The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-30
Chapter Six I
Scandal OF The Street

scandal VI The Street
"TS THERE something special
you want to say to me about
Mac. Lsobel?" asked Brenda.
"Only that" - the green eyes
grew misty, the big mouth quiv-
cred little-"only that, as you've
probably observed for yourself,
nay dear, I'm -. crazy about
himI"
It was Brenda who broke the
silence which fell. "And he"
Doesn't know I'm on earth"
was the brief reply. Cor if he
does, it's only to be annoyed that
Ii care. Now you have it." Her
shoulders rose in her favorite
shrug. Il thought I might as well
tell you myself-before somebody
else does, or before you deduced
II. I'm so darned foolish about
about wearing my heart on my
sleeve. / spend a full hour every
single night after go to bed firm
1y resolving to put Tiny heart,
l mean-nicely away in a hand
kerchief box in my top bureau
drawer, and leave it there until
called for; and then morning
comes, and I go down to break
fast hear Macs voice ;. see
his face She stopped and
turned her head aside.
Brenda's warm sympathy was
aroused by this frank confession.
My dear you remember what
Thackeray said: "A woman with
fair opportunities and without
positive hump, may marry whom
she likesI"
in Thackeray's day, maybe!
Not now. The competitions too
keen. Heaven knows I've had OPP
portunities enough" she went on
miserably. "And I've always been
firm believer in propinquity,
too. I've seen girls and men
thrown together, and drift into
marriage-marriages that turned
out happily, too!-who wouldn't
have looked at each other twice
IN different surroundings. But it
hasn't worked with Mac and me
or not with Mac, at any rate.
Why" she finished forlornly, che
won't even fight with mel And
he began his acquaintance with
you by two rows in single after
noon. He told me so hinself!"
Brenda laughed outright. 81
should hardly call that a proof of
mutual attraction. AS matter of
fact Mac and l don't get on well
at all. He seems always to be in
wardly laughing at the idea Of
my being a writer"
"And that" Miss Burke COM
mented elegantly. "burns you up,
doesn't it?"
ct does indeed I'll tell you
something. Isobel-if you won't
tell Maci I've sold a story-sold
it to The Monthly COMMENT" She
sat back, watching the effect of
this stupendous announcement. It
was all and more than she had
hoped. Isobel grew positively pale
with awe.
Brenda Burnham, you haven't!"
The little authors head nodded
emDhatically.
Now you see why it makes me
SO furio1s-So absolutely furi-
Gus" she declared. "to have Mac
look down his nose and smile with
his eyes when I talk about my
work"
Have you told him-about The
Monthly COMMENT"
"No-didn't / just ask you to
promise not TO? Pm not going to
have him know until it comes out.
Then" she went on with youth
full satisfaction, "Pll just care
leSsly hand him the magazine and
he'll be good and sorry!"
ISobel Rugged her knees. "Bren-
da. you're queer" she announced.
You're so contradictory. So
grown up in. some ways, SO awful
" young in others; $3.50 sophis-
ticated, and at the same time So
well, ! guess you'd call it sweet"
DOnx Like Him
THE din1pies flashed amusediy.
L I'm more than willing YOU
should call it that! Not all my
friends do. you know"
To her delight, Isobel told her:
Yes, / can understand that. tool
You can be pretty frank and de-
ciSive when you wish, / haven't
a doubt. Mac said So" she added
unthinkingly.
The dimples disappeared in
stantly and the dark brows drew
together.
Il really don't see why Mac
should be so interested in my
manner. one way or anotherl |
tell you, Isobel, I don't like that
mani I'm sorry if it hurts your
feelings, my dear. but honestly
think you're in luck-that he isn't
IN love with you. I mean. He's
opinionated. he's so frightfully
sure OF himself. he's downright
conceited-"
mo. No. he isn't, you little spit
fire. He's sure of hirnself-he has
a right to be. Why. If you knew
all he's gone through to get where
he is"
4 haven't the slightest desire
TO know. Let's talk about Hugh
Saltus instead. Now there" she
continued. warming to her sub
ject. is man who is really in
terestingl I'm amazed that this
neighborhood doesn't appreciate
him more. He'd be a riot in New
York. l can't imagine why he
STAYS on in this quiet place"
He stays because il is quiet, I
think. know he said he could
get more work done here than any
place he'd ever lived. His cartoons
are clever. suppose: butt hate
NOT ENOUGH ALTMoNY