The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-21
Chapter II
Confession

p OGER took the object his
father held out to him and
looked down at it in wonder. 1t
was the photograph of a beauty
in a Merry Widow hat-lush, full
blown. For a minute Roger was
reminded of Lovely.
Il once thought l could not live
without her, Roger" his father said
slowly. 1T was just before / mar
ried your mother. But it would
have been the great mistake of
my life if had gone on with
Lilli."
A little silence punctuated the
story.
But" he went on finally, 81
had an awful battle persuading
myself. then. 1t took everything l
had to stick to my promise to
Marcia. I've never been sorry. I'm
sure no two people ever found
more happiness together than
your mother and l." He paused a
long moment. 81 don't know why
I've kept this photograph Of
Lilli." ....
He tore it across and across
and dropped the pieces into the
waste basket.
81 thought" he said finally, ut
might help you to know that"
Thanks, dad" Rogers voice
choked. He knew it had cost his
father something to bring up that
old romance.
But think" Roger went on.
"this isn't the same. Lovely is diff
ferent."
I'VE all think that, son, about
the women we want" Cosgrave's
voice was still low and thought
full. That's as it should be. It's
probably our salvation-the faith
we've got in our women" A ten
der smile twisted Cosgrave's lips
Il don't suppose ever smell vio-
let perfume that | don't think of
her. She had a funny little trick
of putting perfume on the hens of
things instead of anywhere else
And there were a great many
hens in those days. Girls prided
themselves on the clothes they
wore instead of those they didn't!
And we used to have little Joke
about a man being lost when a
girl began putting violet perfume
on the hens" His face became
more serious as he added: But
I've always been glad l didn't fail
Marcia"
Roger wondered what hap
pened TO the beauteous Lilli
81 feel" his words came slowly,
weighted with thought, like a
louise doing what ] am to Emily.
That was cruel tonight"
THAT isn't so important. Life
is cruel. The important thing is
TO get things right now. Straight
So you're doing what you really
want to do, what your heart and
soul and honor and whole being
can agree to, later on Not lust
what the flesh drives you to"
81 know. That's Just it. If I
could believe it was only the urge
of the flesh" came out of Rogers
deep thought.
It was a never to- be- forgotten
hour for Roger. Never in all of
their years of close companion
shin had he been so close to his
father. They talked long into the
night, quietly, patiently. trying to
find the happiest solution to a
problem that was bigger than
either Of them Marcia had gone
straight II her room She heard
Roger and his father pass her
door but she scnsed that il was
no time TO interrupt her men
They could do better without her
There were such times.
Bitter Scene
AND in a room in the Perry
"A house the lights were still on
too. But there was no calm con
verSation there. Emily's mother
had dropped. crumpled. on a
chaise Tongue in Emily's room,
and was crying softly.
You're killing us!" she said
over and over again. killing
your father and me"
I'm sorry, mother, but what
else can | do?" Emily'S voice was
weary. Il can't marry a man who
doesn't want me-"
What else could you do You
could think of Us, You could
think Of father and me once in a
while
That's all I've been doing, Try
ing TO figure some way so YOU
wouldn't be hurt Because II
doesn't matter about me. I've got
ten over II. she paused and then
added. as much as | ever Will
But I've tried 10 think Of some
way for yoGr sake
"You could marry him. Marry
him anvhow!" Mrs Perry began
vehemently. He couldn't do any
thing else II YOU held him 10 III
All men must have their fling. Let
him have his But this wedding
mus, 60 on Il must"
But that's just IT, Emily was
heart sick AZ having 70 so over
and over the thing. Roger isn't
like tina, II ne had been could
never have loved him. He's not
like that and neither am / )"
"Oh. you and your honorl" And
then Della Perry sat up. A new
thought had come TO her, Don't
YOU See. Emily, you'd be doing the
best thing for him. making him 20
on with the weddings He'll be sor-
nv IL he marries this girl He'll