The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-01-30
Chapter IA
80 'Coodby'
TN going to marry David Nor.

TN going to marry David Nor
- ris."
.. Noel was glad she'd said that to
allan on the way home from their
New Years Eve party while her
Heart was beating unanimously
% his aearness to her in the cab.
At least she had saved her pride.
she thought. as she read the insin-
bating gossip on one of the society
pages this morning. Her friends
are saying that the beauteous
Elaine Schuyler who recently was
freed from the fun-loving Winnie
- Reno will try marriage again,
his time with a South American
engineer who is also an old flame"
She had wanted to save him the
ueed for explaining after the emo
.tional- contact on the darkened
dance floor at the Cairo. while they
greeted the New Year.
81 wish you happiness, Noel
you rate it," was all that Allan'had
said as he'd sunk back in his cor
11er of the cab and when he left
Der at the hotel. he held her hand
briefly.
This has been a wonderful
evening, the incest New Years Eve
I've ever spent" in a quick,
husky, voice. Then he was gone.
It was the most marvellous,
Beautiful Eve of her life, Noel
knew. For a moment alone in her
seom she had thought perhaps the
kiss in the dark had meant to
Allan a little of all the beauty and
ecstasy it held for her.
- She laughed now, a little Bit
terly, at the foolishness of the no.
lion. Allan had always loved
Elaine, Schuyler-at last she was
deciding she wanted him.
s~Noel picked up the manuscript
Of Susan Is Waiting" Strange
bow true to life drama was rum
ming this year. The girl in the play
lost her love. too. But she waited.
That was the theme of the. plot,
And Of course he came back, to
her. go - - Fgit:s
~FThey always do, on the stage"
Ncel said aloud cynically. "Tn real
life it's never like that. But I've
oil got the playI" Only part con-.
collation.. but. because it, was so
pery important. Noel forced her
thoughts away from Allan and
continued reading the lines she
would be saying for first-night
Hhblic several weeks ahead.
SSwahstrom worked quickly. He
always did, once the plans were
an fixed. He called rehearsal for
Thursday and in the meantime.
except for an occasional visit to
David and one dinner with Mrs
Marchand when Allan was absent,
Noel gave all her energies to
learning her part.
.SDavid was better, sitting up in a
Uying-room chair now.
81 know what these rehearsals
will be. You'll have no time for
me-" he said sadly t.. Noel. 1.-THE
doctor thinks ought to 60 South
% recuperate."
:"The Florida sun will do WON
GERS for you." Noel replied quick
=."Darling," he went on, I'm not
going TO say to you what's in my
heart. Well make plans after the
Ipenilg.-
Noel left it at that.
Then she was in the midst OF
the exciting prelude to premiere.
She loved the dusty. gloomy first
days when the cast got together,
feeling out for their parts, taking
Swanstrom's abuse. The newcorn-
grs who hadn't worked with him
before. were in terror Of his biting
remarks. Gerald Foster and Noel
who understood him too well,
merely ignored the TRADE but took
MS suggestions seriously. He knew
his business Of whipping play
into shape.
- .Nick-Of-Time Miracle
sgTHIS comes in time to stave of
- the sheriff." Gerald told Noel
while they stood to one side Of the
yemi-dark stage, waiting their
urn for first reading Of their lines.
s.Gerald had a wife and young
baby out on Long Island. Noel
knew Il had been months since his
last engagement. She smiled un-
.derstahdingly.
"a sort Of nick-of- time miracle
FOR most Of us. I suppose" she an
swered.
They were nerve wracking
hours, those first days spent In the
rehearsal theater. SwanStrom
doggedly spurred them; denounc-
ing them in the f1amboyant Ian
image peculiarly his own.
YEARLY Noel went home each
eight but it was satisfying sort
OF exhaustion.
s~sI miss you 90 much, my dear
ct" David reiterated on each 6c-
easion he telephoned from Flor
la. He timed his calls so they
came to her at the end OF the
tedious day. Reassuring strength,
ne seemed to her In her weari-
ness. But, too, he was far away In
another world that touched her
vaguely.
mad been no meeting since the
night - fateful for Noel - when
kefd Ieft her AZ the hotel entrance.