The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-20
Chapter a
Silly Mess

CnapIer "A
Silly Mess
ID FAD it," the Judge command
N ed. Brenda took the letter.
$50 my dear, I'll no longer pre-
tend with you. I've known your
secret for months, ! may say for
years. My hearts beloved, free
yourself of the shackles Of conven-
tionality, and come to me. Let the
dead past bury its dead CATER all,
lover, your wife has been absent
from your side for many years.,
and turn the page and make new
start, / know, you see; I've known
all along; ever since was a little
girl. Therei Doesn't that clear the
path for you, dearest of dears?
Maud"
Brenda's hand with the letter in
it fell helplessly at her side. The
confusion of metaphors. the alb
surd taking for granted what she
wished to believe was eminently
characteristic of Maud VanNess;
but never would the younger girl
have believed the prim old maid
would summon courage enough to
write the Judge as she had done.
A fearful wave of apprehension
began to chill her. Maud had said
it had been Brenda's attitude to-
ward life which had broken down
her reserves. Was she henceforth
to be held responsible for all that
went on in The Street? She tried
frantically to remember the SUBJ
stance of her conversation with
Maud the day she had lunched
with her; but it had been such an
unpleasant experience that she
had quickly forgotten it.
'Well?" asked the Judge shak-
lily. what am l to do about it,
Brenda? How am I to answer it?
You see, she says you advised
her -"
Il didn't! I'm perfectly sure l
didn't"
"At any rate" he continued, not
rebukingly but more as summing
up impartially the acts for the
jury, I've lived on this Street
with Maud for nearly half a CEN
fury, and never word did ! hear
out of her on such a subject until
you came here!"
"Oh, Judge HarperI" she cried
forlornly.
I'm not blaming you, child. /
know that in New York, and es-
pecially with your generation, the
Solemnity and deep respect with
which we older folk have held
still do hold-love and marriage
have gone by the board
There were tears in her eyes, but
she held her head a trifle higher.
Il beg your pardon, Judge, but
you're miStaken-So far as some
of US are concerned: so far as
am concerned. respect love and
marriage just as much as anyone
can do. And-and | don't think it's
fair to hold me responsible for a
letter sent you by-by a woman
who told me herself that She
she -" She stopped abruptly,
ashamed to bettray poor Maud.
The call. she thought afterward.
went from bad to worse. The
Judge was gentle with her. was
considerate. but it was perfectly
evident he was convinced in his
own mind that the daughter of his
old friend had been acting upon
the advice-general or specific as
the case might be-of this young
writer from New York who had
had a good deal to say about deal
ing frankly and realistically with
life's problems.
Brenda did her best to disclaim
any part in the affair but it was
difficult to exonerate herself.
"And he's wise, he's known all
sorts of people. their motives for
doing all sorts of thingsl" she
unused in surprise.
Absorbed In Cacti
CHE put the question to Mac that
- night despairingly. He had
been the last person she wished
to know about it: in fact, when the
Judge went sorrowfully away Just
before noon with not a grain of
that sophisticated advice on his
problem that he had come for, she
bad planned frantically to keep
Mac from hearing of the silly
mess.
But it was one of the rare eve
nings when they happened to be
alone for a few minutes in the
living room. ISobel had gone out
with Eric-dreSSed in her smartest
gown and wearing makeup deli
cately applied by Brenda's own
expert hand. Adelaide was to re-
turn from Springfield sometime on
the following day.
Mac sat smoking in his favorite
leather chair: and suddenly he
looked so dependable, so strong,
SO thoroughly understanding. that
the girl found herself pouring the
whole sorry story into his ears.
''Ive gone over what she said
to me-what | said to her-that
day at luncheon, FIVE hundred
times" she finished feverishly.
WAnd 4 Simnlv cannot remember