The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-03
Chapter IL


DETRONELLA received the cable
L on the following Monday. She
was changing, after tennis. Peter
was going to take her to the Gym
to dance. The "children's corner
would be collected there for
Peters farewell. Father was out
The rebellion kept him busy.
Although life went on just the
same in Rangoon, terrible things
were happening in the green vii
lagos, and agitators were spread
ing discomfort in the bazaar.
She opened the envelope. She
cried out. Aunt Maisie was i'll!
Fear gripped her. Don't let Aunt
Maisie diet" The next moment she
read the cable through again. She
began to realize other possibilities.
She faced all the things this recall
meant. For the wording did moi
state that she was very seriously
i'll. She would be able to 60 hemel
Father could not refuse! She was
suddenly filed with prayerful
thankfulness. Aunt Maisie would
get better! She mustl And she
would forget her own unhappi-
ness, in looking after her.
Petrone1la never wanted to en-
dure suspense, like that of the last
months, again. She had watched
every post. Tony had not written.
She had sent subscription to
Clare Horton, whose fund for
White Russians, and the particu.
lars of the camps she was estab-
fishing, were now receiving a good
deal Of publicity in the English
papers. Very casually. she had
mentioned that she had met Tony,
and asked for news of him. Miss
Horton had answered. She had not
seen him since early December,
when he had been very helpful to
her. He had had fever, and was
looking ill. She believed he must
have left China. Petronnella, and
Peter, had thought the same. The
Daily NeDs published no more of
his articles. Had he returned to
England? Or might he arrive sud-
denly, unexpectedly, in Rangoon,
to explain?
But he had not come.
The moment Peter entered the
bungalow. she handed him the
cable. Even though the news was
sobering,- he, to, gave shout of
you'll sail with me! Poor old
he added dutifully. "But
perhaps she's all right"
Il think that, too. / do hope she
IS. ! believe it is because I wrote
10 her."
His eyes met hers. $50 we 60
together after all! That's the grand
part Of It'll" Petronella walked to
the window and leaned out.
"Yes, Peter, ! shall hate leaving
Burma, in some ways. / rather love
L."
He dismissed the past, jerkily.
But it isn't our road"
To the west, the sky was afire
with sunset. The trees of Burma
stood darklv etched against its
glory.
mo. it isn't our road" she an
swered softly.
Father looked very lost, for
when Peter told him the
news. She felt sorry for him, and
guilty, herself. He had done his
best, as he understood it. It was
not his fault, in his over anxiety
for her future, that he had threat
ened her happiness. Perhaps, some
day, she would see that she had
been TO blame more than she would
now admit, for escaping. In a way,
she was very fond Of him. Or
rather, she would have been, real
lied Petronella regretfullY chad
not the clash of their ideas cphs,
tinually frustrated the possibility
Of real friendship between them.
He took Maisie's cable and
stared at it. There was no question,
he agreed. Maisie had done a great
deal for them both. It was Petrels
duty to 60 home, and look after
her. And If there was anyone par
ticular, here, he hinted-well. they
came home every few years, on
leavel =
Peter went to the telephone. He
telephoned the shipping Office, and
reserved a second berth on the
"Stirland." sailing next Friday.
Very Sad
CTANDING side by side on deck
- on March 20, they looked back
across the same brown water
which had welcomed them to Bur-
ma five months before, to the
same fat, dark country on the sky
line, the round oil dumps, the little
golden pagoda. The cheers Of their
riotous send of still rang in their
ears. They were very sad.
We've left a lot behind" said
Peter.
YOUTH" said Petrol. then felt
rather melodramatic. But she
meant it. Hereafter she would be
young, but part of her mind and
heart we're old. He contradieted
her. Girls talked and thought a LOT
of bunk. he said, about their first
Lore affair.
The East hadn't got him, after
all, thought Peter, triumphantly.
He had expected, at one time, thai
he was destined to spend most oil
his life there. He had escaped. Per
haps he would have escaped, any.
way. But IL might not have been
50 comfortable. But for this small
staunch sister Of his, he might have
lost patience, waiting for the re.
bellion to break. He had very near.
~ taken that job up In the OF