The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-26
TWO AGAINST LOVE
by Frances Hanna

/ arm. "You needn't have been q
harsh, Thornl Bob is our brother
His heavy face set into an ex-
preston Of self-righteousness. His
| wife viii soon make Mack out
of him, never worry. / don't want
to hear any more about it, Lyn
I'm going to bed"
Thorn is right" Geoff averred
bob is still a child. Whln he has
to work for a living and stay with
his irl-laws, he'll soon get enough
of this hasty marriage and come
running back, wondering how he
can get rid Of her"
"Oh, you're inapossibIg stupid,
both of your Lyn Storrned. "Don't
you know Bob any better than
that He'll neUer come back.
Never, never, 7leUerl Didn't you see
his eyes? He is happy! He IoUes
heri Tn beginning to think we
are all stupid, intolerant fools.
Nola is gone; Bob is gone
Jocelyn looked from GeoH to
Thorn, saw that her words had
evoked merely a bewildered, pa
tent indulgence from them. She
ran from the room.
Bob and Gretchen. perceiving
the lighted windows, cautiously
opened the back door into the
Mack's much-lived-in kitchen.
Tears filmed Gretchen's eyes at
the scene before them, so different
from the one they had just left.
Her mother had spread the great
square table with bright blue
cloth and had placed in its exact
center an angel food cake with a
miniature bride and groom iced
in pink and blue on the top.
ooh, Bob, isn't it SWEET" she
whispered, slipping her hand into
his. 81 wonder If Mama and the
others are asleep?"
"A delighted cackle followed her
last words. The door into the next
room burst open and Mons and
Gramp and Tally confronted them.
Il couldn't keep your secret,
children" Mrs. Mack confessed. Il
told Gramp and Tally at dinner
time. Betsy was so excited about
having Mister Bob for her daddy
! promised to wake her when you
got home"
sCantankerOus Idiot
GRETCHEN ran into her moth
~ er's arms, while both Gramp
and Tally tried to shake Bob's
hand at the same time.
Tally grinned. Gee, Bob, I'm
glad to have you in the far1ilyl
] couldn't have picked better
husband for Gretchen myself. -
Gramp hobbled over the cup
board, rummaged among the sup
plies minute. then triumphantly
held up jug Of red wine. Della,
git out the glasses and well drink
to the kids Weddin'."
As il loath to have her out OF
touch for a moment, Bob held
Gretchen on his knees while they
ate and drank. Gramp, reminis-
cent, went into long detail about
his wooing of Katie O'Connell.
Gretchen laughed, running her
fingers through Bob's hair, touch-
ing her soft, pale cheek against his.
Granp halted his rambling mar
rative to ask, Say. you two amt
goiIl' TO get too ALTERED high and
mighty livin' on the other side o.
the fence?"
Gretchen slipped her arm about
Bob's shoulders and squeezed
hard. She said, her eyes defiant.
I'VE aren't going to live on the
other side. Gramp. We're going to
live right here with all of you"
sTarnationl If that amt the best
news I've heard. But say -. what
about them folks of Bob's? Pears
they dom banker to truck with
us folks"
Tally sobered. what did hap
pen. Bob? Mind telling us?"
mo, ! don't. Thorn had q at.
Said he wouldn't dole out any
more money and ordered me to get
out"
"And your sister," Tally urged.
did she feel the same way?"
Il don't think so. That's the
queer part of it. ! thought she
would side with Thorn, but she
gave him the DEVIL Didn't do any
good, though. Thorn's stubborn,
bull-headed and class-conscious."
Nov, Bob, just give your BROTH
er little time to get used to the
idea Of your marriage Mrs. Mack
advised, her motherly face tolerant
and wisely serene. Hell come
apologizing and want you to come
back. Seems like folks don't get
used to new things right of.
Gramp snorted. ssThora IS u
good name fer that cantankerous
idjitl Never did like him no more'n
he liked me"
STEADY, Gramp," Tally soothed.
Bob is welcome to hive here as
long as he wants to stay" His eyes
appraised his new brother-in-law
shrewdly. "You could 60 to court
and try to get your share of the In
heritance, Bob.
"I'd rather not. I'd rather work.
Although" Bob shrugged rue
fuIly-aI don't know What on
earth I'm equipped to do"
Tally smiled. There's plenty Of
work to do right here If you want
to help me. How'd you ike to be
farmer. Bob?"
I'D like il"
"Then its settled. Get yourself
some working clothes tomorrow
and I'll make you partner in the
vegetable. fruit, and dairy busi-
ness
Continued tomorrow.