The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-14
Chapter "a
Eric

IIHEN Pats, temporarily dis
w cOuraged in her effort to break
down Sues calm aloofness, had
departed. Barbara gave her hos
tess hand congratulatory
squeeze.
Good for you, honeyl That's
putting her in her place. | can't
forgive her for the way she toad
led to Cecily all summer"
On Sues small dark face lay a
sudden shadow.
You can't make people over,
Babs dear! | haven't the slight
est hope that my brief period of
discipline will do my precious sis
ter-in-laW any real good. The
most | can accomplish is to teach
her to show an outward loyalty to
Aliens family. Poor Allen! If the
baby had only HVed!"
Her friend said sapiently: He'd
have been more unhappy than
ever, my dear. You and can
imagine the sort of mother Pats
would make. Either she'd spoil
child till it was unbearable. or
she'd be so severe by fits and
starts that Allen would protest.
They'd quarrel, he and Patsy, and
that would be a nice atmosphere
for child to grow up in. wouldn't
it?"
Sue shaded her eyes against
the light of the leaping flames.
Its Jest as it is, of course; but
oh, Barbara. it's hard to know
Aliens made such a mess of his
marriagel"
A week later she met Patsy
downtown by appointment and
bought. not the luxurious gar
ments which were the older wo-
mans choice, but simple. severely
cut things of the best material.
Only the purchase of two ex-
tremely expensive evening gowns
consoled their owner for what she
called being bullied into taking
the old-maidiSh sort of clothes
Sue wears herself!'
Something Vital
A FEW weeks after this, the
\ thing Sue had been subcon-
sciously dreading all her married
life happened: she fell completely,
passionately and unreasonably in
love with another man.
1t came. as such things are so
apt to come. Just when she felt
safest. She and Bob had settled
down into a comfortable jog trot
of marriage. The crisis of Cecily
had been met and conquered. Sue.
believing this to be the greatest
test which could be eXacted of her
affection for her husband. relaxed
her anxiety about the future.
Ironically enough it was in Pat
sy's living room. it was through
the sister-in-law of whom Sue al
ways more or less disapproved.
that she met Eric Farraday.
She's home, but she's got COM
pany." old Maggie had said with
the significant emphasis which
indicated the sex of Mrs. Daven-
ports caller.
Hello. Sue!"
Pats. wearing a hostess gown
that had not been one of Sues
purchases for her, and lounging,
cocktail in hand before the fire.
looked up without rising.
"Mr. Farraday - my husbands
sister, Mrs. Trenton" she went on.
Eric. make your prettiest bow to
the lady. She's got ScadS!"
Sue flushed a little at the bad
taste of it; liked the way the tall
stranger ignored the admonition.
He was rather a surprising per-
son to find here. she told herself:
lean, almost ascetic looking, with
a streak of white running at Ell
Their temple through his dark hair,
gray eyes mildly amused behind
their pince-nez.
The name rang faint bell in
her consciousness.
Eric Farraday-the Mr.. Farra-
day."
He gave her a formal little bow
but before he could reply Patsy
said indolently;
Exactly. my dear! Columnlst,
eSSayist. critic! Now ask me how
/ lured him into my parlor"
Sheer establishment kept Sue ST.
lent Farraday. as all the world
knew. was the author of q volume
of essays full of a strange and bit.
ter wisdom. His weekly column
was a controversial affair which
had torn apart many a literary
club. had provoked acrimonious
discussion among staid business
men. His was the dubious gift of
probing the average mans and
woman's heart. and voicing their
most unworthy sentiments so that
only the blindest egotist repudi-
ated them.
Black eyes and gray exchanged
a long appraiSing look.
81 have a cousin here of whom
I'm very fond. He's ill-mortally
III. I'm afraid. I'm staying on
until there's a change. one way or
another"
He gave the explanation quite
as though she had a right to it;
there was a simple friendliness
in his manner which clearly sur
prised his hostess who said so.
Look herel Have you and Sue
met before? I've never heard you
talk 500 simply before, Eric!
Usually you seem to be poking