The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-23
Chapter Six
Julia

7 WATCHED Adam and Gerald
L Beaufort play tennis against
Colonel Pennant and jefferson
Tack. jeff had one of those lean,
bony faces, high-browed, square,
jaWed-you see them often in
the army, not so often among
civilians, though what possible
connection lies between a mans
physiognomy and his profession
l don't pretend to know. | only
know that every graduating class
seems to have large percentage
of these old-young men whose
faces change very little as the
years pass. They have dignity
and reserve, they seem mature
beyond their years, but they are
not all as austere as Jeff Tack
Jeff was good looking; and
knew if the remnants liked him
he must be sterling; but in my
private opinion he was cold as a
fish.
| was wondering what Sandra
would be like, whether he would
thaW in her presence, when the
colonePS new Buick sedan drew
up to the curb in front of the
club. From the front seat, beside
the soldier driver. emerged. with
a certain reluctance, Julia Pen
nant; she turned, slung her dark
straw hat into the tonneau of the
car, ran a casual hand over the
moist thatch of tow hair against
which her face was as brown as
an East Indians and strolled.
with long-legged grace, across
the lawn to the courts.
'Tired?" asked as she paused
beside my bench.
"Hot," said Julia simply. Lord,
what a day. Why is it necessary
to stay away from people to keep
clean?"
She stared moodily at the four
utterly engroSsed men, took off
the jacket of her run1pled brown
linen suit and famed herself
with it.
"Sit down." l said, making
room for her. IFS quite cool
here"
Mimi and Sandra are in the
car. I'm supposed to fetch the
boys" she observed dispassion-
ately,, and sat.
mimi? On, Of course, that's
your stepmother, isn't it,"
Don't let her hear you call
her that" Julia murmured, her
strangely unhappy light blue
eyes, half concealed by their
white lashes, watching Jeff.
Il suppose she wouldn't like
it. She's quite young. isn't she?"
Thirty -four. but doesn't admit
it," Her eyes opened wider, she
seemed to brace herself. Minis
all right" she said. 1--WE get along.
Don't blame her for my Bach
ing"
The smack and whine of rack
cts, Short-breathed voices, merged
with the evening quiet to create
a dreamy peace. There were
children in the playground on
the far side of the club. Their
babel, muted by distance, was
pleasant to hear.
Sandra
1T WAS a pleasant place; and
L to me, breathing the clean air,
hearing the faint sigh of the lake
moving against the sand, feeling
the kind touch cf the departing
sun and an occasional cool breath
of lake breeze, seeing a landscape
submissive, but not subServient
to man, it seemed that lives
passed here were privileged.
looked at Julia's tormented eyes
and felt, for the moment. only an
impatient envy.
And then her face Softened
almost a smile crossed il.
"Dan's having a swell time.
she said, affectionate eyes on her
father. Who's the young AdoniS?
Don't tell me that's your under
draped chaplain"
/ treasured her and brought
her up to date on the days de-
velopmentS, but her attention was
largely for the game Even wher
Mimi Pennant and Sandra Fer
guson, the girl jeff Tack wa!
going to marry, left the car and
strolled over TO join US, julia
calmly waved them to silence.
"Shush," she said lazily. They
don't know we're here"
Really. Juhai"
There was good-natured i'm
patience in Minis voice, but she
wasn't the type of person yoI
would describe as good nalured
And / don't mean that she wa:
peeviSh. WiStful approaches wha
! would like to say, but that i
an overworked word. Minis sof
mouth was usually curved in ;
smile, her violet eyes would l'Ih
with interest at word: but IL
their depths was something un.
satisfied, some fretting, foreve
ungratified need.
She introduced me to Sandr;
and ! had time for only a quicl
survey of the girl l had beer
wondering about when jeff, il
midstroke, saw her and droppeS
his racket. Net impetuously
Accidentally. A fact at once ap,
parent to any observer. But HI
did his best to repair the damagt
by letting it lie where Z fell
With seif-eonscious air, un
smiling, he strobe of the court
bent and kissed her awkward,
on the cheek. When he straight
ened again there was adeep blusl
under his tan, but ! was at 4 los
to name the emotion that cauSeS
it.
Colonel Pennant said, "Sandra
my -dearI" put an arm around he
shoulders and gave her a warmel
kiss than Jsff's. Then Adam an<
Gerald Beaufort were being In