The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-08-14

"
been so sure he would write her
as soon as he was settled. 1T
sounds grand, she said, trying to
put some gaiety into her voice,
"a ride out into the country"
my cars parked down in front
of the house." said Tommy. sI'll
be up for you In half an hour
traffic jams permitting"
Luelia was ready when he ar
rived. She was standing out in
trent nf the brownstone building.
Because you're so eager to see
megn said Tommy, NOr because
you didn't want me To come up
StalrsgA
Neither one, = said Luella, Its
q glorious afternoon. and / didn't
want 20 waste any time staying
inside
Lets drive out to the Bath
Club Tommy suggested 7 used
to be a member there, I'd like to
see what ii looks like, now that
everything'S closed FOR the season.
Darnit all, summer Is so cuck-eyed
short up in this neck Of the woods.
and the winters SO longl" Then,
later, when he had parked the car
outside the Long Island summer
colony, and he and Luella were
standing on the deserted board
walk, he said: Sorry we never
got out here for a swim. Luella,
but, never mind, maybe we'll be
able to make 1t next summer"
Next summer. Lucia found her.
self wondering what next summer
would bring. And, wondering. she
was terribly depressed. Where
would she be then2 Where would
Henry be? And Marie?
And Tommy? -.
''How about some food?" Tom
my said presently. Il noticed a
restaurant back a little way. May
be we can get some seafood, I'm
hungry He looked down at Luz
ella, loved the way the wind
played havoc with her hair, the
way it had whipped high color
into her cheeks. How about
your"
Il can eat" Lucia said. you
know little mel That's the idea,
Luella - be gay, be flippant.
though your heart be in shattered
bits. sThis salt air does do things
to gals appetite"
Tommy Tries Again
TOMMY gave her quick look.
1 She wasn't fooling him, not by
a darn sight. But he said: Alta
girl!'' and led her back to the car.
They gotsin and drove back TO the
restaurant and got a table for two
near a tall window, so that they
could look out to where the far
eff sky bent to caress the restless
ocean. They had smelts. crisp ba-
con, French fried potatoes, lettuce
salad They said little until they
were having their desser. of apple
pie and coffee. Then Tommy.
wy,scAiag Luella gaze out across
TIE Wild expanse IF gray water,
sre'-a of the thing nearest his
hest
Il promised not to mention
love" he said, but can't help
telling you, Luella, that you're
E1ovelier than ver-ar1d that I'm
still iii love with you"
Luella turned to look at him.
He was, she thought, one of the
dearest people she had ever
known, and for one wild. reckless
moment she wished that she could
/ stop loving Henry. and tell Tom
ray that she would throw every
thing to the winds, and come to
him.
But the feeling quickly passed.
She couldn't do thing like that.
She wasn't the type of woman
who could so easily forget the
promises she had made before the
minister who had married her.
Il like having you fond of me,
| Tommy" she said presently. But
let's not get back On the subject
| of love- She finished her coffee,
and pushed back her chair. Lets
take brisk walk along the beach
before we go back to town. Do YOU
mind?"
NO. nd like ii. said Tommy.
They got up and went out.
LueI1a took off her small hat,
and tied her bright scarf about her
head. 1t made her look like a little
girl, Tommy thought, and he loved
the way her hair crr1ed up over
the scarf's edges. They walked
along the sands until they could
see the skyline of Long Beach.
And it was then that Tommy
caught her to him.
Darling darling =. he
said, his voice husky with emo
ton. ''Oh, Luella--rly love-"
Lucia went limp for a moment.
Then she freed hers elf. She
backed away. holding the scarf
which had become united.
Tommy. Tommy she said.
you promised"
Il know" Tommy said. But /
couldn't help myself, Lucia.
You looked so appealing so sort
Eof frightened II" He searched
her face. You're not angry with
me- are your"
No, Tommy, not angry" Luella
said. "Just sort of shocked--hurt
7. She put on the hat which
she had been carrying, ard retied
the scarf about her neck. Come
ION, Tommy. let's go back to the
kcity. It's getting late. It'll soon
Ebe dark"
They returned to where Tommy
had parked the car. They got in.
/ silent, shaken.