Evening star., 1940-04-28

1.l If Short Story Complete IN inns issue
i,
erbhR pc STOOD in the doorway and his big
tfd shoulders almost touched the sides his
ack 4 hands hung awkwardly in front of
IT, him; his face held the blank look OF accepted
'alIn>an and defeat. rs there anything else can
tfvdo?" he asked.
a, Il don't think so,' Martha said. She looked
lor PIT him and away again, the hard lump rising
'ul n her throat.
ow : Il could take your bags outside. And your
; t,yrunk."
ere "a There's no need. Genes coming with the
heetruck at four
,c Il could put them out if that would help
lrr any. Or get you something from the store, or
ont If there s anybody you have to see e-
lic,v There's not anything"
tt Il reckon better go then.' he said flnally'
vnopelessly. Il got to meet those fellows on the
thddock at ten to take 'em fishing.
'lebv Yes, it was best that he 60 now while she
did, icstill had this cold, aching control OF herself
,and when he came back (he'l smell OF fish
L.apain, she thought) she would be gone; and
eventually, after long while, but eventually,
the ache in her breast thinking, it's worse
than indigestion; can hardly breathe) would
stop and perhaps she would be able to sleep
L, again So she should say, Yes It'll be best II
YOU 20 now" Instead she said. IN ride down
L, to the dock with you.
They walked out to the battered old coupe.
e:eWade didn't look at Martha. You won't be
.-abe to get another job this late. ." he said. Il
could 90 down to Fort Myers or Naples or
somewhere, and you could stay here
You've built up following with the
IN tourists here" she said There's no need for
me to ruin it,
IF 1T has been pretty good. been thinking
maybe next year l could get another boat"
reThere was queer pleading note in his voice.
".'Or maybe buy into old man Lumpkm's fish
"'house ="
Or e And smell of fish all the time!' she said
h bitterly - and was sorry before the words
le' were out She hadn't meant to say that. Why
hi did person hurt someone else just because
a'she was hurt?
ri Along the roadside blackeyed Susans stood
nostraight in the glare of the sun, and in the
&c hdrying grass, wild sweet peas sheltered their
IL nysingle sky-bue petals. A heron came in view,
Ill rifying low over the buttonwood trees. A white
heron in the sunlight, the one thing out OF all
e'Po.this wild country her mother had thought was
dS beautiful.
Hermother had come asa bride to Midnight
h{ Key She had been pretty girl, not accus-
VI llttomed to luxury, but to moderate ease. And
/ she had grown to hate the snallness and the
eapoverty of the island the barefOoted men,
/ lbareheaded and shirtless in the fierce sum
Wshine; the long rows of drying nets like coarse
kesspiderwebs; the constant odor of fish; the con-
etstant whine of mosquitoes.
The
nc 0UT there had never been chance to get
: fh;away because there had never been any
money, especially after her husbands boat
70 was caught in sudden squall on the gulf and
lctfaed to come back Martha was two then.
] kat But you are going to get away" her
ketmother had said. She had said it from time
before Martha could remember; and she had
koworked. She had taken in wash. She had done
'ulcleaning and cooking for the occasional winter
s,hripeople who came. And she had saved you
n, are going to get away" she had said, and had
4 krcplanted the fierce seed of desire within the
S buchild. But the year before Martha was to 60
kea away to school her mother had died.