The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-07-10
Chapter 81
Another Guest

Another Cuest
uERE. slip my coat over your
Il shoulders so you won't get
cold, Tally commanded. THAT fog
Is really as thick as pea soupl"
As they walked around the out.
side Of the house she longed to tell
him she was sorry. vet the words
would not come. For all his kind
ness she felt his aloofness. his re-
sentiment. She wanted him to take
her in his arms and kiss her and
break down, wordlessly and emo
tionally, the barrier between them:
but he kept the conversation cas-
ual and made no move TO touch
her.
Coming from her side of the
house into Tally's was like step
ping from one world into another.
The family was gathered about
the kitchen table while Mrs Mack
buttered bread and stacked sand
witches on the shelf below the cup
board.
Nola, without looking up from
her cards, reached for Tally's hand
and held II lovingly. Il thought you
must be lost in the fog, darling"
she laughed. where have you
been. anyhow"
after company. ! brought Joce-
Ign over to the feast"
Nola looked up. "Oh = hello,
Lyn."
She Is not pleased to have me
here, Jocelyn thought. She must
love Tally terribly.
Bob threw down his last card
and added the score.
"Gramp and Noia licked the tar
out of usl" he grinned ruefully.
How about private lessons.
Gramp?"
NO Stree" the old man cackled.
Think ! want to get beat?"
Nola stood up. I'm going to
bed" she announced. yawning.
sim tired. No, don't coax me into
staying. | don't want any more
weight on this streamlined figure
Of minel Lyn can have my share
Of sandwiches. Walk around the
house with me, Bob. will your"
Gramp caught Jocelyn's eye as
the two went out the door. He
winked at her as if to say. "You got
her on the run. Josiel Now's your
chancei"
Tally frowned, obviously dis
concerted by Nola's change of
mind. However. he brought in a
comfortable chair from another
room for Jocclyn and leased
Gramp to tell them stories.
Jocelyn found herself laughing
with the others at the old mans
fanclful tales, illustrated with
violent gestures Time raced on,
swift wheels to the moment when
Mrs. Mack declared they should all
Be in bed. They called Good
night" In unison as Bob started
taking her home. stating that
Thorn had arrived as he left Nola.
I Jocelyn crawled into bed. feeling
more lonely than ever: more help
less. Tally had been so sweet to
come to her tonight, but she could
not consider his concern as per-
sonal. II was just just sort of
decent solicitude for a member of
the so-called weaker sex. 1t was
Nola he wanted S. Nola he loved.
Synonyms For Living
VERY early the next morning
v Jocelyn was awakened by the
gay sound of Nola's voice calling
from the window in the room next
70 hers. Curious. she reached for
her flannel robe on the foot Of the
bed, drew il around her and peeked
out from behind the curtains Tally
stood on the terrace below clad in
boots and riding breeches. his wool
shirt open at the neck. His head
was thrown back as he looked up
ut Nola and his strong white teeth
cleaned against his tanned skin.
Hurry up, sleepy headl" he
urged. The horses are waiting. the
sun Is shining. and It's q glorious
morning!"
Count to five," she returned.
Sand not too fastl"
Then Jocelyn. still watching,
saw Nola. slim and poised and
smart in q gray riding habit. run
out to him. They went off together.
hand in hand. smiling eagerly into
each others faces, their laughing
voices drifting back to the unhap-
py girl at the window.
Creeping back into bed. robe and
slippers still on. she huddled into
q miserable bundle. II would be
very satisfactory. she reflected. if
she could just blame someone else
for her misfortune. II would also
be nice If she permitted herself the
solsce Of self-pity. However. II the