" PetroneIIa asked. Clare
did not pretend denseness.
$50 he is the troubled" For a
moment Petronella was silent,
while Clare waited. Then. as
though she were ten. years
younger. she blurted out the truth.
I've loved him for years. years.
know he's no good to me. but I'm
a fool. and can't help it."
One OF Clare's eyebrows lifted
Slightly. $50 you're tie girl he met
IN Rangoonl,l wondered, when he
told me-"
"He pu' me second. then 10 his
work He just went off without a
word"
"Yes. he told me something of
the sort"
at has been the same ever since.
Whenever we've met, he has &C.
knowledged it, and thought il un-
important. He knew I'd wait, be-
cause | couldn't help it But he
wouldn't admit he was glad of il,
till we met last year in Cairo. He
hadn seen me for long time. I'd
changed a great deal. It suddenly
struck him that. after all, my life
with Peter had turned me into a
possible wife for him. So, at last,
when IL really suited him, he ad-
mitted that he loved me. But
then"
Cairo?"
Petronella's low. urgent, unhap-
Ply voice described the few DAYS of
happiness, and he way they had
ended. Hel eyes met Clare's.
You see? Life with Tony would
be like that-danger. trouble, hor-
Tor. If Id married him. I'd be in
Madrid. now"
Clare Horton sat back. Her lips
smiling. her eyes soft. She shook
her head gently at Petronella.
Then that is where Vol ought
to be. my dear You love him. you
can't make your own terms with
love" I -
'But he doesn't love me enough.
He can'ti He let me gol"
Clare stirred her tea. when [
met him in China, and he told me
about you, he explained why he'd
left you. He was afraid your nerve
might 60. Well. he was right Il
didl He said you were the wrong
type to stand suspense, and the
sight Of suffering. You werel"
Petronella gulped, but sat listen.
ing to this gentle reproof.
Perhaps it was because your
life with your brother never
seemed permanent, or compulsory,
that you stood it so long. But when
you came to face marrying, and
going on"
Torn In Half
YOU'RE right" Petrol inter-
i rupted her. Il did feel like
that Tony seemed suddenly a
stranger, and not worth il. longed
for him to promise me security,
and he didn't. Il was only when
I'd had time to calm down, away
from him, that knew / still loved
him. But what would have been
the use Of it? He doesn't love me
enough to give up anything for
mel ! should have been miserable. |"
Clare bit her scone, unim-
pressed. well, it Is perfectly OBJ
yious tina. you're torn in half. try.
ing to stay away from him"
Then-you'd 60? Ny fiance fell
In love with another girl. You'd
tell him that, that had to set him
free?" Petronella challenged.
Certainly. That was also Tony's
fault"
You'd Just 60 back and sur
render on his terms?"
Glare er,iIa3 ssNo h,,f r eho,,JJ