The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-13

room. Little Josie was taking a
soggy wet cloth off the head of a
sallow faced woman lying in bed
The woman, startled at seeing
Noel. said. What do you want?"
in a resentful voice.
as there anything / can do?
Josie told me you're ILL.,"
5 No. thank you." Josia's mother
replied shortly. Her eyes were ask
ing, "Who are you-what are you
Noe followed the4saiid out Of
the room. Has your mother had
her lunch, Jesie?" she asked in a
low voice. II 4 / - 81
"Oh. yes; l. fixed it long ago."
Josie ledithe way down the stairs.
Noel felt helpless. "If can do
anything, Josie" she said, I'm
just up the road at Mrs. Winters.
You'll come and tell me. won't
you?"
Josie, holding the gray-looking
towel in pail of cold water.
asked. "Can / come to see your"
Noel assured her she'd be well
coined and went back down the
lane. She asked Mrs, Winters about
Josie and her sick mother.
They're shiftless folk" the bus
Ting old lady explained. II didn't
know Mrs. Weller was sick again.
though. Poor little Josie-every-
body around here feels sorry for
her. It's good thing they've not
any more children-in that place."
Noel was depressed by the visit.
She kept thinking of Josie, and
that irritable sick woman in the
dingY bedroom.
arm drop down there later"
Ms Winters treasured iher.
They're leery of strangers.
/ The evening was long, after The
early supper. Next week veal
have more people here" Mrs. Win
terS told Noel at the table. Noel
was grateful for this temporary
solitude. at least.
She sat in her room in the dusky
shadows of moonlight. At this
moment Rita would be playing
Susan" Noel could see the audi
ence out front. hear Foster giving
| the cue. She was lonely. and
/ frightened.
The next morning she awakened
early. surprised at her unusual
hunger. She "elished the we'll
cooked breakfast, had three cups
Of coffee. The day stretched ahead.
alarmingly empty.
MAY I help in the garden?"
she suggested in desperation. She
had to have something to do. Mrs.
Winters readily accepted her offer.
showed her the beds that had to
be weeded. the vines to be tied up
to. their poles.
Mr.. Ehlers -,
QY NOON Noels Lack ached.
- She was tired. After luncheon,
she lay listlessly in the swing,
thinking. What was David doing
now? What was he thinking? Res.
olutely, she tried to keep her
thoughts away from Allan, "a /
By the end of the week, there
was a faint tan on her skin-a
healthy glow in her eyes. She'd
walked miles, done he garden
chores every day, seen Josie occa-
sionallv She and the pathetically
eager child had developed
friendship; she gave Josie little
trinkets from her luggage.
Mama is better" Josie reported
happily That gave her more time
with Noel.
On Sunday they had guest for
| dinner. "ThiS is Mr. EhlerS. Miss
Martin" Mrs. Winters introduced
them as Noel came to the table.
Ehlers? The name was familiar.
The big. awkWard-Iooking man
gave her a friendly smile.
After the meal. the stranger
| iolned Noel on the front porch.
What IS a person like you doing
here7" he asked casually
u was wondering the same thing
about YOU" Noel responded. She
felt at ease with this man: he had
a dlsarmina smile. an easy-go IL
manner. But she felt there was de-
termination. a power of lec dership
: 1ehind the casual air.
| "Oh-me? / always come here
every June-to rest up before
opening my theater in Weston"
he explained
Tell me about it, Noel asked
eagerly.
| Ehlers told her about the expert
| mental otneater ne managed-try-
ing out plays, giving a chance to
ambitious Young tyres.
at sounds enthralling." Noel
was all enthusiasm. what plays
will you have for this season."
You know "a lot about the
theater. Miss Martin" Ehlers said
once, eyeing her keenly.
Noel flushed tive been on the
stage" Then she confided sudden
ly. II needed a reSt-So came I'D
here to be quiet didn't want peo-
pie to know where waS-so / Just
slipped away from New York"
She considered whether she should
| tell him. tive been playing in
Susan is Waiting My stage name
is Noel Marchand." AS soon as il
was out. she was half-sorry she'd
said it.
81 Knew, of course" Ehiers
quietly smoked his pipe. 81 saw
the play few weeks ago. recog-
Inized you-I knew your voice. Miss
Marchand."
Martin, please-up here" Noel
corrected him. a1nI
Perhaps you'd drive over to
Weston with me tomorrow,n Ehlers
suggested. eI'd like you TO see the
old place. It's barn. really-but
we're trying to do things"
I'D love it'll NoePs voice was