The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-09

0or was dL seven at OdTeIea ana
she liked the half-hour before
when the family and Gloria's
friends gathered on the porches
or in the drawing-room-it was
called a drawing-room at Olivia's
for a cocktail before dinner. -
This was not the only time that
Cecily spent away from the shop.
Laura,s coming had given her
more freedom and she had often
gone fishing, played tennis and
badminton with the others. There
were always the others and some
times, noting that Karen and Al
lene were bored, she wondered
why they stayed on.
IT can take a little of It but ]
should be bored to death spending
one of their typical days" she said
to Laura.
"You won't get much of it to-
night if you don't hurry. It's near
ly seven"
Cecily shuffied her feet in the
pine-needles and the smooth peb-
bles of the drive leading up to the
house, little later. She skirted
smart, sleek roadster that blocked
her path and wondered whether it
meant there would be another girl
or another slouched youth that had
come to join the party.
Here she is now!" Karen's eX-
cited voice was followed by Karen
herself standing in the doorway
waving frenziedly for Cecily to
hurry.
where's the flre?" Cecily asked.
I'm the draWing-room." Karen
answered graphically, drawing
her in, "and if you put it out.
Allene and | will he fighting over
it." To Cecily's amazement, Karen
showed her int the living-room.
Cecily was aware of several
things at once. She saw that her
aunt was looking at her with a
pleased smile. There was an air of
expectancy in the room. Before
she coUsl voice a question, there
was a young man Fastening to-
ward her. with his hands out
| stretched.
Fantastic!
LIE tDdS coming iowa ID her He
IL had caught both her hands.
He was kissing her and his arm
encircled her!
She g'.lped and tried to get away
from that encircling arm.
"Ceeily. darling. forgive me for
coming without an invitation
Cecily listened, too dumbfounded
to interrupt-"I'm driving back
tonight but ! had to see you. And
your aunt understands"
"Oh, my aunt . my aunt I'M
derstands?" Why was she bab-
bling? Why couldn't she think of
something intelligent to. say? This
was fantastic! Shed wake up in a
minute and discover she had been
dreaming. But he was still talking.
I'm fact, I've been scolding her."
As he continued Cecily looked rap
idly in her aunt's direction. No one
ever scolded Madame Darrelli
Who tUds this person? Il told her
that she couldn't take you away
from me when we'd Just become
engaged"
"Philip, cocktail?" Allene held
out the tray to the stranger.
Philip? ~
Cecily, playing for time to as
semble her scattered wits. took a
cocktail from the tray, still not
having said a word. Something
disquieting was beginning to glim-
mer in the recesseS of her memory.
She'd told these girls that she was
engaged to Philip Callea. She'd
told Laura Atwill about it. She
hadn't told one other person. IN
less
She wanted t. ask what it all
meant out caution made her hold
her tongue.
This couldn't be Philip Callen!
Things like that could happen in
books but they couldn't happen to
her. Her aunt was speaking:
"Cecily. you must try to per-
suade your fiance to stay. He tells
Us that he is on vacation and we
want him to remain with us at
Darelea. Mr.. Caller I'll have Will
son get your things"
1t iUaS Philip Callen! Philip Cal
len, with a twinkle in his eye and
a challenging strength in his arm
was saying, IF my girl wants me
to. Madame Darrell. l should like
to. Come along Cecily. and per-
suade me-"
All persuasion seemed to be
well in the hands of Philip Callen.
Cecily found herself being gently
whisked out of the drawing-room,
onto the porch. Out of doors she
hastily led the way to the tea
house in the garden. anxious to be
out of hearing.
She didn't sit down. She hadn't
come for an exchange of pleas
antries. "Well?" she said.
Philip Callen lounged easily
against the fran work of the door
when she refused the chair he in
dictated. He offered her his Gig
arctic case and regarded her with
amusement.
(Which one of US win explain
first?" he asked easily.
Cecily drew herself up with dig
nifty. II should think that you owe
me an explanation of this ridicu-
lous situation"
"On the other hand, my dear,
what about our engagement"
He was right. of course. She
should never have been such silly
little fool as to have used the name
of an actual person. If she could
make him see that she meant no
harm
When she didn't answer at once,
he continued, "The situation in
trigues me. It piques my interest
rand as er as a writer, I'd
lie 70 see IL fhrnlinh Naither Of