The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-20
Chapter 26
Il Love YOU

Il Love You
TONY'S regard travelled from
= her short. attractive hair. over
her figure. which was slight and
tense in her neat suit. down to
pretty ankles, and smart Ameri-
can travelling shoes.
you're attractive, but still
alone. 1 wonder why?" She would
not answer.
"To make it easier, let me tell
you something. Petrol. love you.
/ always have. You were child
when : knew it first" She raised
her eyes. She was amazed He had
confessed it SO simply. 1t was like
hearing an echo of her own imagi-
nation. This was what she had
known would happen.
She dared not be glad. It could
not be as simple as it sounded.
Tony went on. | thought then. as
| still do. that the most unfortu-
nate thing that could happen to
you would be to love me in return.
I do not believe women, as a whole,
love long, or deeply. | told myself
you would meet someone else: be
happier than l could have made
you. You see I couldn't offer you
any garden, then, with promise
to help you plant it, any more than
| can today, Petrol. 1t is only the
change, in you-a mistake, mind
you, that makes me tell you now.
And the fact that you haven't met
anyone else. That wasn't the only
reason | cleared out as did. OF
course. I'm selfish. l wanted my
freedom. did not want a home.
or to be tied to a wife. Can you
understand? Can you see what a
jam you've put me into now? You
still belong, by rights. to that Eng
lish garden. But something has
happened to you. I'm not sure you
would be content there. for long?"
Outside the hotel. there was a
great deal of noise. They heard
the distant staccato of firing.
II wonder. too. Martin Rowdon
warned me. He said, Europe gets
you Perhaps he was right" She
shrugged. I'm glad you explained,
Tony; and that you told me. viii
you say it again. i didn't believe
you the first time"
Her lips were tremulous as she
asked it. t
81 love you" He caught her
hands tightly. ..-,
'tWe must be mad" she said,
looking into his eyes. 'I've met
you four times in five years"
Il love YOU" he repeated. ut
doesn't necessarily mean there Is
anything to be done about il, but
I want you to know" a..
She laughed. THAT was very
"Well, how do you feel? It is in
convenient. isn't it? You admit
that?" s.....
Her answer was perplexed.. as
well as truthful. call this time, for
years, Tony, I've believed loved
you; ! invented just the reasons
you've told me, for your staying
away. They didn't seem sufficient
ly good reasons. But now" She
was thinking of Cairo. rioting
under the hot sun. Did she feel
the need of him strongly enough
to face spending her life in cities
like this - wherever there was
trouble?"
"You haven't answered the
question"
''Now that you are sitting here
with mel don't know" she told
him helplessly. She sought des-
perately for words. II feel numb,
dead. Do you think we can pos
sibly just have imagined it, Tony?
Or are we really akin in mind and
spirit, tied in some odd way? Do
you think perhaps, we were meant
to be brother and sister? Is there
any physical attraction"
Musical Comedy Stuff
LIE smiled. "There must be. We
IL have three, or perhap' four
days to find out. I'm waiting for
orders. A great deal depends on
them. ] may be sent almost any
where. Then. you'd have to fee
pretty sure. to follow. But, just
possibly, may go to England
Then shall ask you to come home
too. It will give you a chance to
discover what you really feel. But
of course, if ! am frank. there is
no doubt in my mind at all. / tel
you you will love me, some day
however announcement ] am. But
of course, given only three days.
he shrugged, "but perhaps even
that will be long enough for me
t. convince you"
Petronella sat upright, her clear
laughing eyes accused him. TONY
you're q BEAST You've been cock.
sure of me all the time. Sure I'd
wait, sure I'd change my person
atty to suit you, sure I'd come
when you whistled. Even now.
don't trust you not to be gone
again, without me, il those orders
oh, I'm angry, and rebellious
and mad-and angry" she fin
ished helplessfy.
He laid q hand over hers. q
know. What you don't realize yet
is that I'm on the same string. You
have been sure I'd come to heel
in time, lay my freedom at your
feet, come home to you. Admit thai
is true. We can neither Of US gel
away"
81 did feel that. But, anyway,
must get rid Of you now, I mus
thinkm
They would part till tea time, hi
promised. He would get her from