The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-24
Chapter Ie
Bob And Gretchen

Chapter 10
Bob And Gretchen
NTOLA. still laughing, turned t.
~ Tally. "You heard him. Car
you put me up in your side Of the
house for a few days?"
II that's what you want, Nnla
We'd be glad to haye.you."
Then come along and help n1t
pack my things. Goodby, Thor
dear. It was so nice knowing you
And, Lyn-pm sorry"
Thorn turned startled .unbelieV-
ing eyes to his sisters face. '"She
she's going, Lyn. She she's bro
ken our engagement. What shall
do?"
you've already done It." Her
voice was strangely bleak. Il guess
this had to come sooner or later
Thorn. You see - I'm positive
they're in love with each other
There isn't anything either of us
can do"
He looked down at his solder
clothing. All anger had fled now
leaving him meek and remorseful
I'm jealous fool, he reproached
himself. Il should have known bet
ter. ] knew Nola wouidn.t be die.
tated to II oh, what's the
use of holding post mortems?"
d0eelyn went in the house with
him. Hurry out Of those wet
clothes, Thorn" she ordered gen
tly. Take a hot shower and gel
into bed. I'll 90 back to Geoffrey's
and make apologies for both you
and Nola. And" she paused. then
sfinished with determination - q
shall announce my marriage &c
Godfrey on the first of Octoberl''
Since there was no telephone on
The Mack side Of the house, and
since Thorndyke would not tres
pass on Mack property, he could
not communicate with ,Nola in the
days that followed. Bob, who could
have carried notes, refused fatty,
saying he did not blame Nola in
the least and had no sympathy for
bis brother.
Thorn hung about the fence,
however, with the hopeful, wistful
zmien of a small boy lettering out
side baseball park hoping some
one would invite him inside. No
one did.
Appealing to Jocelyn for sug-
.geStion, he was reminded of the
almost forgotten art of letter writ
ing. not to mention the conVen-
Hence Of telegraphing. He acted
upon her suggestion but both his
letters and kilograms were re-
turned unopened.
He showed them to Bob. "Oh, /
forgot to tell you. Bob said. s.Nola
went TO San francisco yesterday.
She mentioned something about a
cruise to Hawaii"
II was most unpalatable, and re-
ouired terrific effort, but Thorn
swallowed his pride.
Bob" he implored, his usual
sir Of prim self-satisfaction dis
solved completely, please tell me
what she said about me? Is she
through with me, Bob? I was so
Jealous, so angry that night, III
Just didn't reason. / thought sure
" she must be infatuated with
young Mack, but If she's gone off
TO Honolulu II mustn't be So"
Eat Humble Pie
or COURSE It isn't. She liked
" him, that's all. But the more
you kicked him around the more
she became determined to defend
him. You defeated your own aim,
Thorn. As for what she said-well,
IL wasn't much. Something about
not intending to tie herself for life
20 q man who was suspicious and
possesSive. / really think she still
cares about you. though. Why don't
you write her at the Royal Ha-
waiian Hotel in Honolulu? She's
prettys sure 10 stop there. But my
advice Is not TO defend yourself.
Eat humble pie once. It won't hurt
you
A stubborn expressionscrept in
20 Thorn's face. 'Why shouldn't I
defend myself? She had no right
70 behave that way. Everyone
knew we were engaged and that
the party was being given for Nola:
I'm not sure ! want q wife who in
sists upon always doing just as she
pleases without considering me.
my friends, or my feelings"
Then it's an .impasse," Bob
shrugged. you'll have to figure
Il out for yourself Truthfullys !
can't understand what Nola ever
saw in you in the first place. She's
1lzn-lov3ng and high-spirited; inn
pulsive and not IN the least class
eDnscious. While you =. well. you
rate people according to what their
1orebears accomplished. Why can't
you and Jocelyn take people for
what they themselves are3 Can't
you stop behaving like q stuffed
peocock? Certainly poii haven't
much money!"
Scarlet color suffused Thorn's
face. You're nothing but q crazy
xadicall Why don't you 90 to Rus
szis and live with peasants7"
I'd prefer them to you
You can't talk to me that way
thorn raved. I'm the head Of the