The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-19
Chapter %
Flight

Flight
CHRISTMAS Eve, they dined
~ alone, but a troop of laughing
guests swept In upon them soon
afterwards. Rugs were rolled UP,
the radio turned on, everybody
danced. At midnight there was an
impromptu but nonethelesS ade-
quate supper.
The next day went by like a
dream. Sue was conscious of the
rustic of tissue paper as gifts were
opened, of her voice and Patsy'S
exclaiming. thanking, admiring,
upon the undertone of the mems.
There were the usual Christmas
odorS: fine perfumes, the fra
GRANGE of evergreen, the smell of
roasting turkey; there were the
usual Christmas sounds: Silent
Night, for about the fiftieth time,
over the radio; belated carols
sung off key and in nasal voices
by a group of sharp-faced men
and women who objected whin-
ingly to the sum of money Bob
sent out to them; gay greetings
a over the telephone, and in person
from their friends. Another meal,
with Pats sharing the mems port
and cigarettes while Sue nibbled
absently the sailed almonds.
When Allen and his wife had
finally gone, Bob shut himself in
his study. Sue realized with a
start that he had done this more
and more frequently of late. Poor
Bob, she thought, with a sudden
singing of her eyelids. So it
hadn't been easy for him, this
yielding to Patsy's lure! He had
actually been wrestling with
sense of duty toward his wife
even while Sue herself had been
seeking the most effective phrases
to break her own news to him!
She smiled after him tenderly. If
he did not so loathe scenes, she
would follow him, tell him that
only few hours separated him
from the freedom he must be
craving.
She kissed him with genuine
affection the next morning when
he left the house. 1t hurt her to
see him flush, his eyes avoid her
own clear gaze. But never mind,
dear old man." she thought.
"When you come home tonight
you'll find my letter." She held
him-being a woman and there
fore standardization a moment,
her hands gripping the lapelS of
his coat.
Bob, we've had some pretty
good times together, haven't we?
No matter what happens, we can
always remember we did have
thoser'
He started violently. "Sue, what
on earth? You sound like some
body in the third aet!"
"It's a hangover from yesterday.
maybe" she laughed. TOO many
Christmas notices and greeting
cards. / might add one to- the
stack of EN-: may your-our next
Christmas be twice as happy as
the last!"
For a moment he stared at her
searchingly, then finding only
laughter and amused affection in
her dark eyes, he released her.
"Sure!" he flung back. Sure we
will, Sue! And then somel"
Preparations
WHEN his car had sped away
w she set about her preparations
swiftly. She had so long rehearsed
them in her mind that no time
was lost in planning. The big
wardrobe trunk was brought from
the storeroom and filed with prac-
tically everything she owned.
Going East for a little visit"
she explained to the maid who
helped her..
For the rest she took a we'll
stocked overnight bag. She would
be in New York for a few days
only, Just until she and Eric could
perfect their plans: then Reno and
her freedom, and she and Eric
meeting in San Francisco where
they would be married. After that.
the long three months in Homo
lulu both of them longed for.
She drove her own car into
town and parked it at her usual
garage.
"Mr. Trenton will call for it
tomorrow" she explained.
The bus trip was jolting and
uncomfortable but she could make
better connection that way than
by train. She gazed at the fanil-
lar landscape a trifie wiStfully.
When would she see these rolling
hills. these mighty trees, these
peaceful farms again? She would
come back. of course. Mrs. Eric
Farraday would be parsonage in
a small way; a woman society
would welcome, especially when
Bob married Patsy.
Sue WINGED afreSh at the idea.
Not only was her SiSter-in-law
Bob's inferior in every way. but
Sue herself hated the fact that
the timing Of this incredible infat-
uation would provide the best of
reasons for her own flight and
remarriage She would have liked
TO do the thing honestly, she told
herself: to pay price in public
disapproval for the reward OF
Eric's love.
She found to her dismay that
the plane schedules had been
changed over the holiday and she
had hours to wait She drifted