The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-31
Chapter II
promise Me-

MAYBE I'm not a very loving
4'A person, Bob-that wayl It's
because 1 don't really know about
myself that I'm afraid-afraid to
marry you. What if Pm just
emotionally unawakened? What If
you're not the right man? love
Allen so dearly, you know. that
it makes me think"
"Allenl" He swept the name
aside superbly. What a child you
are, sweet, to compare that kind
of love with marriagel And if
you're emotionally unawakened,
I'll take mighty good care that
I'm the one to rouse you from
your slumbers!" he concluded
grimly. Promise me, Sue, now
this minute! Promise you'll marry
me at once. You see-you'n find
that it will be all right. I'll make
you happier than any woman ever
was. Well travel, We'll do every
delightful thing you ever dreamed
of and we'll have this house,
and the river, and your garden
to come back to when we're tired
Of racing about. Sue, little Sue,
promised"
Almost she yielded. He was
very strong and maSterful and ap-
pealingly male as he stood there,
holding her hands in his. His
thick hair was rumpled by the
rapid drive, his eyes looked de-
mandingly into her own.
She liked all the things she
knew about him: his quick gen.
crosby, his boyish friendlineSS,
his refusal, in spite of both those
qualities, to allow himself to be
taken advantage of. Allen had
told her admiringly of Trenton's
business shrewdness. It pleased
her to know that he was not the
usual rich mans son, careless of
inherited money.
Bob, I can't" she faltered at
last. 81 think I will, open my
lips to tell you so, and something
inside me holds me back. Per-
haps-perhaps l don't know you
well enough yet. You see, I've
grown up with all the men I go
about with; l know their back
ground, their families. Maybe /
feel little strange with you at
times"
He dropped her hands, walked
TO the window and stood staring
at the rain which was racing down
the glass. The brief respite had
ceased and the storm had re-
turned.
"Ill tell you anything you want
TO know about myself, Sue," he
said at last. "Tve led about the
usual sort of life, l suppose
usual to a fellow who's had a bit
too much money, and precious lit
tie family life. There are plenty
Of things I'd like to have Slotted
out; plenty I'm ashamed of; but
after all, it's something that ] am
ashamed, isn't it? 1t means that
I've outgrown any desire I'd had
lowell, to be otherwise than a
decent sort of guy, a-as good a
husband and and father as I
cant"
at isn't that, Bobl Whatever
you were before / knew you, be-
longs to you; it doesn't concern
me. I've always said I'd never re-
quire my husband to unfold any
chapter of his past. If it was I'M
worthy of him, it would hurt me
to hear about it. And most people
grow by making mistakes, ]
think"
"And what mistakes have you
made, sweet Sue?" He turned to
her, his novel expression of seri-
business wiped from his face as
though it had never been. What
hideous and Notwithstanding mis-
takes have you made. my dar-
ling?"
''Thats just it, Bob! I've made
lots Of them, but they haven't
been especially important. That's
why I'm so awfully young inside.
That-and because Allen always
shielded me; protected me-"
THANK heaven he didl I'd
loathe having a lacquered little
sophisticated wife. If you"
She interrupted him nervouSly.
"Bob, it's simply pouring againI
And Wen have to leave this min
ute If I'm to be home by the time
Allen comeS!"
Shopping
WITH the first days Of spring.
w Patsy's lethargy left her. She
began to shop day after day. Mag
gle, her mouth purSed disapprov-
ingly, would take in dress boxes
at the door; gather up the paper
and string Mrs. Davenport scat
tered about when she opened her
recent purchases
Allen came in one afternoon to
find the living-room strewn with
lingerie, with frocks dangling by
their hangers from the central
chandelier, with satin sandals and
white sports shoes splitting out of
their cardboard boxes.
"WheW!" he whiStled. What's
all this? Been buying the stores
out. Pats?"
She looked up from the silk
robe she was trying on.
"Been getting myself some
thing decent to wearl Do you
realize, Allen. ! haven't had a
new rag to my name since we
were married? It's nearly April,
and time l was Quitting myself
Cor summer"