The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-03-01

to Bob.
at begins to look as it used to.
Sue" Barbara commented. 81 all
most expect Pats to drift in, hint
ing that she needs new evening
gown, that the coat you bought
for her last year is out of style.
Poor Pats!" .E& 50
But happy Allen!" she ap-
pended significantly. No. "a
"Oh, Sue. if I can only -makesit
up to him!"
From the st. Joseph house Sue
telephoned compoSedly to young
Fellison.
Pm simply swamped here, Mr..
telllSon, as you probably know.
m going to ask you to send Mr..
Trenton night letter saying that
we're safely settled. | don't want
him to think I've overdone and if
you wire" The emphasis made
him stammer eagerly.
oh, yes, Mrs. Trenton; I've
been feeling guilty that I've
let you do it all! But I've been
so rushed :. it's mighty kind of
you to let the news come through
mel"
Sue smiled faintily as she re-
placed the telephone in its cradle.
Two days later she went about
her preparations as composedly as
If she had been in hourly receipt
of messages from Bob. She or
dered his favorite dinner of broiled
steak, French fried potatoes, en-
dive salad and apple pie. She had
put Bob'S study in order with her
own. hands, rejoicing that his desk,
his books had survived the sale Of
their goods years ago. AS a mat
ter. OF, fact, she had bid in that
desk through Allen, knowing that
Bob loved it because it was his
|. fathers.
/ She dressed Susan in pale blue
liorgandy, helped young Robert
WreStle with the lock of hair
which would stand up. And she
chose for her own wear a frock
which was Bob's favor;te: a dull
red silk with pulled short sleeves
showing her white arms, with a
lace collar deep enough to expose
the little hollow at the base of her
throat.
Dads Coming
A ND above and beyond these
"A superficial preparations, she
ordered her thoughts. She would
not be impatient of Bob's boyish
rage which had parted them for
so long. She would keep in mind
that grief and love rather than
lack of consideration for her had
caused his going. She would know
that just as Bob. being a man. had
all a mans unreaSonableneSs of
jealousy, so she, a woman, must
Soothe it with the healing ONT
ment of tenderness.
She knew that planes arrived
in Kansas City from New York
between three and four every
afternoon. Allowing for a two
hours drive from Kansas City
to the suburb where the Tren-
ton house stood. Bob should be
here between five and six.
Sue could not have told why
she believed Bob to have been
East all this time when her one
letter to him had been returned.
1t was as if the channel between
her mind and her husbands had
been slowly clearing with his de-
parture until now it was free and
unobstructed
perhaps should have had
~ u a.
message to Bob." she thought
when she was ready to go down.
stairs. "But-pride? What is it
when human happiness is at
stake? It's word for .. drama
lists and men," she finished with
smile.
Dads coming!" Susan caroled,
dancing down the stairs ahead Of
her.
Yes, Dads coming!"
The house was lovely with its
bowls of autumn blossoms here
and there, with its freshly papered
walls and shining floors; with its
dinner table cleaning with Ital-
ian cutwork and their wedding
silver.
tgE6ue wandered into the garden.
I I be trees were not yet turned
and their 1usty foliage almost hid
the river, but not quite. She
could catch a glimpse of its
pewter like brightness from
where she stood. 4as%
Suddenly she called her son to
her.
Robert dear" she said urgent-
ly. will you take Susan around
to the back and keep her until
Mother calls you both?"
"Nothing's-happened, Mother?
You're all right?" His small face
was filled with anxiety.
Perfectly all right, dear. It's
just that hear Dads car, and |
want to speak to him for few
minutes alone. Will you do that
for Mother?"
His answer was to take his sis
ter'S hand and lead her. chatter
ing gaily, out of sight. A taxi
drove up to the gate and Bob got
out. 1t wrung Sues heart to see
how tired he looked. She thought
back to day years ago when he
had returned to her with the ruins
of his fathers business newly
fallen about him. She had been
there to comfort him. to encour-
age and aid him. She would al,
ways be there. she vowed in her.
heart. to do those things for him.
"Bob!" she called softly. 50
He whirled about, saw her, and
came toward her uncertainty,
Sue, I've been m helllp -
Have you, my poor old, MANI.