The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-24
Gasa!al &aughtecs
by VIRGINIA HANSON

He Drought a wife and baby
back with him from France. San
dra's mother was a Russian refu-
gee; she committed suicide when
| her husband died Of pneumonia.
Sandra was twelve. The Fergu-
sons were queer, cold lot-BoS-
tonians. They had always looked
down their noses at the Russian
girl and they persisted in speak
ing Of Sandra as her daughter.
Maybe, since she was born
abroad, they just couldn't believe
she was a Ferguson. Anyway,
they didn't want her, and when
the Tacks offered to adopt her
there were no objections raised. /"
Mice peopleI"
Weren't they? And wasn't IL
swell Of the Tacks? They were
like that. But I resented il and
hated Sandra. Il seemed to me
that she had my place, and when
went to them for visits il WASH I
the same any more. We're about
the same age, and everyon e
thought we ought to be friends,
but we weren't, ever. I was too
jealous"
"She was probably jealous. too.
Of course they loved you best
they had you when you were a
baby"
Julia looked surprised.
Il never though of that. Maybe
they did-Mother Tack at least.
She used to take my part some
times. Well, If Sandra was
jealous, she's more than even
now. She's got all / had left, ex-
cept Dad; and ! expect she could
get him, too. if she tried"
"Julial Don't be a foolI"
She looked at me darkly. then
dropped her eyes.
"Al1 right, I'm fool So what?
You'll get to know her; you'll like
her. Everybody does. She's nicer
to know than am. Which doesn't
make me fonder of her; and
wouldn't make me sorry il some
thing not too messy happened to
her"
She rose, stood silhoueted for q
moment against the red, sunless
sky, cast herself passionately into
the water and drew herself to-
ward shore with incredibly long,
easy strokes that made me think
Of people you see climbing the
steps Of an ascending escalator.
/ watched until she stood on
the sand, a slight, lonely figure.
overshadowed by the darkening
trees. Then, more slowly, fol-
lowed her to shore.
Foursome
IEFFS car was standing In front
- of the colonePs quarters and
/ We could hear voices on the front
porch.
"Side door," Julia directed
Mimi was coming out as we
reached it.
"Oh, there you arel Sandra and
JEFF are having sandwiches and
iced tea on the front porch.
There's plenty for everybody"
I'm not hungry" Julia said
shortly.
"Juliaw
The reproof was half hearted,
and for an instant Minis lovely
face was Swallowed. l looked from
one to the other of them, two wo-
men who had so much to be hap
by about but who were not
/ happy. / understood Julia Il
knew very well the rebellion that
was embittering her; I had ex-
perienced it myself. But Mimi?
Sorry" said Julia. recalled to
her manners. Have a sandwich.
Kay?"
TOO soon after dinner. thank
you"
Mimi was edging away as if
there were something pulling her,
drawing her irreSistibly.
We'll. make yourselves at
home" she said perfunctorily.
I'm going for a driver"
where's DAM"
I'm the village-boy scouts. or
something"
She geStured vaguely and, re-
/ leased, hurried off TO the double
garage behind their quarters.
/ Julia had offered to walk back
10 the club with me, so ] sat on
F, the doorstep In my wet bathing
suit and waited for her to change.
She was not long about it. She
I reappeared presently in brown
Stacks and a yellow silk shirt and
Sfouched along beside me. silent
| and morose. did not intrude on
her thoughts. For the moment !
was only a refuge, an excuse for
escaping from the sight of Sandra
and JEFF together, and / could
best serve her by letting her
alone.
Adam and the EngliShman were
playing ping-pong on the club
veranda. / left Julia watching
them and went in to change.
When / came out again they had
. bridge table set up and Adam
had produced beer and pretzels
and potato chips.
Gerald Beaufort was leaning
| toward Julia and asking her very
SolicitouSly il she had any store
teeth, a question which success
fully arrested her wandering at
tention.
She said. yes. one" in a star
tied voice.
'fGoodi So have T." he ex-
claimed happily. Perhaps we're
soul matesI"
She did not smile, but a faint
flicker of appreciation Lit for an
instant her troubled eyes. ]
watched him put himself out to
amtlse her and decided that he
was all right. After while she
grew almost cheerful The bridge
was cockeyed. but ! don't think
anyone cared.