The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-06
Chapter II
BOmbsheu

IN September" Patsy told Sue,
"and if you're glad, let me tell
you Pm not! could die every time
! think of it. know what having
kids around is like-you don't.
There was one younger even than
Marie. haven't forgotten the way
she howled with collie, the mess the
house was in with her wet clothes
everywhere, the time my mother
had finding the right formula for
her-it was one long nightmare.
was in High School, and Nom
would hand her over to me the
minute / got home. Ugh!" She
shuddered unaffectedly.
what became of her?"
Died." Pats said briefly. "And
that was bad, too. Nom never
seemed to get over it. She sort of
moped around for another year
and then the girls and / were on
our own in good earnest"
"But, Pats, it needn't be like
that / mean babies don't have to
be sick, and cross, there is no real
reason why their laundry shouldn't
be kept out of sight. Oh, honey,
think of a little Allen, or a little
Patricia If it's just the work you're
afraid of, Bob and I'm sure
Allen would let us provide good
nurse. Oh, do envy you'll"
The long eyes narrowed in the
way Sue hated.
Il assure you I'd change places
with you with all the pleasure in
lifei Just when I'm beginning to
get somewhere socially in this
town, just when Allen is making
enough money for me to enter
tain once in a coon'S age, then this
had to happen! And I feel like the
devil, Suel'
Sue thought dryly that there
had been little evidence of i'll
health in her brothers wife. Patsy
had whisked about with almost
feverish gayety since Christmas.
On the strength of her connection
with the TrehtonS, she had man.
aged to get herself included in most
of the smarter parties which had
been given. Allen had had to be
out Of town a good deal lately but
that had not curbed his wife's ac-
tivitieS.
swell, say it," Sue was not con-
scious that she had been sitting
staring into space until the other
girl snapped out the advice. GO
on and tell me that the touch of
little hands will draw Allen and
me together; that our new reSpon-
sibilities will cement a stronger
bond between us. You know that's
what you're thinking. Sue!"
Hoping" Sue corrected. smil-
ingly. 81 think you do yourself an
injustice, my dear. 1t simply isn't
possible for you to be so Indifferent
to this important event as you
would have me think. What does
Allen say? Isn't he almost out of
his mind with joy?"
Hes sending me almost out of
mine with his everlasting fuSsing
Il know that! The latest is that
I'm to give up cigarettes and cock
tails. He had a talk with DR.. Van
Ness last week and the old tyrant
laid down the law AS if I'd pay
any attention to what either of
them say!" She lighted her third
cigarette since her arrival. Gosh"
she exclaimed. inhaling the smoke
greedily and letting it go on a
long. reluctant breath. ITS all that
makes life bearable to me now:
that and my friends"
what friends. Patsy?" Sue
asked pleasantly.
MY friends, Sue dear, and none
of your business" she replied
quite as pleasantly.
The younger woman took refuge
IN disappearing silence. She had
learned by experience that Patsy
could stand any amount of verbal
reproach better than she could
endure no speech at all. Pats pres
emily burst out:
''Tve got to have some diStrac-
ton. Suei Allen away all day, out
Of town three days in the week
g.. I'd 60 raving mad if people
didn't drop in every afternoon for
tea"
Still Sue said nothing. She re-
allied perfectly Patsy was glibly
ready with her defense of the last
word.
Deacon Davenport
a RENT you human at all, Sue?
"A You used to be prim enough
before you were married but
you're worse now, if possible.
Bob's no angel. let me tell you! /
mean" she added quickly as
Sues dark eyes flaShed-"you can
be mighty certain he hasn't been
alwaysl A man as stunning look
ing as he is, and with all the money
he has I'll bet he could make
US all sit up and take notice if he
wanted to write his memoirs. sup
pose he got il all out of his system
early in life. It's hard to account
for his settling down so early
otherwise"
You make us sound very stodgy
and Darby-and-Joanish, Pats!"
Sue tried for lighter note. Were
not really;we're as giddy pair of