The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-03

trust. Even A. ]. Morris had gone
over to BartelPs camp the mo-
ment Allen had smiled at him.
The persistent ringing Of the
telephone alarmed her. Perhaps
she had better answer. Could she
keep her voice clear, gay. nom
chalant?
She could. At Mrs. Dougherty's
worried: Where were you?" she
replied. laughing, "Oh. Deity. I
carried seventy pairs to the new
pool. Isn't that wonderful"
"HumphI" grunted Dotty. Did
you find your lunch? It's ready for
you IN the refrigerator. And,
Toni, I'll be a little late. I'm try
ing to find a figured print that
doesn't make me look like the
auditorium done up for the spring
garden show"
Take your time" returned
Toni. "And tell Abe il he comes
home wearing a flower print. I'll
plant him in the market pen
where the bees can find him"
Dotty chuckled and Toni re-
placed the receiver. From now on
she was alone, hedged In by enc
mics. Well. she'd take it. chin UP.
She shared her lunch with
Pickles and Pepper, the cat and
dog, then wandered mo the yard.
She didn't want to work.
Down at the foot of the kitchen
| garden, hidden from the house by
hedge of salt cedar, was a tiny
cove. She would don a sun-Suit,
the brightest, happiest one she
had, and lie in the sun.
Scarlet suit with white sails,
scarlet hat. And a scarlet nose, !"
added Toni as she hurried to the
shelter.
1t was nice there. The water
spread away from her feet like
huge fan, with narrow ruffies of
white lacy foam.
Pepper discovered her and dug
induStriously in the sand, send
ing it over her in sheets, then,
weary of this, ran into the water
and came out dripping to shake
himself as soon as he reached
her.
so Alone
TONI was debating whether to
l. return him to the house and
lock him in, or suffer his violent
attentions, when he thrust his
black Snout close to her, Topped
down, and slept. The warm. damp
little body was comforting. But
even he belonged to Dotty.
Tears stung Tomi's eyes. Its
being so alone" she whispered.
Little pictures of her childhood
returned. First Mimi. a wan,
white shadow. Toni couldn't re-
member her face. only her arms
and her hands. clutching hands
which tried to hold her from
harm and want. Then that lonely
period when there were no hands
and there was want.
| Julie came next in memory.
Julie was Minis friend. She had
fought to keep Toni from the
Tolands when they eventually
traced her.
Toni could remember jules
words: You said you did not
recognize your brothers marriage
to Mimi. Why then do you want
this child?"
Toni. it was explained. was half
Toland.
AS soon as she could speak Eng
| liSh. she had asked Half Toland
I am? What does it mean?"
They couldn't explain Satisfac-
torily; nor why the same stigma
was not attached to the other
children, merely because the
marriage Of their parents had
been sanctioned by the presiding
matriarch.
Il don't care" thought Toni,
lying on her back and watching
a squadron of army planes,
maneuvering overhead, losing
themselves momentarily in wispy
clouds gathering in the west.
III just hoe my row. I'll prove
my ability by making the farm
pay"
She sat up suddenly. Make the
farm pay? Didn't she realize that
after the jury came in she might
not have even a chance at the
farm? That she could be evicted
this very night?
Il should have stayed right
there in the courtroom" she cried.
Then I could have fought for
myself. l wonder-oh. it's too late
now Why didn't they tell me?
Why didn't Allen let me know?
Why couldn't he have been sport
ing enough to give me chance?"
She cried into the sand now,
with Pepper nosing her neck and
whimpering with her.
''Oh. Pepper. and I did like
! Allen in spite Of his cussedness.
| Oh. Pepper!"
/ Pepper. finding his pink
tongue inadequate TO wiping up
the tears, sat down on his
launches in CONSERVATION, then
fiattened out and waited.
| The sobs ouieted. stopped:
Toni slept.
The sun disappeared behind
gathering clouds. the tide came
in. little waves nibblinE at
Tomi'S toes. They brought her
I'D with a start. It was late and
she was chilled through. miser-
able. aching with fatigue and
with some inner ache of desola-
ton. Even Pepper had deserted
her. ...
"Cherie. There YOU arel"
Pierre slid down the little cliff
and came to Toni. We've
looked everywhere. Then the
. dog kept leading me this way.
WHY. Toni. what is wrong?