The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-09-11
Chapter Il
Room For The Night

Room For The Night
"TELL me about it." I said
L about Sandra's visit during
firSt-claSs summer, and about
how jeff acted when she first
came, and how long it was be-
fore you noticed anything"
at was a long time" She
pushed her untouched dessert
away and lit cigarette. "At first
he seemed to regard her as a
duty, and not very pleasant one.
He brought men around to drag
her, of course, until she got ac-
quainted, which was pretty soon.
She was smooth-she could have
had several men. But she kept
changing, and sticking to jeff and
me, making it a foursome. !
didn't mind-Jef and I weren't
hunting any corners. I thought it
would be dumb to start that
when we had another year to
wait, and I thought he felt the
same way about it, though we
hadn't discussed it. And it never
entered my mind to be jealous
when she'd go up to him and kiss
him good night-after all, they
were raised together like brother
and sister. I guess I'm the worlds
prize fool"
'Then what happened?"
"Sandra went to New York ana
got a one-room apartment and
started studying dramatic art. /
went back to boarding school
my last year, and I had to work
pretty hardin not very bright,
as you may have noticed"
I grinned, but she went on
without pause.
II didn't get home as often, and
when l did I hardly saw jeff. First
claSSmen have week end priv
ileges, and his always seemed to
coincide with my week ends at
home. He was always going to
New York. To see a show. or the
sights. He said he needed a change
of scene. And he hardly ever
came to see the family while
was away-Dad commented on it,
and wondered if jeff was sowing
a few oats.
"Sandra asked me to stay with
her the week end of the Notre
Dame game, and / did. I don't
really know whether jeff took
her or me to the game. 1t was all
very mixed up and JEFF wasn't
like himself at all. Christmas
week he went to New York and
stayed with claSSmate. He sent
me a gold cigarette case with his
class crest on it. / had just be-
gun to smoke. He sent Mimi one
just like it. They were expensive
and lovely, but I cried. I had
thought it might be a miniature"
She snubbed out her cigarette,
looked again at her ringleSS hands
and put them out of sight in her
lap.
"Sandra wrote to me in April
that they were engaged. And that
was that"
'How did your family take it?"
"How would / know? I pretend
ed to be very busy and stayed at
school as much as l dared. Minis
letters sounded delighted Dad
never writes anything but Dear
Julia: Enclos find check.
They'd asked her up for an oc-
caSional week end during the
winter; and from then on through
the most CHASTITY June Week ]
ever spent. she prsr tically lived
at West Point"
"Why weren't they married in
the chapel?"
81 never quite knew. but !
think it was JEFF. He can't be
rushed. Though it may be that
Sandra wanted another year in
New York. She wouldn't need to
be afraid of losing him-when
JEFF once gives his word he
doesn't break it. As he hasn't.
And then Dad had to move
heaven and earth to get jeff in
his regiment. which has made ii
jolly all around"
She pushed back her chair and
rose. I followed her out to the
little entrance hall where a
pretty, buxom woman had greet
ed us when we came in. She was
still there. but now she was talk
ing TO a tall man and a girl who
had just arrived.
'T'd like to talk to the proprie-
tor" the man was saying.
MY husband is away for few
days" said the buxona woman. els
there anything can do?"
The hall was dinly lighted. ]
might not have recognized them
If Julia had not stopped and stiff
fened. JEFF and Sandra. Their
backs were toward us.
eyes" said JEFF. my wife and ]
would like room for the night.
Let Me Be The First
THE proprietor's wife said, "Just
i step into the parlor." and as
they turned they saw us.
Sandra was composed: but Jeff'S
color faded as if the light in the
room had turned green. He took {
step toward Julia.
She was not looking at him
'Let me be the first to congratu-
late you, Sandra," she said in {
brittle voice. suppose it was a:
near to an insult as she coulC
manage on short notice.
Thank you," said Sandra, heI
eyes suddenly hard. 81 knew
you'd be glad to have the ordea
over with"
as that why you played suct
O dirty trick on jeff"
RIJSMAN'S HOLIDAY