The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-17
Chapter "a
Cairo

49, Chapter "a
Cairo
DETRONELLA stood beside the
! window of the fiat in Alexal.
. dria. The room was in darkness
except for the small lamp on the
70 desk. It's light caught the sheen OF
her satin evening dress. 1t shone
like sheath of rich beauty
Shaded lighting could do much
she thought. glancing down at the
material. It made dress which
was tired, rubbed and old, look
lustrous and new. j. made you
look younger. il you were getting
old, fresh, if you had danced toe
long, and too often. and were tired
This frock had been new when she
came &c Alexandria. Now. two
weeks later, though it was to be
listed among her successful
gowns. it had seen its life.
Not far out, at sea, were the Ian
terms of the fishing boats: they
formed a twinkling circle as they
closed in upon their nets. Those
were the headlights of Mikes car
now. coming along the road. Soon
she would be dancing under the
gray guns. with rubicunL Lieu
tenant Jim Blake. serious Flag
Lieutenant Andrews. the little
surgeon, the charming. impersonal
Captain. She would be dancing
with Michael for the last time.
That thought saddened her.
She heard Michael's ring. and
went and let him in.
Hello. my dear A drink before
we go?"
eyes! But don't turn on the
lights. The coast looks good
through that window" He came
and stood beside her. His arm
slipped round her waist, an9 pulled
her close to him.
There's something I'd better
repeat, in case you've forgotten
since last night. love you. Will
you marry me?"
She shook her head mo More
fool II This visit has been heav-
emily. Toe perfect, Michael. Just
one long party. This place. the
climate, the life. hav. all conspired
together to make me feel, toe, that
perhaps, Is
l"Perhaps?" Il
Perhaps do love you. But
don't know. | want 20 be sure. I've
felt like this before- Mike. for other
men. Awfully fond, and happy.
But ii passes. Peter has wire from
his editor. | cross a frontier. We
find ourselves in a country where
the people talk a different lam
guage, where the rhythm of life
is different. The feeling hoped
was going to last, goes. tits just a
memory. sweet, but trivial. It
hasn't any power to cause me pain.
You haven't the power to hurt me,
Mike. That is why | don't think |
love you. You see. there is some
one else. who has"
in heavens name. why ask for
misery?" he groaned. why should
love cause you pain? Woman! Stop
talking!"
He kissed her. Was it possible
that he was right? Had she held
the wrong conception of love for a
long time? Was this all?
She disengaged herself. 'Let
me cross that frontier"
This time you'll come back. l"
He was very triumphant and sure.
Other women had rendered
Michael quite certain of his at
traction. If only he were right,
wished Petrol. She did not want
to 60. She wished that he would
forbid her. keep her here. against
her will. until her will was gone
But he released her.
You know. you're awfully odd
in some ways. darling Very young.
and immature. if you'll forgive
my saying so. You take life so
seriously"
comedy to those who think, a
tragedy to those that feel. ! can't
help feeling"
"But do you really believe in
) spiritual love? Petrol, half the
couples who marry don't feel that
about each other. They take a
chance. Sometimes it goes well,
sometimes poorly. If it's unbear-
able, they pack it up, That is the
adult way to regard love. With us,
believe it would go well. And
you're wonderful. Petrol. You
have so much. Do you realize
that?"
international Young Woman
ct FEEL I have very, very little,
L Just a propensity for being
useful and common sense" His
hand across her mouth silenced
her.
mol And you're sometimes
beautiful. You can go anywhere,
talk to anybody. You're an inter-
national young woman"
THAT doesn't sound decent.
She laughed. But she listed on her
fingers: IA dictator. an Arch.
- bishop, a deposed monarch, an adj
miral, and Communists. FaSciSts
anarchists. atheists. Marxists. phil
osophers, poets. racialistS. film
stars and miSSionarieS-Pve met
or sat next to them all at dinner!
But, perhaps, you're right Michael
Experience doesn't necessarily
bring maturity"
"But, Petrol"
eve must 60; you've spoilt my
face, and we're missing the party.
-sThis time tomorrow, it won't
be here to spoil. What horrible
thought" "'<
A''IFthink know several Other