The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-13
Chapter IL
Wonderful Idea

WOnder1uI Idea
+ AURA came il a little later.
l. She found Cecily bent studi-
ously over her account books.
Laura. have wonderful
ideal" Cecily began without pre-
amble. We're going to have a
party!"
"A party?" Laura repeated ex-
citedly.
"Yes, a real party, for our Gus
toners. Well make a poster this
morning and no, we'll m k e
three posters. Well make them in
the form of an invitation to a buff
fet supper on Thursday night and
we'll hang them at the inn, at the
library and the Lostoffice. Well in
vite everyone. Absolutely every
one!" Her eyes shone like stars.
"If you invite Everyone, that in
cludes strangers. doesn't it,"
Good Heavens, you can't do
that. Cecily! It'll cost a fortune
and we wouldn't have room for
everyone"
"Oh, yes we will" Cecily an
swered firmly. We'll get Sue CAL
der to make gallons of ice-cream
and a barrel of potato salad. Well
have a big crock of baked beans
and I'll get huge hams and have
them baked. You and ! can make
sandwiches of thin bread and but
ter. The whole thing, including
having the dishes washed. won't
cost more than twenty dollars and
we ought TO celebrate! We've been
making lots of money and we owe
a gesture to our friends"
we can fill the place with flow
ers and light all the candles"
Laura said. catching the spirit of
the thing. Then suddenly she said,
"Cecily, what brought all this on?"
Cecily felt a quick flame rush to
her cheeks. How could you tell an
other girl that you were so foolish
as 10 hope that your invitation
would bring a guest whose name
you didn't eve: know?
She said, Laura, want to in
vite a few people personally. I'll
ask Mrs. Brewster and Mrs. Keefer
and the Goodales. Would you mind
making a few visits? I'd like you
to ask Mr.. Hemingway and :. ="
Laura said very quick y, u
think I'd better run up to see Mrs
Brewster and you'd better ask Mr.
Hemingway"
Nonsense" Ce ely answered
spiritedly. Laura, he likes you!
He'd be pleased as can be if you
invited him. My goodness. he's in
here for a new book every other
day and | know he never reads
them. He comes just to see you"
"Now, you're being silly, Cecily,
He doesn't even know that I'm
alive. When he meets me on the
road. he bows very formally and
keeDs right on going"
Cecily sighed, Its too bad I'm
not more help. All | can say is that
you sometimes have to work on a
man, particularly a hide-bound
New Englander. However, well
take up that problem later. Now,
let's get organized. | think I'll get
the posters out at once. Meanwhile,
If you'd run over and ask Sue
Calder TO come over, we could ar
rGlge our menu"
When the gay and inviting cray
on posters were finished, Cecily
sid. Laura, on your way past the
i'm will you leave this one with
lbs Keefer? And, by the way, you
mieh. ask her for the names of any
new guests who arrived last night.
] that is . we don't want to
emit anyone"
Il doubt if anyone arrived last
ni9at. Not in all that storm" Laura
answered. tucking the posters un-
ger her arm.
A little later she said, 81 was
right. There hasn't been a new
quest since last Tuesday. However,
Mrs. Keefer says she IS booked for
the rest of the season"
Anticipation
HECuY felt swift disappoint-
~ ment swoop over her, dimming
her bright mood. .
She thought: If he's here, he'll
surely come Thursday night. A
man who would be so bold as TO
walk into my place unlimited to
spend the night, will not be timor-
Gus about accepting an invitation
like this.
She plunged into her plans. Deep
in them, she forgot all about her
sw-N a. eel
about Philip Callen.
In the excitement of running heI
shop and planning for her party
which was but three days off, she
forgot all about it. Also, Philip
was running down to New York
for few days. Not, however, with
out promising to return within the
fortnight. Olivia and Gloria were
motoring over to Murray Bay tc
visit friends, and the other two
girls were returning to Newport
Cecily was left to the freedom
Of the house and her thoughts
The day before the party, she
ran in to see her neighbor. Jane
Hollings. at her dress shop anC
came out with a new frock 1t wa:
fashioned of soft dimity spriggee
with small blue flowers. It had
round frilly collar of white Lace
and organdie and cuffs Of the same
al the edge of the short puffet
sleeves. II was an extravaganza
that she could neither afford mol
resist. Her other frocks were sport:
or of the tailored type. She want