The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-28
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life" amount to? She might easily
have had it with Bob himself. If
so, it would have disappeared by
this time, been replaced by habit,
by the pattern of their mutual
days. It would have disappeared
with Eric, in time. The rapt girl
of years ago would never have
admitted that. The wiser woman
of today knew it past all doubling.
And what, with Eric, would have
taken its place?
you're extra sweet these days,
Sue, seems to me-" Bob said to
her one evening. eff a week away
from US has this affect on you, l
advocate bigger and oftener
weeks!"
Maybe it gave me a better
perspective" she said simply.
Maybe l needed to go away from
all have to realize what rich
woman l am"
Don't regret marrying me,
Sue? Think of the old brick dining
room we lived in, after the smash!
Think of that big barn in Queen
City we called house! Think of
having to pick up and move on
every few years or so, just when
you've begun to feel at home!"
"Pm thinking of it," she an
swered placidly. Thinking of
lots ofrother things, too, Bob" she
added with significance.
Talk For Two
4 ND that was the evening be-
y fore the skies fell, and the
world reeled under her feet, and
the happiness she and Bob mad
built so sturdily together seemed
threatened with final destruction.
They were at dinner the next
night, she and Bob and the two
children. Dessert-it was Bolts
favorite peach shortcake served
with thick cream-had just been
put on the table when the door
bell rang.
Young Fellison from the Of
fice," Bob predicted. "He said he
might drop around to consult me
about something this evening""
"Ask him to come in and have
some of this shortcake." Sue babe
him Hospitality.
But the maid, returning. an
nounced another name: Mr.. Far
raday from New York!
The room began to swing in
slow circles in front of Sues eyes.
Eric! Eric. Of course! 1t was ex-
actly the mad, the impossible
thing he would do! Why, or. why
hadn't she foreseen it-prepared
for it? But how could she pre-
pare for it. ran her frantic
thoughts.
"Farraday? You don't suppose
it's that writer fellow we used to
know. Sue? Observation-Disclosures
his name?" Bob looked up.
pleased.
She rose. I'll see"
The maid spoke again. cts Mr..
Trenton he asked for. ma'am."
'Me?" Bob was frankly di-
verted. What on earth would be
want to see me for? Guess it can't
be the same fellow. Save my
shortcake for me. Sue!" He put
down his napkin and disappeared
across the hall. Sue heard his
hearty greeting. We'll, it's Far
raday sure enough! How're you,
Farraday! But you'll want to see
Suei"
And then a low, rapid murmur
that made her heart stand still.
The children finished their meal
and ran off to play. Sue sat staring
at her untouched dessert until the
maid sided in to see if she might
clear the table.
what shall do? What shall
do?" she whispered to herself.
Her first impulse was to go
boldly into the living room and
interrupt whatever Eric might
be saying. If she had only had
the sense to do that at first! BY
now he must be half way through
his revelation. Bob would not toll
crate a break until he had heard
it all.
She went into the little study
across the hall from the living
room. Without hesitation her feet
led her to the window where she
could see the river.
Suddenly she threw back her
head proudly.
after all. what can he say?
Only that l thought loved him
years ago: that ] came back to Bob
when l heard of the business fall
ure; that | refused to listen to Eric
in New York two weeks ago.
Nothing to be ashamed of, nothing
to disturb Bob!"
But she knew her husbands
pride too we'll to console herself
long with this thought. He would
read in that frantic return, pity;
and Bob would have none of pity
Sue tried to pun herself to-
gether. At best Bob would be
angry, would be hurt. When he
had heard her version. realized
how even just, in the last few
days she had begun to realize how
deep and warm her love for him
ran, he would say: Forget it,
Sue!" and give her one of his
tenderest kisses.
How long they were talking,
Eric and BobI What could even
Eric find to say in all this timel
She bent her head, striving to
disentangle words from the angry
rumble of Beb'S voice. She would
know how to deal with Bob's
anger. But there was only the
low, rapid murmur which meant
that Eric was still talking. She
shivered a little in the warm sum-
mer evening.
| Suddenly there was a new
sound: the front screen closing
quietly. almost silently. Eric gone
at last, thank heavenl But how
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