The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-02

Il y -
Imean, as if I.hadn't hadn't come
a cropper last summer and made
you !. sorry for me? Can't we let
it be that we've known each other
a few weeks, like each other-and
that's all? ia deepc' and more
earnest note crept into his voice
II really do want your friendship,
my dear" ~ 80
Still she made no answer and
presently he picked UP one Of her
hands, finding it icy cold to his
touch.
"I'm a brute, barging in here to
talk as did. It was Just that every
living soul at the clearinghouse
started congratulating me. and ]
was in devil of a fix, wondering
how to deny the r1rnor without
seeming to reflect on you--"-s'
THAT" she said, need no longer
worry you. Isaid I'd call the paper
tomorrow, didn't II"
Tnfatuation'
WHAT do ! care about the pa
w per? Lord knows it printed
plenty about me last summer that
was not exactly pleasant readingl
I dor't even care about the people
at the house-now. What do care
aboU;, Buff. is that we should be
friends"
She tilted her head and he was
relieved to see a smile tugging at
the corners Of her mouth.
"All thought of marriage elin1i-
nated?" f+
"All thought Of marriage elinni-
mated. I'd really make an abomi1-
able husband" he pleaded. Late
for meals more often than not, go-
ing back to work in the laboratory
till midnight. Knowing nothing Of
women, I'd probably say and do
the wrong thing on every occasion.
I give you my word, Buff, was
designed by nature as perennial
bachelor"
"Is that why you became en-
gagged to Iris DeMuth?" she asked
co1dly.
He started as If she had struck
him, his face whitening.
II suppose everyone is entitled
to lose control of his emotions once
in a lifetime" He gripped the back
of a chair with tense fingers. 81
realize that what happened last
summer is public property but
even so, don't enjoy having actual
references made to it in my pres
ence."
81 wasn't actually thinking of
giving you pleasure! ! was merely
inquiring, in my feminine, illogical
way, why you were so keen on
marriage last summer if you've felt
all along you'd make such a ter
rible husband to any girl you hon.
ored with your-what? Resigna-
ton? Chivalrous succumbing to
her wishes? Fatalistic yielding to
circumstances"
"Tnfatuation," he said CURLY.
kid stuff. / should have had an
attack and get it over with in coll
lege. May we drop the subject now,
please?" - ~
with pleasure" She walked de-
liberately to her big chair, settled
herself in it comfortably and
crossed her slender ankles. "And
shall we also agree to 60 our Sepa-
rate ways? ! like it here in Boul-
der, I've made plans to do some
work in this apartment, I've
reached an agreement with my
parents about what we shall all do
this winter. So you can have me
off your mind; can, in fact, be late
to as many meals as your landlady
will allow, labor in your laboratory
until dawn for all it concerns me-"
He folded his arms and leaned
against the mantelpiece.
Were not to be friends them"
you'd like to be?"
more than ] can tell you'll You're
swell person, Buff, and even II
you don't want my gratitude for
what you did for me at the ranch,
it's still pretty vivid in my mind.
It's just that-that / don't want
to come here as--as often as I'd like
and" e.
"And rouse false hopes in my
maidenly hearth" Her grin Of gem
Tine amusement was reaSsuring.
Suppose you let me look after my
heart, Tim. So far I've done a bet
ter job of 1t than you seem to have
done with yours. Friends it is, and
the latchstring's out fer you and
George whenever you come our
way. Webby mourns over you IL
you don't come for dinner at least
twice a week. She's got it firmly
fixed in her head that you're a VIC
tim Of malnutrition. When I point
out to her that you and George eat
at the same place, she counters
with the undeniable fact that
George is overweight and you are
not"
They parted on that note. Buff
sat for a long time in her big chair
after he had gone; so long that
Mrs. Webb slipped in to see If she
had forgotten the lights. Just be-
fore the girl went away to her
room, she stopped for a hesitant
instant beside the mantel; then
with flushed cheeks, she tiptoed up
and laid her lips to the place where
Tins hand had rested. :
Continued tomorrow.