The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-04
Chapter Is
Strange Embrace


as they happen, and the smallest
thing can sometimes determine
the course of vital events. Be-
cause Adam left for New York
on Monday, | was to find myself
tangled in tragedy. holding clues
I did not recognize. information |
could not bring myself to divulge;
was to escape losing my life by
the narroWeSt of margins. And,
though l did not know it until
later, Adam went to New York
because he lost his head that night
and kissed me.
For somewhere in the middle
that first kiss lost all pretense of
playfulneSs. I was not surprised.
/ had been ready for it, wonder
ing a little, but willing to let
Adam do things in his own way.
I sighed as his arms frightened
and ! felt his heart begin to drum
under my cheek.
Then suddenly he was taking
my arms from around his neck.
putting me away from him gently
but firmly. He clamped his lips,
looking very white in the wash of
moonlight, and started to turn
away.
But. Adam, what's the mat
teri"
Nothing" he said roughly and
began walking on down the beach.
/ kept at his heels for a few
PAGES, fighting down the quick
temper that, along with my red
hair, came to me from an Irish
grandmother.
'Tt's very fattering that kiss
ing me should make such diff
ference in your life" said coldly.
'fBut it's a little confusing, too.
Perhaps you'll explain"
''Not now" he said over his
shoulder. "Run along"
'Now."
He stopped and faced me.
mot now," he repeated. "And
Tn not going to apologize. You're
not a fool"
He turned me, gave me a little
shove, his hands deliberately i'm
personal
run along back to the party.
I've got to think, and you dis
tract me-" He flashed me the
ghost of a smile. You're not real
ly angry, you know. You're much
too proud of yourself"
Words jammed in my throat. |
watched him go, a swift, white
figure against the sky line. Then
/ walked slowly back to the log
and sank down on it.
Adam was partly right. What |
felt was not anger. Neither was it
self-congratulation that | had at
last pierced his shell. was scared.
/ had always known there was
something about Adam that was
not like other people. but in the
past year when he had come Of
tener and oftener to see me in
Chicago. and | had found in him
a rarely satisfying companion. l
had deliberately thrust tn t
knowledge into the back of my
mind.
They said in the army that he
was untouchable. He was tremen-
dously popular-men liked and
respected him. women laid siege
to him, with what measure of
success only they and Adam could
relate. It seemed TO me significant
that the army. that huge, affec-
tionate. quarreling, inquiSitive
family. were unanimous in believ-
ing that no one. man or woman,
had ever won past his smiling
guard to the real Adam Drew.
/ sat on the log and admitted
to myself that / had not. Until.
perhaps. tonight.
/ got up from the log and con-
Sciously said gOodby to an AFRO
gance that had been part of my
armor since / cut off my pigtails.
1t was too late for arrnor against
Adam; and was afraid to be ar
rogant with fate.
But humility was a drab gar
ment. Heavy-hearted, I started
back the way we had come.
Something Frightening
IF THERE is comfort in shared
i misery | was denied even that:
for Julia had cast hers off like a
WORKOUT dress. She and Gerald
were turning cartwheels in the
moonlight with the effortless pre-
cision of a vaudeville team.
u believe you've got some
thing there" I said. pausing in
admiration.
Were soul mates" said Ger
aid, hating right side up.
Julia stood on her hands and
waggled one foot at us. Gerald
caught her heels, lowered them
TO the sand. Lets wrestle. III
show you some jujitsu."
"Oh, Gerald! Before all these
people?"
He pursued her laughing down
the beach. Feeling lonely and dis
consulate. l looked about me. AL
these people had dwindled to one
JEFF, lying apparently asleep
on an army blanket. The chaplain
was a SIN all figure blowing
through the loose sand and dis
appearing behind sparse thicket
of scrub. Not poison oak, / hoped;
but the thought was not enough
to cheer me.
There seemed nothing to do but
follow Jeff's example. ! straight
ened another blanket, choosing
the one farthest from JEFF. and
stretched out on it, glazing re-
sentfully at the round. beaming