The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-09
Chapter 20
Cecily's Experiment

Cecily's Experiment
"THEN, in spite of what you may
feel about it now, Sue, I'm
glad you didn't know" he said al
most savagely. "You're mine, my
wife-and after a while you'll un-
derstand. Wen put the whole
thing out of our minds. Sweet.
you've been happy with me? Our
marriage has been a sueeess?"
Nothing Is a success that's
founded on deceit. Bob. Don't you.
see-can't you see? III you're a
stranger to me: not MY husband
at all The man | thought was
marrying would be incapable of
this terrible thing. Ours-in the
real sense-iSn't marriage at ALI"
That's nonsense, Sue. You're
talking like silly, idealistic
school girl. I'm exactly what you
believed me to be last June-what'
I've been since you first saw me-
It's the boy who married Cecily
who's the stranger: as much a
stranger to me as he could possibly
be to you! Snap out of it, darling!
We're both making tragedy out Of
the fiimsiest kind of farce. It's all
in the past, anyhow. Give your
husband a kiss, and let Cecily slip
back into the oblivion from which
she should never have emerged"
His bracing tone did her good.
It was true that what was done
was done, she reminded herself.
Nothing she could say, or feel, or
even do would alter the situation
in the slightest. Her job was to
make Of her marriage the best re-
lationship possible. Heaping re-
proaches on Bob's head would
help nobody, She could never feel
quite the same toward him, he
would never be to her the wise
and splendid young man with
whom she had been first, but that
was her own private trial to be
borne.
"It'S all been smooth sailing so
far" she unused. "Bob's given me
everything and I've accepted it
because I'm his wife. must ae-
cept this-this distasteful knowl.
edge for the same reason. I've
preached lot to Allen about over
looking the things in Pats he dis
likes. I'd better do a little prac-
ticing for change now"
She leaned forward docilely and
kissed him.
II expect ! have been making Q
mountain out of a molehill, Bob:
or not that quitel It's a blow
knowing you've been married be-
fore. knowing you've kept the
fact to yourself all this time. But
/ agree that being angry about it
won't undo it."
Incredulous JOY shone in his
face.
you forgive me, SWEET"
She rested her cheek against his
YEARLY. mot forgive so much, as
try to forget!"
Puzzling Behavior
CHE walked with him to the car
- the next morning, her hand in
his arm down the long tagged
walk that led TO the street. She
was cheerful though her eyes were
Swallowed and she had not re-
gained her own healthy color. Bob.
seated at the wheel, leaned down
for a last word.
"Cecily will probably come to
the Office this morning, sweet. You
realize that, don't your"
She nodded. Il seemed to her Of
supreme unimportance what Ce.
city did now. Yesterdays devasta.
ton had been too great to permit
OF additional hurt.
But she as veil as Bob was puz.
zled by Cecily's behavior in the
days. the actual weeks and months
that followed.
For the former Mrs. Robert
Trenton did not resume her inter-
rupted Journey Eastward. but
fingered on in st. Joseph. She
stayed at her hotel for a week or
two, then moved into a small
apartment, and eventually to q
furnished house which she stocked
with servants.
Because I like 1t here" she said
gaily in answer to Bob's annoyed
questions. This is a charming
town. don't wonder you decided
TO settle here" And as he scowled
his disapproval: Its a free coun.
try, my dear" she reminded him.
He knew by this time that fun.
damental mischief actuated her.
Only twenty-four years old, she
had Travelled too much. lived too
hard, known too many undiSci-
plined men and women among the
moving picture folk in California.
The sedate placidity of this old
Southern town tempted her to
gamin-like experiment.
She had been deeply amused at
the ripple her very presence here
had caused among Bob's friends.
She wired various intimates in the
East and in California for letters
of introduction and soon the Coun-
try Club set was calling on her;
and not only calling on her but
entertaining her, somewhat to
their own surprise.
She was pretty. she was anus
ing. her clothes were new and ex-
citing. These were always dra-
matte possibilities when she and
the young Trentons were invited
to the same affairs.
Sue faced the situation with the
pretty dignity which was innate
with her. They called each other
"Cecily" and Sue, exchanged
amiable remarks when they found