The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-07
Chapter 80
Newlyweds


Newlyweds
IAN found it grand and exciting
y to meet Angus friends and join
in their art debates. She picked
up lot Of useful and practical
knowledge, too, from these artists
who either supported themselves
by their art or starved. They
were carelessIy friendly to Jan,
assuming at once that she was
Angus Lorry's sweetheart, which
vexed and embarrassed Jan.
This new existence was for the
most part a gay life, carefree, ir-
responsible, pleasant. Her first
sensation of overwhelming re-
lease from burden made her a bit
lightheaded with freedom. Her
quick laughter, her startling
whimsy, enchanted Angus into
awkward attempts at lovenaking.
She earned enough money for
rent and food, sometimes enough
for a new smock. Although she
kept in touch with Norma by card
and letter, she knew no urge to
return to Sea Tide for even a
day. She had by now about con-
WINGED herself that love was
something she had yet, if ever.
to experience. That her fancied
love for Derek was just that
fancy. 1t hadn't meant anything,
least of all to him. And if it lin
gered, hurting now and then,
she'd get over it. She had found
new friends and her work and she
was only twenty.
She fed and thrived on her en-
vironment, absorbing it greedily,
hungrily, not reaching the point of
satlation until summer was nearly
over. She had needed this, needed
it badly and she might have lin
gered on if Angus Lorry hadn't
fallen too much in love with her.
"Of course we can't marry" he
said matter-of-factly as they
went up to their rooms in the old
hotel. ARTISTS should never mar
ry."
why not?" asked Jan.
why not? Because marriage is
sitting to creative naturesl Art
lists must be free souls, must be-
long to themselves alone, to their
art"
But couldn't they marry and
still belong to all that?" she de-
manded.
Suicide. Emotional suicide"
he declared darkly.
But surely free love went out
with fiappers and jazz" she ar
gued.
ooh. we don't call it that" he
said in amused condescension.
Just a sort of mutual under
standing"
81 see" she said in a small
voice. I'm very tired, Angus.
Goodnight"
"You love me, don't you?" he
demanded with all the arrogant
ego of young and prideful male.
I'm afraid / don't
Instead of being crestfallen, he
seemed annoyed and angry. 81
don't believe you, Jan. You
couldn't like TO be with me so
much if you didn't love me.
You're just sentimental and old
fashioned. You haven't even let
me kiss you-maybe that's what
is wrongi" He reached for her be-
fore she could evade him, pulled
her against his chest and half
smothered her with kisses.
When she finally struggled
away from him she was laugh
ing. "Oh, go to bedi" she scolded,
went into her own room and
locked the door.
What A Fool, 1 AM
q LONE in the close heat of the
"A room she wandered slowly to
the one window and looked out
on city lights. She felt as if she'd
been in the grip of a fever which
had, abruptly. passed. What a
fool / am, she thought, crying
a little, ito coop myself up in this
dingy oven of a room, to mix with
people / don't want to under
stand. to sketch until my fingers
ache and never take time off to
try for anything better" She
thought of her big, cool room at
home; of the spacious quiet; of
the lulling music of the surf; of
deep, green water and warm
sand; of her boat and her fishing
and her friends and her house.
And suddenly, terribly, achingly,
she thought of Derek and the
happy life they'd led at Sea Tide.
Olvera Street had been heady
cocktail inducing temporary anes-
theSia.
'I,m going home" she whis-
pered. I'm glad / had all this,
but now l want to go homer
She crept into bed feeling
peace and space slowly encom-
pass her sore spirit. Even now
she hated to admit the disillu-
sionment which Angus words
had caused.
On the wavering edge of sleep,
thinking that tomorrow night she
would be in her big soft bed at
home, she was startled into wake
fulness by the sound of knocking
on her door.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." called
whoever it was who had an
swered the pay phone in the hall.