The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-25
Bought a house yet, Bob?"

leaVeS-that sort OF thing.
"Of course you did!" It was Bob
again, easy and assured. Getting
everything ready for spring we'd
ding, aren't we. sweet?"
And Sues scornful: Forest, you
idiot! Ted Wilmington's father has
a caretaker out there"
Once Barbara attempted to
probe her friends state of mind.
II do really think Bob's serious,
Sue, under all that razzing of his
about being engaged to you. Hasn't
it ever occurred to you that he
might be?"
The corners of the other girls
mouth curled in secret smile.
"Now that you mention it"
"Sue Davenport! He really is,
then! ! speak to be your maid OF
honor!"
you're not very compliment
tary. Babs! Does it follow that I'm
serious, too?"
"N-no; l suppose not. But he's
marvellous, Sue; you must admit
that! Rich. good-looking, sweet
tempered For Pete's sake, what
more do you want in mani"
''The ability to make me love
him, perhaps" Sue replied soberly.
Barbara stared at her thought
fully. you're an odd little thing,
aren't you, my lamb? Never been
in love in your life, so far as !
know. I've always heard that if a
man was crazy about d girl he
could make her love him; but
there's Forest, and poor old Jim
Kettle, and now Bob Don't you
want to be married, Sue? Don I
you want home of your own?
Babies?"
Il Want To Be In Love-
II HAVE a home, right here. As
L or babies" bright color
stained her cheeks-"I'm romantic
enough to want to be deliriously
in love with their father, Barbara
Webb, whoever he turns out to
be-"
MN, l suppose so. Still and all,
1 could yield my -naidenly heart
to Bob Trenton without undue
difficulty"
"I'll tell him."
Barbara shook her head. "You
won't get rise out of me on that!
Bob wouldn't even hear you. ]
have reason to know" she said
more seriously. "I-deliberately-
set my cap for him, as ou1 grand
mothers so quantity phraSed it.
He can be-" she unused, "the most
pleasantly irreSponSive person !
ever met. / suppose he's had girls
after him since he donned long
trousers. When he grins at you
shows those big white teeth in his
brown face"
Barbara Webbl You sound like
High School grill"
81 suppose / do" she admitted.
But don't you ever get d thrill
yourself. Sue? Having him always
leap to his feet when you come in
sight, always knowing where you
are and what you want, no eyes
for anyone but you-that sort of
thing? You wouldn't be human if
you didn't" she finished reproach-
fully.
Sue replied with characteristic
honesty. 81 suppose l do. Babs-
get thrill out of it. He's the new
man n town, he's travelled. his
clothes and his accent and even his
manners are just little bit differ
ent from those of the men we know
.. yes, really thrilling. But that's
not being in love with him by a
long way. | can't imagine myself
leaving Allen-leaving the apart
mentor Bob Trenton or any
other man."
"And that. my dear cl.ild." Bar
bara told herself, sis the whole
answer to Sues Indifference. She's
got a brother complex. Allen has
always been her hero. He was the
big brother who took her skating
and coaSting and picnicking when
she was a child. He was the wise
and strong person who stood be-
tween her and everything strange
when their father died. He fills
her whole world. But when he
marries--' She knitted her brow
thoughtfully. She felt for the
younger girl the same devotion
that Forest did. And Forest had
limited lately. -.
Allen had limited lately, too. old
Maggie thought. If only Miss Sue
would listen. could see what he
was driving att
Getting on, SisI Your old broth
er's approaching senility. Thirty
one next time. Better DE feather
ing your nest against the day he
brings a wife home"
"Tll worry about tina; unlikely
event when it comes" she retorted
gaily. mo. honestly. Allen, | used
to cry myself sick few years ago
at the thought of your being mar
ried. Pm a Jealous little pig, ! sup
pose. 1t was when we first took
this apartment and ] was too young
to go to parties, or to know much
about your friends. Every time
you'd be out for dinner. or for the
evening, I'd picture you with some
girl . :" She shuddered reminis-
Gently. "Fd torment myself with
a scene we'd go through at break
| fast the next morning: you telling
me you planned to bring strange
| girl here as your wife, / trying to
| keep my chin up and take the news
! with a smile