The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-06
Chapter Four
Sudden Excursion

Sudden Excursion
A FTER that there had been
jobs. Clerking in bakery. In
the Ave and dime. Attempting to
learn millinery. But Lovely was
smart enough to see that she'd
not got in her hands the gift re-,
quired for skilled work on hats
or dresses. She really wasn't
much at any sort of work. She
would have liked modelling and
would have worked hard at that.
Or the stage Or Office work. But
try as she might she was never
able to connect with that sort of
job.
And so Lovely had been in and
out of jobs. Cert had always been
patient and generous, slipping her
money for things she needed, adj
vising her gently and Affection
ately. Z, 81
Don't let. life get you down,
hon." she'd say. you've got stuff.
Looks and personality and a lot
of things never had. Don't let
fear gang you into marrying a
palooka. Play for something high.
/ mean a man with class and
wedding ring along with him.
Make sure you get that too. I'll
stake you. until you land, believe
me-"
And Cert had done her best.
But Lovely knew she couldn't
60 on taking from Cert.
Sitting there in the terminal
she wondered exactly what she
would do. Sheer WEAKNESS closed
her eyes and she slept for while.
When she woke she could see
through the restaurant adjoining
the waiting room another day had
lighted the humid city streets.
People were moving about hur-
riedly. Commuters rush hour was
on.
Everyone seemed to have some
where to 60 Everyone but her.
Lovely was seized with desire to
be going somewhere herself.
That place up there in the coun-
try just beyond Croton. 1t had
been heavenly, There was little
money in her purse, Joe had
given it to her to buy some of the
things for their picnic. about
three times what he knew they
would cost and had told her to
keep the change. IL
"And I'm a man what means
what he says. l don't want to see
any of that filthy dough back
againi" he'd warned her. That
was his quaint way of giving her
a little money from time to time.
He knew she always needed 1t.
Lovely smiled in "reminiscences.
Joe had his points. Solid. substan-
tial dependable ones.
She opened the little soiled
white purse her fingers almost
ached from clutching. Two dollars
and little change left.
Dare she spend it on train fare
when she knew she'd need food
before the day was out? Lovely
looked around at the hurrying
people. The urge to be one of
them was strong.
1t was just then the thing was
taken out of her hands and de-
cided for her. A woman ap-
preached her with a smiling ques-
ton. Lovely recognized the type
She knew instantly the woman
represented some organization
that would try to help her by
sending her right back to Cert
and Ring. So she heard herself
saying valiantly and with quick
wit:
"oh, sure, Union my way to
visit friends in Croton! guess l
must have slept too long on this
bench and missed my train Sure
I've gotsnoneyi for my fare. See"
She opened the little purse with
its two bills and Bit of change.
"Guess I'd better get my ticket
now"
And so that was the way it
happened.
The ticket cost nearly dollar.
Lovely was aware of the woman
not too far away while she bought
il. She was relieved when she was
finally beyond the gate and no
longer watched.
New World
THE ride straight up the Hud-
Il son was lovely. There was
scarcely anyone in the train going
north at that hour. Morning
freshness lay over the scene out
side her window.
Squatters in their funny patched
shacks clinging miraculously to
the river bank were just begin
ming to be4abgut. set their fishing
lines. feed their. dogs. hang on,
their picture puzzle bedding.
4a1 On the zigzag porch Of one
shack a young girl was hanging
up a sgaudy waSh. .gSne moves
thought Lovely, like d breeze. As
IL she had never even heard oi
fats where windows look ou'
only on dark alleys and smelly
streets Her skinny dress, as she
moved, left nothing 10 even the
feeblest imagination Near larry
town some little boys were tug
ging of their clothes for a swim
in the cold water. Near an ole
factory building a woman fed q
flock Of chickens and ducks. The
Sha;tarnue Yacht Club was com.
ing alive.