The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-10

/ WOulQ Turn on OmDInatlOl Lie
Ment-Toland charm and see IL il
couldn't outshine the BarteIl
brand.
EIt's a promise" she agreed.
Toni loved the family. Before
the evening was over, she decided
she would prefer to love them one
at a time. They overpowered her
by numbers. They talked her
down. They weighted her with
ponderOus advice.
She needed Pierre to fend of
their dominating love of her. She
needed him for something else
too.
Standing at a rear window she
watched dusk gather and the first
star appear in the afterglow. Last
night, at this hour-hoW she hated
Bartelll Pierre. who hoped to
marry her. had never dared kiss
her.
She must be more considerable
Of Pierre in the future. He'd
worked so steadily. He deserved a
change. She'd been selfish. Now
that the accounts were so well
established. she could let him do
most Of the travelling. Bartel
couldn't accuse her of letting an
employee do the actual work.
Later, if she married Pierre,
they would travel together. But
tomorrow night she was having
dinner with Allen. Perhaps it was
better that Pierre was out OF
town.
The evening dragged. At long
last the guests were in their re-
spectiVe beds. Toni tiptoed TO the
divan where she had spent her
first night at the farm. YEARLY
she sank onto it and looked I'D at
the portrait of Great-uncle Tim
othy. Silently, she blessed him for
that time limitation of family Wis
itors- Had the family been free
TO mill around the farm indefi-
nltely. there would have been no
black army to fight the reds.
The clock tolled eleven. Toni
snapped off the light. only
twelve hours more" she sighed.
"and maybe they'll sleep late"
She had forgotten a Toland
never slept late.
This Is My Home
DROMPTLY at six-ffteen Great
aunt Hannah descended the
steps, fully clothed. her gray hair
IN a bounding pompadour.
I'll prepare breakfast" she
announced.
Toni flew into her clothes.
"TOmil" Her voice rang through
the halls, bringing the delinquent
members to the banniSterS. Toni.
there has been no oatmeal pre-
pared. Oatmeal must always be
cooked the previous day: steamed
properly"
Fourteen pairs of eyes stared
at Toni, accusingly, some with
hope behind the accusation.
There IS no. oatmeal. There is
no car to be sent for oatmeal"
returned Toni evenly.
Six months earlier. Toni would
have taken the subsequent lecture
silently. Now she only allowed
/; to get well under way.
Listen" she snapped. "this is
my home. | have no oatmeal. do
have twenty white leghorns on a
tw ty-four hour shift. This
morning you're going to eat fried
eggs and like them"
Great-aunt Hannah ate fried
eggs. Four of them. The rest of
the family followed suit. They ate
toast, great stacks of it. They
drank coffee. gallons of it. Jars
OF jam and Jelly melted under
their dipping spoons.
And Toni, bending over the
stove. over the toaster, and dig
ging in the fruit closet for more
preserves. vowed hereafter she
would keep oatmeal on the shelf
for such emergencies.
And again she gave thanks that
eleven-thirty would see the fam
lily enroute home.
That spirit of gratitude grew
with the morning. She forgot her
hatred of Bartell when he ap-
peared and took the men away
with him. She only regretted he
didn't take Harold. Harold was
irritable. His cheeks were flushed,
his eyelidS too heavy.
AT ten o'clock Bartell returned
with his guests. Harold wanted to
play with him. Bartell swung him
to his shoulder. then put him
down hastily. felt of his hands
and his brow.
This gSter must have
taken cold yesterday" he re-
marked.
Toni didn't see Allen when he
left Great-aunt Hannah was get
ting into the new STAYS" and
needed help. Darlington told her
Mr. Bartell had said be was 60
ing TO his Office and to remember
she was having dinner with him
that evening.
The family was debating on
whether TO call three cabs TO carry
them to Alameda where they
would spend the rest of the day,
or walk to the bus, when MAY
nd-Carrington appeared. cry
ing Historically.
Toni. call a doctor. Harold
says the room is full of pink frogs
He thinks Darlington is a fish"
Toni had an answer for that.
but she didn't give it. She raced
up to look at Harold. to place a
cool hand on his brow. May was
right. Harold was very i'll.
She would call a doctor. but
whom? Bartell would know. but
he'd be enroute to the Office. Oh,
why wasn't Dotty handy?
Abe was som avrhera shoIft fhe