The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-26
Chapter %
Heavy Heart

OAdPkEI -
Heavy Heart
INDIA stumbled YEARLY
- across the hall to the library,
guided by Macs hand at her e.
bow. She was numb with misery
and lack Of sleep. She hardly
knew how she happened to be in
q big armchair with pillows be-
hind her tired shoulders, and with
Mac holding something in a small
glass to her lips.
Drink this" he said quietly,
and docilely she swallowed it.
Its aromatic spirits of am
monia and will buck you up" he
went on. "Now, Brenda, let me
do the talking for a few minutes.
You just sit there and listen until
I'm through. I know what AIDE
laide told you this morning
what you told her. And know
you're planning to tell Eric and
Isobel about it, too"
'How?" she whispered. "How
did you known"
"a word or two from Stern,
something that Adelaide let fall
when I saw her just before din
ner; but most of all the facts
themselves. I've been the worlds
dumbeSt idiot rot to have con-
nected cause and effect before"
The stimulant was helping her
a little. Instead Of the blur that
Macs face had been. it was clear
cut and friendly, even kindly.
"But must tell everybody"
That's exactly what you must
not dol Think, Brenda, of some of
the harm that will cause. Isobel
will grow self-consciouS-for you
can't explain what you did with
out telling why you did i'll AIDE
ladies friends and neighbors will
see with new eyes her casualness,
h er vagueneSS. Unconsciously
they'll build up an atmosphere in
which she may learn to distrust
herself again. News remains news
q long time on The Street. Most
Of us here have so little to talk of
that they've null things over
and over until sometimes they
lose their original proportions.
.. Are you listening, Brenda?"
''Yes."
'Then I beg you to keep your
own counsel on thissubject. You've
told the truth to the only two
people concerned: Adelaide. and
the doctor. Now forget the whole
thingI"
In spite Of her determination,
her chin quivered, two crystal
tears rolled down her cheeks. Mac
made an involuntary movement
toward her, then stopped, one
hand gripping the back of his
chair.
my DEAR" he said in a big
brotherly tone, you're making
too much of this. Your motive
was good. You couldn't know
about Adelaide's mother, or what
effect your little plan would have
on her. She was over-tired to be-
gin with; perhaps already i'll.
That's what made her put so much
stress on a few silly things she
couldn't account for"
Brenda could not speak. She
pressed her handkerchief against
her mouth, and sat there, her
head slightly bowed. all of her
forces bent upon regaining con-
troll Of herself. Mac went on
steadily.
"If you were to blame-I mean,
II you think you took a little too
much on yourself'-he smiled
"and it's feminine nature to try a
bit OF Matchmaking at all possible
times. / supposel-remember that
you've paid for it over and over
again. You've nursed Adelaide
hreleSSly. You've given up your
own work. you've devoted your
self to us all. And now you've &C.
complished what neither her doc
tor nor her old friends could do:
you've found out what was worry
ing her, and set it right. Doesn't
that sort of square accounts with
youtself?"
Far Happier
CHE said huskily: mo. No, Mac,
- it doesn't. Nothing will ever
free me from the knowledge that
very nearly killed poor Adelaide
with my-my trying to arrange
other peoples lives for theml"
Trying to help other people,"
he amended kindly. "And you
have helped lot of US. The Street
Is far happier for your having
come"
mot everyone on The Street,"
mo. not everyone" he agreed.
I'm not-for one. But the per-
centage is pretty high for all that.
Brenda, let's have a party. Don't
you think there have been enough
tears shed in this house lately,
enough anxiety, enough trouble?
What d'you say we drive down.
town now and get some supplies.
CONS on now. come on" he con-
tinued coaxingly. BE a sport and
come with mel"