The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-04

unless it's important" she told
Clarabelle. She was in no mood for
visits from stage acquaintance
who would drop in to give her q
tip on improving line or ges-
ture.
Someone knocked on the doo-.
Clarabelle opened it a little. The
stage doorman said something.
ClarabeNs interrupted haughtily:
"Miss Marchand's busy.I She
| can't seeSnobody right now and
closed tire door Casually she lad
| a card ains front Of Noel on the
dressing table. One glance and
Noel cried out:s3n ~
run, Clarabelle = before he
goes. Bring him here"
The maid was down the corridor
in fash and came back moment
later breathleSSly. Noel ctanding
in the middle of the small room
| looked beyond Clarabelle.
"Noel!" She heard him say her
name. knew he was here. Still in
her last act costume she went to-
ward him. hands outstretched.
ALLAN, it is good to see you'll"
He took both her hands in his.
held them and smiled down at her.
81 didn't expect you tonight
your first night home" she SIAM
mered.
"T'm here" he grinned. "And l
can't tell you how grand you were
in the play"
Suddenly there seemed nothing
to say Noel sank back in her chair,
offered him the only other seat in
| the room. "Sit down, Allan-and
tell me all about Chile" So
They,.laughed. then. That's
big order" She had wanted to sa.
''Tell2rW everything about you,
Allan. all the little things haven't
learned" j
81 thought about you a lot down
there-the fun we had. how nice
YOU were to me-" He said it awk-
wardly.
Noel couldn't remember how IL
| happened. but he was waiting for
her outside, she was getting into
her things. beaming on Clarabelle
as she took her stage gown from
her.
"Where shall we go?" Allan
wanted to know when she Joined
him.
at doesn't matter-anywhere."
Noel almost sang it. What differ
ence wnere, they went as long as
Allan was with her? They walked
blocks north along Broadway. Noel
didn't know there were crowds all
around her. Allan was herel
Sense OF Closeness
AT Columbus Circle she asked
"A him impishly. as Albany our
destinations"
Allan was all concern. "Are you
tired?"
"No, moi" Noel treasured him.
81 could go on for hours. It's heav-
enly-this spring night air."
Noel was little afraid Of the
moment. She wanted to make. il
last forever, this sense of closeness
to Allan, I'D like some coffee"
she requested in a matter-of-fact
voice. hoping he wouldn't hear the
loud beating of her heart.
How about Rollin's?" Allan
asked.
TOO many people there" Noel
replied.
"Well-where shall it be?"
They went to Rollins after all.
Noel laughingly exclaimed she
was hungry and ordered scrambled
eggs.
'fNow, how about Chile?" she
asked as they drank their coffee.
Might life? Or natives? Or zinc?
Which shall it be?"
Their eyes met in laughter.
Everything" Noel told him,
spreading her hands in a compre-
hensive gesture. How far away
from Santiago were you? And
have they mosquitoes? And are the
women very Beautifully"
He talked seriously then-about
the men who were down there with
him, their primitive existence, the
thrill of their work. the occasional
1aunts into town many miles
away He drew maps on the table
cloth and Noel listened. enthralled
with everything he told her.
ats two o'clock" she said in
diSmay. during a pause in their
conversation.
"Ridiculousi We haven't been
together ten minutes" Allan con-
tradicisdemphatically.
1t was two o'clock. though. and
they weRbesttfor cab.
"This has ebeen grand. Allan"
Noel said, looking out the window
at her side.
Hasn't it?"
| She turned at the tone in his
voice. He was staring at her so
strangely. Her eyes met his, were
held by compulsion stronger than
any reasoning. She knew she made
the first gesture-touched his hand
lightly, lingeringly.
| He reached out his arms, drew
her close to his side. Their lips met,
stayed together. She forced back
her head, was limp for second.
"Noel." he murmured hoarsely.
Then as suddenly his arms dropped
away. Noel's whole body was shak-
ing. She waited for him to say
something.
He wasn't looking at her when
he said it.
'I'm sorry. Noel. I had no right
to do that!"
| She held back the sob, fought
for composure. mo. Allan" she
answered. "You had no right 10
do that" She leaned back YEARLY
already he was thinking Of
Elaine.
| MAY I have a cigarette, Allanf"
She held out her band. It was
steady. :