The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-18

do"
Slowly Toni went to her room,
to stand before the west window
and stare blindly into the summer
dusk. That didn't excuse Pierre.
Pierre had been the one to speak
openly Of Aliens underhand meth
DDS. No matter what had occurred
to make him think of fight, he
should have known it wasn't nee
eSsary.
"And no matter what provoca-
ton he had" Toni reasoned, eff he
had loved me just half as much as
he said, he'd have stayed to warn
me-"
Toni heard Abe's car go rafting
and wheeling out of the yard. He
hadn't waited to welcome her. He
was afraid to face her.
Downstairs the telephone
shrilled. Toni heard Dotty's ex-
cited voice, then heard her calling
as she ran upstairs.
Toni, Gladys did break a leg.
They want me to come right away.
One of the neighbors is calling for
me in her car. You'll be all right
here alone? Tomorrow's dinner is
all ready. Gladys slipped on a
Toni helped Mrs. Dougherty
pack her bag. The neighbor was
there by the time she was ready.
"Pll have to stay with the chill
dren until she returns from the
hospital" Dotty sang out as the
car drove off.
Headlights came towards her.
Three cars drove towards the
farm, then turned left to stop be-
fore Allen Bartell'S. High above
the voices of girls and men came
one familiar tone.
"Allen," doomed Great aunt
Hannah Toland, Lilly taught me
to truck while you were South.
Come on" A door closed. Allen
must have flown back.
Toni walked slowly into the
dark house. She went to her room.
From the west window she could
see the garlandS of lights which
feStooned Neptune Beach, the
whirl of lights on the ferris wheel,
the curving line of lights on the
roller coaster.
She turned to the south window.
Every window in the Bartell cot
tage was bright. Heads bobbed be-
fore them.
"They aren't inviting me to their
party" thought Toni.
Shed get away from this room
where every window offered
comparison. her lonely life in con-
traSt to the happy lives of others.
She turned On the lamp beside
the divan and sat down, looked I'D.
Timothy Toland smiled his OIL
painted smile Tomi's bruised heart
eased. The old fellow looked
kindly.
well, Uncle Tim" she sighed,
sit looks as though just you and
are left"
No Emotions
TONI faced the future with a
bitter curve to her lips and sar-
donic laughter N her eyes. The
laughter was for herself, directed
at the Toni Toland who had flown
out from Chicago. She was wiser
now.
Some good had come of Dotty's
and Pierre'S deSertion. In the three
months left before the close of the
season she would have the nine
hundred dollars which would
have gone to their salaries. BY
living economically, she could
save at least an additional two
hundred in food and utilities.
Much to her amaZement, the
morning mail brought a check
from Hannah Toland, covering the
full amount of the bills incurred
| by the quarantine.
Toni glanced at the poStmark.
Midnight. the previous night.
Great-aunt Hannah had talked to
Allen at the party. They had felt
sorry for her.
For a moment she grasped the
check, ready TO tear it to shreds,
then she endorsed it. She'd need
this to win. She couldn't indulge
in emotions.
Toni made just one business
call. She went to see the railroad
commiSSary agent She talked for
an hour and came out, defeated.
Frogs legs were not staple COM
modify.
we have to stock our trains
with food which appeals to the
general public" the agent ex-
planned. Our space is limited. We
must carry only such perishable
foods as will be used each run"
Enroute home. Toni stopped at
a beauty parlor Her hair, which
had been growing long, was
cropped to close boyiSh cut.
AT home, a key was turned on
the dainty feminine clothes. The
drawers of her wardrobe were
filled with chain-knit skirts which
would require no ironing, and
khaki brooches.
Toni was awake at dawn. For
an hour she worked in the garden;
did the work of the man she had
discharged because she was count
ing pennies, but from that hour she
drew strength to carry on through
the day.
The cool, dew-sweet hour was
balm to her bruised spirit. The
flowers responded to her care.
Gladioli and delphiniums faded
and dahlias and Zinnias blazed in
their wake. These faded tosmake
way for aSters and cosmos.
+ The garden had become an en-,
tity; child, She had to.feAd and.
care for it, whether It was to be
her own or not.
Continued Monday