The Key West citizen., 1940-09-20
Chapter %
Enter, The Bride

to the reception tomorrow
night" Sandra said to him as we
rose. Colonel and Mrs. Pennant
are giving il for jeff and me-a
sort of delayed wedding recep-
tion. l believe there will be dane
ing"
"Yes, I-ah. received a card
this morning. ! think l shall be
able to go back to quarters again
tomorrow: but of course. you
understand, my appearance"
Have you proper clothes?"
Sandra asked practically.
Some new uniforms were de-
llvered this morning - the post
tailor. through the kind agency
of Mrs. Bridewell, who has put
herself TO quite bit of trouble
on my behalf"
l thought of the shorts and
with difficulty suppressed a gig
gle. Felicia had made a good
story in regard to his preference
in underelothing.
"I-ah. was referring more to
the appearance of my face and
hands" he continued diff
IDENTIFY.
Think nothing of it." Sandrs
said warmly. I'VE all know what
poison oak is. And everyone is
anxious 10 meet you. | won't take
no for an answer. I'll expect to
see you"
She sounded quite grim about
il. and the little chaplain con-
sented with almost nervous haste.
felt rather sorry for him. He
would think ne had to appear.
now that Sandra had made an
issue Of it, and would probably
suffer tortures every time any
one looked at his OVerripe-the
simile was irresistible = tomato
face.
But after all. his countenance
was not to be the main object OF
attention. As It happened. tina.
honor was TO be reserved for
the bride.
In view Of what followed, San
dra's attitude toward the recep-
ton Is Of some Importance
Putting a good face on it for
Jeffs sake" she said acidly, with
a penetration had not expected
Of her.
That was on the way back TO
the club. after our visit at the
hospital. I had broached the sub
ject, hoping to prod her to some
reaction other than the apparent
apathy which she had previously
exhibited. And | was moderately
successful. She went on. as if un-
der some compulsion to Justify
herself.
Il don't really belong" she
said bitterly. Il never have. They
couldn't forgive my father for
marrying a Russian. Oh yes. they
took me il because ! was his
daughter. and an orphan. But
that first family of = the South
buSinesS-the almighty Tacks and
their friendS-I don't really be-
long. Julia. now-her mother was
a Tack They're royalty or some
thing. The fact that my mothers
people were OF the nobility-that
she was received at court, that
the blood of kings ran in her
veins"
She paused. drew deep
breath. and l thought for a mo-
ment there was q gleam of fanatic
hatred in her mUrky dark eyes.
mo. I've never belonged" she
repeated. 'I was d duty-a cred
liable duty. The wonderful Tacksi
To think OF them taking that or
phan child and raising her as their
ownl used to get so tired of
hearing their praises sung. of be-
ing reminded what a lucky girl !
was. Of existing merely as an ex-
ample Of their philanthropy Even
marrying JEFF doesn't make me
one of them. The PennantS are
not giving this reception for me-
It's JEFF they're thinking Of"
Cnderstudy'
NTELL, that was her side Of it as
w opposed TO Julia's. And
though ! thought she was little
morbid | had TO admit that charity
can have its ugly moments.
IT'S too bad Adam has to miss
all this" Gerald observed. as we
waited on the veranda of Colone,
Pennant's Quarter rs Wednesday
evening. The bride and groom
had not vet arrived. and Julia.
handing us each a tiny bag Of
rice. had suggested that II was
cooler outside and. mySterieuSly,
that we must not miss the arrival
Wasn't he supposed to be
back tod3y?" asked Felicia.
She was an eye-filling spec:a-
Gle. in a claSsically cut white
gown so simple that you saw
only the fiawless lines OF her
figure and the sculptured white
curls that crowned her small
head.
81 had an air-mal letter from
him this morning" I told her. He
can't get here until Friday"
He was on the track of some
thing which might or might not
be important. the letter said. but
] did not add that piece OF infor-
nation.
Gerald. unutterably resplendent
in tails and a white tie. had de-
livered US in Adams car.
''It's quite all right with
Adam, really" he had grinned at
me earlier in the evening when
ha asked IL ha nicht "He said