The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-08
Tll S2I IRE
By Jean Randall i.

mysteries on The Street far be-
yond her understanding.
"Now," said Maud coyly, Eve
can talk! I've been longing for a
real chat with you"
Brenda eyed her severely. Miss
VanNess would never see fifty
again. She had small eyes Of an
indeterminate color, hair that
slithered and slipped about a head
too small for it, a chin which re.
coded until it was almost no chin
at all.
81 want so much TO ask your
advice" went on the hostess. I'VE
lead such a secluded life here on
The Street that My dear, !
suppose you've had seads Of Pro-
posals?" She pronounced the word
with such mixture of solemnitv
and relish that Brenda had hard
work to bite back a smile.
"Not-scads exactly"
"But some? A few7 Even one?"
She leaned forward anxiously.
Eyes" the girl admitted. "a %.
few"
Then, dearie, you're the one to
advise me-" Miss VanNess claSped
her hands together tightly. "You
see. living on this street IS almost
like being on an island. We-at
least the womenfolks-see very
few other people than our neigh
bors. And until you came I've
been the only young woman -"
There's Alaine Alternately"
Brenda reminded her. "And Iso-
bell"
"Alaine is a child. She knows
nothing Of romance. Isobel-poor
Isobel, I fear, viii never stir
mems hearts. She's too homely."
Brenda said with spirit: II
don't think she's homely at ALL
Her skin is lovely, and her
mouth -"
Maud VanNess waved Isobel
away impatiently.
81 asked her once If she'd ever
had proposal and she said no. So
that rules her out. Please, Brenda,
let's don't waste time. The doctor
may return earlier than-earlier
than usual. / want to consult you.
/ must consult you'll"
"A Little Shy
VES?" Brenda was beginning
L TO feel a little bored. She con-
.sidered she had done her full
duty by remaining here for lunch.
She wanted to get home and to
work on her book. But plainly this
unattractive woman had some
thing which weighed heavily on
her mind; something about which
she enormously believed her call
er could advise her.
Maud began to pleat her hand
kerchief. It was an affair of pink
chiffon, about as unsuitable to a
September afternoon as could be
imagined.
Tt's about Judge Harper" she
began in a low voice. "He-he's
been in love with me for years,
Brenda"
The girl could not restrain a
start of surprise. Dignified Judge
Harper. with his silvery hair and
somewhat stiff gait, was the last
man on The Street she would
have connected with the grand
passion. And to have fallen IN
love with Maud VanNess! Horri.
fed. she heard her own voice ask
ing:
NAra xy0,, <,,raoD
Maud bridled. Most certainly
I'm sure! He's-he's done every
thing but tell me about it, / as
sure you. There have been times"
she Sighed-"you will under
stand me, my dear, when I tell
you that there have been times
when his devotion has been posi-
lively embarrassing"
What did you wish to ask me,
Miss VanNess?"
"Say Maud, dearl We're friends
already, don't you feel it? Oh, I
was going to consult you. wasn't
II" The big handkerchief began
to move swiftly in her hands;
swiftly and nervously. "It's-it,s
how do you bring a man to the
point of proposing. Brenda?" she
shot at her guest suddenly.
Brenda's dimples came into
view, she dropped her lasnes to
hide the laughter in her eyes.
But ! thought you said his de-
votion was -"
1T is! Oh, it isl Others besides
myself have noticed It'll But the
dear judge is little shy. He can't
quite bring himself to the point
of asking me to marry him."
Brenda swallowed. Judge Har-
per shy! This was farce of an I'M
believable quality.
"And will you accept him If he
doeS-bring himself to the point?"
The handkerchief was now be-
ing wrung like a dishcloth. ('Tt
will never be fit to use again,
thank goodnessp Brenda muSed.l
"Oh, yes, dear. I think so. He's so
alone, the poor dear man; and
he's cared for me so long and
faithfully. Even before his wife
died" she began, then stopped.
Signigcant eyes on the girls facge.
Some - some years. Twenty
eight or nine. ] believe. ] was, Of
course, a mere child then; uncon-
scious OF what ;. but others have