The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-12

know. You'll never have to tell
me. know all about it." His voice
not quite steady, for their quarrel
had opened the door to passion.
They were in love with reality.
The flame of their emotion rose to
breathtaking heights, pure and
burning brightly. Roger was
tensely possessive. Lovely plant
ly submissive. All of the anger
had burned out of her.
Il don't care, Roger" her voice
shaken. II don't care about any
thing in the world but you. I
guess l don't even care much how
have you, just so l do. don't
blame you for anything. You can't
help it that you're promised to
someone else. She was first. If
| she -"
Hush darling" His lips on hers
silenced her words. 1T isn't going
to be like that. It's not that sort
of thing with me. l care. ! care
enough for both of us. Lovely"
Then what-"she started to
say, her eyes lifted to him. tear
swept luminous.
Il don't know" Once more his
lips silenced the question before
she could completely voice it. 81
only know / love you with a
passion that consumes me. Wen
have to work from that basis,
darling"
AS twilight deepened Roger
knew he should be leaving to
dress to accompany Emily to
Mari's party, but Lovely chung to
him.
Il can't let you 60. I can't. I
can't" Like a sad chant on her
lips. you're going to her. I'll die
here alone. I'll die without you"
She leaned against him, all soft
curves and tender impulses.
1t was like uprooting something
from the depths of his heart to
go. finally. Lovely's expressive
hands seemed to cling to him long
after he was in the car going
down the hill. He had a sense OF
them with him.
She had given him a letter to
mail. 1t was addressed to Cert.
II wrote her I'm visiting" she
had said as she gave it to him.
Party
LIS mothers voice, meeting
II him in the hall as he would
have hurried up to dress shook
him loose from the spell of Love-
ly.
mot dressed? You and Emily
are going to be terribly late for
Mari's dinner party. You know
how Mari hates that sort of thing.
Any hostess does. Emily should
have sent you home sooner. When
two people are so in love-"
her voice trailed into silence as
he made his way upstairs.
Emily hadn't called. then, to
find out what was wrong with
him, why he hadn't shown up
yet. He paused on that for an in
slant. Strange. Almost as if she
knew. But she couldn't know. He
pushed the thought aside.
He called Emily and told her he
was sending the chauffeur to take
her on ahead. He'd follow almost
i'm lediately.
"You know how Mari hates late
dinner guests" he said.
He wondered after he'd hung
up if Emily's voice had been
strange. Taut. AS if drawn with
concealing tightness over some
emotion she did not want to re-
veal.
She had said that would be all
right. Emily rarely rebelled. She
was too we'll bred. too schooled in
soft pedalling her own desires.
He had never seen Emily do
anything impulsive or thought
less. She was really girl among
girls. He could be proud of her.
Not proud merely while youth
gave magic to her quiet beauty.
But proud through the years in
the knowledge that what she did
would always be right and fair
and gentle.
Cocktails were delaying dinner
wien he arrived, immaculate in
summer evening dress.
"Ah. Rogers here! Now things
can begin" a girl breathed as he
greeted her. without you, dar-
ling, a party is like cocktail hour
without handsome men in the
mood" ~
Come here a moment. dar-
lingl" Leah Ware, an exciting
and daring beauty Slipped her
arm through his. 1--WE want you to
settle something. We've just been
arguing about the most important
step in a girls life. say it's the
one across the threshold of her
boss's apartment and they're try
ing to argue me out Of it," She
/ pouted beautifully.
Roger laughed.
Il wouldn't know Leah" He
was looking for someone. Emily.
Suddenly he wanted to see her
very much. Her sweet. ordered
charm was a thing he needed.
What do you expect of a man
in love! He's looking for his
Sweetie pie." was someone's gay
cry.
And how | am" Roger replied
as his hostess approached him.
We'll. Roger" Mari said with
a cool sharp edge in her voice.
Couldn't you tear yourself
away? She is pretty engaging
looking Better watch your step,
though--her sort usually play for
keeps, not for FUN. | saw you at
Tumble Inn, you know"
Roger had the sensation Of
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