The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-21
Chapter ~.
Thou Art My Woman

Thou Arr My Woman
DETER had taken her almos1
1 everywhere, thought Petrol
Tony would try to protect her. He
was strong, and self sufficient. He
did not need her, as Peter had once
done. And what was this job 81
his? How much danger did he run1
He seemed to her significantly
alert. He had a way Of glaneing al
strangers, even II he was talking Il
you. His eyes sized them up, sub.
consciously. Yes, she felt sure Tony
Lance ran risks. She would have
his love, but seldom his confidence
Was it going to be worth the
strain?
II Aunt MaiSie were here
thought Petrol. She smiled. Aunt
Maisie had had such a very simple
way of solving problems. She had
believed that the answer TO pfayei
was guidance. She would have
said. eff you love him, risk it.
Petronella knelt and prayed.
She was ready when Tony
knocked on her door. She had
changed her dress. She was srlil-
ing. Her eyes were shining. She
opened the door.
He had brought her roses. As he
gave them to her, his free arm en-
circled her, and drew her to him
She raised her face and kissed him
How hard and lean he was. She
loved him for his brusque, awk-
ward tenderness.
Feeling better about me? Less
angry?"
She nodded. Subject to about q
hundred questions receiving salts
factory answers, I'm crazy about
you. Mr.. Lancet" But now that she
was with him again, with love
thrilling through her, the questions
did not seem to matter very much
What were your youth and love
worth, thought Petronella, if you
weren't willing to face life as il
came, whatever it brought you?
"Wretched woman I love yor
without asking any questions al
all. For all / care. you may snore
your sweet head off. and have q
grumbling appendix. You may
have temper like a rocket, and 3
strong tendency to kleptomania
I'll cope with them all. shall clar
you into hospital to have adenoids
tonsils and appendix removed
simultaneously. I shall read
Shakespeare, to learn how to tame
a shrew. And I'll take back all the
things you pinch with abject
apologies. Look, I've been shop
pingi It's not the real thing. Just
a gold Arab ring, that expresse.
my feelings perfectly" He laughed
down at her, teasir ely.
What do the chas acters mean?"
She asked taking it.
Thou art my Woman! It sounds
coldly Oriental. wanted you tc
have something. Will you wear it
keep it, whatever happens? Even
II my answers to the questions are
unsatisfactory, and you decide
you'd rather be anything else on
earth. and send me packing?"
This new humility is over
towering" She kissed him. She
did not tell him that even if his
answers were impossible, and she
sent him away, the words on the
ring would still be true. do you
know you look about ten years ole
when you say sweet, stupid things
to me. ! believe you left a stern
grown up young man called An
tony Lance downstairs in the
lounge. believe you're someone
quite different"
81 feel different. But can't be-
lieve you won't suddenly come to
your senses. Let's have the first OF
those questions.
Number one. Is it your idea that
] should travel with .you-go
where you 60? Or is it your plan
to leave me, a fat, comfortable
British housewife, weeding that
Tony?"
az may be sent back to China.
! shouldn't take you there. But
there wouldn't be any need for you
to get fat while was away. Weed
ing is thinning. And it might not
be for long"
But it might be year, two
years? Suppose I turned up?"
Fat Housewife
I'D half wiring your pretty, your
lovely neck. and put you on the
next ship home again. Honestly
you couldn't see much of me, even
if | left you in some headquarters,
Besides, I hope you might have
something to occupy you at home
A young man or woman who
wouldn't want to come TO China,
81 see," said Petronella, still
rebellious, although his tenderness
pulled at her heart. urging ac-
quiescence. Fat, obedient British
housewife. and baby. Tony. | was
afraid Of this! Il won't do. Don't
you realize, Peter and -
Peter Is a journalist. Tn not,
he told her. Don't think ] under
estimate your resource and cou-
rage; the things you have done
these last years. I don't, Petrol.
promise you this. Wherever
could take you, would. But my
job-you have to take it on trus'
that Il isn't always going 30 be pos
sible. ] can't even tell you why Tn
here. in Cairo. until I've discovered