The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-13
Chapter 18
Explanation

u G[1AL4 int safest 4I4EuuS 1OI
n you in this neighborhood are
the Misses Ponsonby," Mac in
formed her. Sweet, If withered
epinsters, restfully feminine. Not
an ambition between EN-" he
went on dreamily. mo desire to
make money, have a career, do
anything, in short, save make their
men friends comfortable"
Gone In a fash was Brenda's
new-found amiability, gone was
her docile acquieScence with his
opinions. She sat straight in her
chair, her eyes sparkling, every
curl apparently tightening in
rage.
@Just nice comfortable feather
bed, In fact; yielding to the
slightest pressure, totally lacking
the slightest vestige Of a back
bonel"
'Featherbeds don't have back
bones. my child. If you're going to
write, you must learn not to mix
your metaphors"
Il shall mix them If I please!
And nothing on earth would in
duce me to fall back on the Pom
sonby sisters for companionship.
No ambition save to make their
men friends comfortableI' If that
isn't masculine conceit I never
heard it displayed Mac. 1 do
really think -"
He sighed. my fault I apollo
gizel I'm sorry I ever said it
whatever it wasl Brenda, do we
always have to fight? Couldn't we
spend just one peaceful evening
now and then? I'll tell you" he
proposed. "Say on alternate
Thursdays and Sundays we agree
TO dwell in love and harmony
well, in harmony, at all events"
81 am very easy to get along
with" she informed him loftily.
"At home I have the reputation
OF being a very agreeable per-
son."
Gal, you lie, and you know it.
A spitfire you were born, and a
spitfre you'll die - unless you
marry brute who will club you
into submission"
perhaps you'd like to under
take the task?" Her voice was as
sweet and cold as lemon ice.
God Forbid" He spoke in gen.
uine alarm. "Tm a hard working
man with neither time nor
strength to discipline a small
whirlwind like Miss Brenda Burn
ham. When ] marry -"
"Yes?" she prompted as he
paused.
He shook his head. Il shall
never marry!"
ooh, but you will, Macl You're
exactly the sort of man who needs
to become a domestic drudge in
order to be happy. l can see you
tinkering with the leaking faucet
on Saturday afternoon, taking the
two oldest out for a walk on SUM-
ny Sundays. leaving the office ten
minutes early to buy the loaf of
Vienna bread your wife couldn't
get at the neighborhood bakers"
He smiled at her.
sits not such a bad picture you
paint, my dear. / can imagine en-
joying all those things-with the
right woman"
She maintained a self-righteous
silence. Not Brenda would ques-
ton him coquettishly about that
fright woman"
The front door slammed and
Isobel came in. She looked gay
and rather smart in her new taf-
feta evening frock with its jacket
Of silver brocade. Her eyes were
dancing.
ooh, dears, what do you think?
I'm going on the Matinee Hour
Every afternoon except Sunday;
and scads of money!"
Macs voice was warm with
pleasure. Good for you'll You de-
serve every bit of success that
comes to you" He was on his feet,
holding out both hands. Here, sit
here and tell us about it,"
She was still telling Mac about
Il half an hour later when Brenda
slipped away to bed. Though they
babe her a polite good night. she
was convinced that neither of
them really knew she had left the
room.
Single-Minded .
MED BARROW arrived on Fri
N day and promptly telephoned
Brenda. There was a peremptory
note in his voice which she met
n her own direct fashion.
'Pve got to see you, Ned" she
told him. about something i'm
portant."
'fYou bet your sweet life you've
got to see met And I'll tell the
world it's important"
"When?"
'T'll have the car in front of
your house in ten minutes"
She chuckled as she took off
her smock and put on a scarlet
crepe gown. pulled small match