The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-28
O@I~pNN &C
James


James
THE bell on the bright red door
of the shop rang for the hum
dredth time this afternoon. James
entered. and stood on the thresh-
old of the warm, bright, steamy in
terror, looking with satisfaction
at the gay decorations. the hang
ing lines of calendars. the shelves
of quaint gifts and toys. Outside,
it was dark, damp and foggy. But
here. the Christmas rush of Ball.
field shoppers defied depression
It was three days before Christ
mas, and this frail business. at
whose birth he had assisted. with
so much misgiving. showed every
indication of growing, Justify.
Four country women, with arms
full of parcels, and bullying bas-
kets, were engaged in choosing
toys, under gray-haired Moro
vitch's guidance. or were turning
over Christmas cards.
Tamara, wearing the outlandish,
gaily embroidered Russian coat In
which she worked in winter time,
left her customers, and stood with
her back to him at the foot of the
stairs.
'Petrel" she called, in that
high, fresh voice of hers, which
had lost little of its accent. "Pe-
trel! Will you bring down three
dozen Herald Angels. pleased"
James stepped up behind her.
He could never resist teasing Ia
mara. Everything she did seemed
to invite it. His face took on an ex-
preston of deep gravity.
I'D no idea. / hadn't heard. So
youngI"
Heard what?"
THAT poor Petrol had Joined the
celestial choirI"
Stupid She is up in the stock
room, bringing me more Christ
mas cards. because they are all
selling out. Hardly any of my mod
ern cards. In Ballfield they are
like men, they prefer angels. can
not talk to you now. Go awayI
Help, Petrol"
with the angels? Certainly"
He pretended he had not under
stood her jealous little thrust. He
went up the murky, narrow stairs,
that led to the three room fiat
where Tamara and her father
lived. Petrol had been home all the
week, helping them. She and Colo
mel Malone were going to be at
the Cottage for Christmas. Peter,
so far as James knew, was still in
Russia Petrol was worried be-
cause he was still with Lance. He
did not blame her. What she had
seen of his work had not been re-
assuring. He could not help being
glad of her new adherence. But
he must make the most of his OPP
portunity of seeing her. Petrol
was, for some reason, unapproach-
able these days. She was self-as-
sured. yet shy. friendly. yet eva
sIve. She was tricky. With Tamara
busy in the shop downstairs, she
should not make any excuse. this
time. TO leave him with his ques-
tons unanswered.
He found her packing a tray to
take down to Tamara.
'Tamara is having a boomI" her
voice was imperSonal. She looked
away. refusing TO meet his eyes,
and picked up her tray. But he
was not going to let her bolt. this
time. James blocked the doorway,
and took it from her. He felt awk-
ward. but determined. Petrol
could not have changed - not
really.
THAT is too heavy for you. and
its top heavy, because you're in
too much OF hurry" He adjusted
the boxes of colored notepaper. He
set round-eyed doll on the top of
the pile.
"She reminds me of you. these
days-that CLASSY stare"
We Have Changed
LIE MADE a move towards her,
II but Petronella evaded his
arm.
ct isn't Christmas yet"
"And that isn't promise" he
challenged. Look here, Petrol,
when you suddenly came home,
and explained why, ! thought a lot
of apparently foolish things. Pm
going to confess them. / thought,
AT last the girl has come to her
senses. She appreciates me as ! de-
serve. She has come home to met
at was my fault you felt that
at first" she admitted.
at is the way fools jump to con-
illusions.
mo, l saw it like that, too; on
the rebound. Now, I see it more
clearly. We have both changed,
James"
"You mean something happened
to make you change your mind"
I'm a way"
'Petrel," he besought her, "soon
after you came home, I went for a
walk, and looked at that house
they are building, on the Ridge. ]
sold out my risky investments, and
bought gilt-edged. I refused to join
a party for winter sports. Was ]
really mad?"
81 don't know. That's why I've
been trying to avoid having this
out. Because ] don't know the an
swer. And want to be honest
Instead of behaving to my