The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-17
Chapter q
The Choice

long WOulQ BOD SUCK 10 me!
Sue inquired of herself. "Why,
when Cecily was here there were
times when he seemed actually to
reproach me for the inconvenience
she caused him! He'd deceived me
about her, he'd fallen in love,
married, parted from a wife :. :.
and it was so unimportant to him
that he'd never told me!
81 played fair! / warned him
before we were married that /
might meet the right man, fall in
love with him . and Bob
laughed! Well, let him laugh
nowl He'll be hurt" she unused
more seriously. He'll be badly
upset for days-for weeks. But
he'll find consolation in the SYM
pathy of the town. Even if he lets
me divorce him, it will come out
later that I've married Eric and
everyone will know l treated Bob
badly. Allen will try his best to
make it up to Bob. Barbara will.
Maybe Barbara and Bob &.
stranger things have happened!"
She sighed heavily.
"If he'd only suspect-quarrel
with me about Eric! If we could
bring the subject out in the open,
discuss it, even angrily. But Bob's
like a trustful child. 1t has never
occurred to him that his wife
his wife!-could be other than
faithful with him, anything else
but entirely happy! The uncon-
scious egotism of it, the appealing
confidence! Pm torn between the
two. But there's Eric to think of,
as well as Bob. Eric!"
And at that beloved name, her
senses swan. Firelighted room,
Allen, Barbara, Bob - all were
swept away as she imagined her.
self once again held close in
Eric's arms, listening to the
pounding of a heart which beat
for her alone.
How she knew that to be true,
she could not have told, but know
it she did. Eric'S covering of So
phistication hid something shy
and sweet and hitherto I'M
touched. It was deep calling to
deep, between her and Eric Far
raday. It was the traveller in
strange land experiencing the
shuddering delight of hearing his
own tongue spoken after weary
days of dismay, bewilderment. It
was discord resolved into har-
mony, it was Voyage-Worn ships
making harbor at the close of a
long season, it was cool water in
the desert, flame in the snow, the
deliciousness of food after famine.
It might not last, it could not
laSt-for Eric; but even to eXpe-
rience it briefly was an enchant-
ment she had no right to deny
herself or Eric.
She, little Sue Davenport, with
her odd dark face and her unim-
portant mind, was a worker of
miracles. Out of all the women
whom Eric had met-and they
had been many, and clever, and
beautiful-She had been chosen
TO turn the key which let love
into his being. Oh, marvellous, oh,
wonderful! What, in comparison to
this, was the keeping up Of that
Satisfying relationship" of which
Bob had spoken?
Nothing! Less than nothing!
TomorroW--or at least the day
after Christmas-She would tell
Bob so; explain quite kindly and
firmly that duty, after all, was
not only a personal matter, but a
relative matter; that her duty to
Eric's genius far outweighed any
thing she might once have prom
ised Bob Trenton, of the Treddon
Shoes.
Sue put the screen in front of
the fire, snapped off the one lamp
she had kept burning, paused by
the window for a last look at the
river, lighted only by the stars
tonight, and took her way up to
bed. Bob was fathoms deep in
sleep among his own pillows,
Only You
CHRISTMAS EVE found Sue
- with her plans made. She and
Bob would celebrate the holiday
as usual. with Pats and Allen
coming for dinner the night be-
fore and remaining until late
Christmas afternoon. And when
they had gone, and Bob and Sue
were alone. she meant to talk to
him quietly, calmly about a di-
vorce.
She had not reached her de-
cision without many heartacheS.
Il was as if two personalities
strove within her: the tender,
loyal girl who had married her
husband, honestly confeSSing that
the sort of love she had for him
was not the sort she had dreamed
Of surrendering as a bride; and
the new, slightly ruthless woman,
made ruthless by her devouring
passion for Eric Farraday.
Eric'S letters arrived daily, spur
ring her to immediate action,
steadying her oft-times wavering
plans.
She shopped as usual for
Christmas gifts: a luxurious eve
ming coat for Pats, who had limited
strongly for it; books and silk
socks for Allen; for Bob - she
had heSitated over this, diSliking
the imperSonality of such pres
ent yet disliking still more to
choose anything more intimate
a carved jade paperweight for
his Office.
She had never to ask Bob for