The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-31
Chapter Seven
Sense OF Proprieties

a DELAIDE continued to be up
set at Brenda's defiance of
Miss Ormond. She went about for
the rest Of the day with look of
worry on her face and as soon as
dinner was over she beckoned Mac
from the dining room into the lit
tie Office where she made out her
bills and transacted such business
as her impractical soul was capa-
bic of.
Brenda, lettering on the porch
IN the cool air of the evening, sud-
IDENTIFY was aware that her hfst &C.
qualntance Of The Street doomed
beside her.
She patted the step invitingly.
her early antagonism forgotten.
One Of the girls most likable traits
was the ability to let bygones be
bygones.
sit here and cool of" she said.
I'm trying to get the topography
OF The Street straight in my mind.
Three houses on this side, seven
on the other. Mrs. Arnold at the
end across the street, Hugh Sal
fuss the very last house. Isn't that
right?"
Perfectly right" He sat down
beside her. signing heavily. ~Bren-
da-"
Good heavens!" she exclaimed
startled you nearly blew nae
away with that mournful breath.
II must be contagious" she con-
tinued idly. Mrs. Rosttetor-Ade-
lalde-was signing away exactly
Ike that this morning.
And for the same reason. too.
! imagined" The reply came crisp
~ Look here. Brenda! You're
young, you're stranger to The
STREET.-THE the town. so far as that
goes!-you don't know Hugh Sal
tus-"
She jerked upright, all her pref
~ Incidence gone as if by magic.
Ha! So it's poor Hugh again, is
II! l remember now - Adelaide
wanted to speak TO you after din
ner. About me. was it? My highly
improper conducs in calling at the
studio yesterday afternoon?" Her
low voice began to thrill with
hoteS the unhappy young man re-
membered. Her blue eyes began to
SHINE with stars which, lovely as
they were, he could have dis
penSed with. Granted" she said.
that a visit. even properly chap
eroned by housekeeper. is inn
proper, would yoL mind informing
me who appointed you the guar
dian of my conduct?"
Adelaide asked me to speak to
you"
And why you? Why not Eric?
Or Hugh himself? Or Judge Har.
per? Why. of all the masculine
residents in The Street. must Dion
Mackelvey be requested TO re.
monstrate with me? I'd love-" she
murmured ioN and sweetly. ito
knowi Truly | WOULD"
Mac fidgeted on ale step. If
only he had needed that inner
warning and refused to do AIDE
ladies bidding in this matter! Bus
he was person of determine
ton. Having put his hand to the
plow. he would not turn back. He
said seriously:
Perhaps because I'm the only
one who is interested enough in
you TO want TO keep you from
Fnsking mistakcl You see. Hugh
j. little different frGm most peo-
p'e-from the rest of US. His
VIE"
At that one hundred pounds Of
curls. dinples. blue eyes and
T1sied organdy exploded.
~Oh. POOH And tosh! And I'D.
dle-de-dee! What is there so i'm
proper in my stopping into any
bOdy's studio for a chat? Even If
Hugh Saltus has forty wives and
they've all left him. il would be
perfectly moral and upright-for
me 70 call on him / meant Aunt
Anne told me The Street was
very conventional She didn't tell
me il was prim and prissy and
and sillv." she ended emphati-
esliy. And even If everybody
else has 10 be like that. you
DON'T" The afterthought came in
a tone so low he hal 70 bend his
head TO catch it.
4 Want You To Be Happy
Il AGREE with you it's silly"
Il Mac admitted. "Saltus Is a
fine chap and there's no reason on
earth why you shouldn't spend
the afternoon in his studio If YOU
like: no reason e-.cept that Miss
Ormond anG q few others around
here viii be shocked and make
il uncomfortable for you" He
smiled down at her placatingiy.
Il want you to be happy here.
Brenda. I want you to like The
Street-everybody on - One has
every neighborhood - almost
every place one stays. You said
they wouldn't take your writing
seriously in New York. Well.
that's the objection there. Here.
it's an old fashioned and perhaps
too slaviSh adherence to the con-
ventions- All ! ask is -"
But she continued to shake her
head.
Its time someone came along
and taught them sensel They
need sense Of proportion in
stead OF sense of The proprie-
ties"
you mean"-he spoke grave
ly-"that you intend going TO the
studio just the same?"
Just the sames or perhaps
little ofteneF."
He rose. You're d very foolish
child then Good night"