The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-13
nORu OF THE moon
BY Jeanne Bowman

bowman -
the roadbed north to meet the
other started two months ago
from Beachport. Next time | turn
arotind I'll hear whistle. and
down from the hills will come
fiat cars loaded with timber It's
fun, John, watching things grow"
From John came all news OF
her family. Her mother did write
an occasional perfumed note, brief
and filed only with warnings
do look after youl hands. dear.
they coarsen so when you're rid
ing. I'll send you gloves to wear
at night, they have some new
medication guaranteed to soften
and whiten-"
The gloves never arrived. nei-
Their did the eye-wash to be used
religiously every rest period. But
then, thought Con a e, l
wouldn't have bothered to use
them.
John reported their gradual
dropping of servants until only
Lamson and the cook remained;
reported Don's refusing to bor-
row on his car to pay for Donna's
spring wardrobe.
Spring, tn light Constance,
looking out at the cold drizzle,
splashed against her windows by
the wind from the sea. There
would be snow in the east.
And then Johns letters pro-
tested
II believe, If dear were not the
accepted opening of letter, you
would never spare a word of af-
lection for me.
Admitting / am interested in
the ranch, confess that interest
secondary. What. of yourself? Do
you miss having me around? Do
you never think of me +. John?
"Conchita. I'm wondering why
you never mention the younger
Taylor. Isn't he around your age?
There is something oninous
in the omission"
Nothing To Mention
CONSTANCE was relieved that
~ she could reply honestly.
II don't mention the younger
Taylor because there is nothing
to mention. As far as | know, he's
been here at the ranch only two
days since New Years and
John, he doesn't correspond with
me. Now maybe that is the omi-
nous omission. Shall / take it up
with him when he returns?"
Johns answer came air-mail-
81 have dandy ivory-handled
crop that should be used on fresh
little girls like you. BY all means,
correspond with young Taylor,
keep track of him, watch him,
then. you'll know what he is up
to-"
/ it was still raining when the
letter arrived. Constance had
turned one room into an Office.
She was to be her own book
keeper. She had spent most of
the day making copies OF skele-
ton form of report. It wasn't
stupid procedure to her. this
leaving space for the name of
cow: her age. weight and the
amount Of miikAandp percentage of
butter-cream she was giving.
She had enjoyed the day; en-
ioyed the beating rain. the dreary
sound of trees soughing, and the
coziness of fire and red leather
chairs. deep and inviting. She'd
sent coffee royals to the carpen-
tiers and ordered brandy for the
herders. Riders from the ranch
had carried it to the hills when
the roundup was going on. The
last roundup.
Now she went to deep chair,
re-read Johns letter and was
worried. She was being complete
ly honest with neither John nor
Pedro. Yet how could she be?
There was really nothing she
could tell John. unless she want
ed to confess that Pedro was the
incarnation of Ell Cabrillo. fasci-
mating, romantic. and that each
moment with him was an intoxi-
eating madness. She couldn't tell
that to man who had invested
fifty thousand dollars in her
common sense. Especially when
nothing would come of it.
And she couldn't tell Pedro he
must not think of her because,
while she had never promised,
John expected her to marry him
some day. And In the meantime
she had promised to marry no
one else.
Exactly what had she prom
Used?
Constance sat rigid in her chair.
She had promised John Rask-
thorne that she would marry no
one but him until she had repaid
his loan.
She couldn't do that without
selling Ell Cubrillo,
The three-year limitation was
only to show profit. II she did,
the note would be extended for
twenty years, but only If she
could meet the interest out of her
one-fourth of the net income of
the ranch. Terms OF the will pre-
cluded her taking more for any
outside indebtedness. And she
could not depend upon the fam
lily helping her.
John Raskthorne was giving
her a three year moratorium on
marriage TO him.
The other alternative was sac
rifice of Ell Cabrillo Rancho.
"And ] thought I was shrewd."
cried Constance.
The room grew 6usky with
twilight, as Constance sat hud-
died in the deep chair. thinking.
An approaching car threw yellow
bars into the room. intenSifying
sRh darkness oe tkNxs IfSa 81