The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-27
Oa. II Beloved BY n0s Ss5s s3>F'

4 "You're looking well yourself
Eric. What are you doing now?
And do you still live in New
York;"
His brief, reluctant laugh rolled
back the years.
"Such Is fameI Sue, you little
ignoramus, have you never heard
Of The ISSTe?"
"Of course" she returned In
dignantly. Everybody reads it."
'Not quite everybody. It's tri-
f1e too expensive for some purses,
a trifle-shall we say? too subtle
for some tastes"
'Too risque," she amended.
"But clever, Sue? You admit it's
Internally clever?"
She nodded. "Both terms are
entirely accurate. But what has
The Issue to do with your"
His arms were folded on the Ia
BILE, his smiling face was close.
"I'm the editor, that's all. D'you
mean you didn't known"
His amusement filed her with
the old sense of tagging breath
lessly, admiringly in his wake.
She hated the note of apology
which crept into her attempt to
explain.
"rve been so awfully busy.
Eric!"
"It doesn't matter at all, my
Sue. Still, The Issue is quite the
most important thing of its kind
in America. I suppose I hoped
you would be a little proud Of
my connection with it."
IL am proud, of course,
Ericl"
Sue, isn't it over?"
"Isn't what over. Eric?"
''The period of your duty to
Trenton. I understand he's on his
feet again in a business way.
That's why you stayed, wasn't
it? To help him because he'd
made mess of his affairs. You're
free now" 1t was a statement
rather than a question.
"Free?" She so far forgot her
perturbation as to smile. 81 have
children? Two of them: Robert
and little Susan. They're darlings,
Eric"
81 have no doubt" He spoke
coldly. "And I also have no doubt
you'll insist on bringing them
with you, Well" he continued,
narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.
GET cLo11 frxy NM hast ~ he y DO
cent sort of father to them"
Don't Joke
THE implication Of this aston
1 ishing speech reached her
slowly. She withdraw her hand
and leaned back in her chair,
staring at him.
eff you mean what / think you
do, Eric, you're talking nonsense.
Bring them with me-to you?
Don't joke about it, please"
"Joke? My darling, I never was
farther from joking in my life, ]
assure you. Wait a moment-let's
get this thing cleaned up. ] love
you, Sue. I've never stopped low
ing you for one single minute. If
you need proof of that, here am,
single and heart-whole. save for
you. Do-you-love-me?"
She could only sit there in mis-
cradle silence, her visible agita-
ton telling him more loudly than
words could do what she felt.
Thank God! Not that I doubted
you, darling. Love like ours
doesn't alter. We're back where
we were when / left you in st.
Joseph. But this time there's no
Trenton with his picayune failure
to stand between us. You're mine
now, Sue-all mine!"
The voice which had had the
power to shake her heart since
first she heard it ceased. The lean,
almost ascetic face was close to
hers. She felt as she had done
when, at Susan's birth, it had
been necessary to give her ether.
She had welcomed that oblitera-
ton of her senses gladly; she
fought this with all her might.
Eric, you must be out Of your
mind, I think. Leave Bob-leave
the children? If it was impossible
years ago, it's hundred-it's a
thousand times more impossible
now" She made a movement as
though to rise. There's absolute
ly no use prolonging this. ]
shouldn't have come here at all
I see that now"
"Sit down, Sue. I'm not going
to abduct you bodily here and
now. You're quite safe. And ]
have a good deal to say to you.
/ see I didn't take into account
what this period Of unadulterated
domesticity would do to you. My
standards are-slightly different
you know"
"They are, indeed, if they in
clude leaving my children for
you'll"
He laughed. "Its nice to hear
a touch of your old spirit, dar-
ling! But you've misunderstood
me. I know you better than to
think you'd leave the children.
Bring them, bring themi I expect
I could grow very fond of your
children. Sue"
It was said so simply, without
the faintest hint of patronage.
that Sue was momentarily dis
armed. Eric must be lonely per-
son, she thought. She wished
suddenly that she'd found him
married, with children Of his
own. She told him so.
"Yes, I've wished it, too, many
times. But there is only-there
will always be only one woman
in the world for me. When can
you come to me, Sue?"
She felt rising tide of mixed
amusement and annoyance.
'Eric, you talk like a child.