The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-15


little tendernesses and nicieties.
what are you going to do?"
Emily asked finally. .,,... g,
What can l do?" still with that
note of impotence. ..
Roger you've got 20 60 on with
1.-THE presents and all" she
was toying with his ring again.
you've said that before"
He felt as if he was being cruel
to a helpless puppy. If only she'd
fare up and tell him she hated
him for it all.
But she didn't. Instead she
leaned back in the big chair and
covered her face with her hands.
She sat so. motionless and word
less. for a long time and Roger
was reminded of that other time
when she had sat in wing chair
so quietly. At Mari's party when
she had overheard her cousin
John talking about Lovely. He
felt like an actor in wierd play.
This thing couldn't be happen
ing to him.
Roger remembered with startled
clarity the day Emily's mother
had come into the living room
as he waited to take Emily to the
dog show at Madison, New Jer-
sey 1t was late May. Mrs. Perry
had started to talk OF their en-
gagement as if it was an already
established fact.
II think it would be nice to an
nounce it soon, Roger" she had
said.
Roger tried to recover his emo
tons at that time. There had been
no other girl he liked as well as
Emily. Probably all this stuff
about a grand passion was fool
ishness. There wasn't such a thing.
His mother and father adored
Emily as the daughter they had
never had.
So he had watched Winthrope
Ramsey show the Cosgrave Bed
lingtons and Kerry Blues that day
in a glamorouS haze. He was to
De an engaged man!
Roger bought the ring for
Emily next day.
Well, it hadn't been Emily's
fault any more than it had been
his. AS matter of fact it really
hadn't been very fair to her.
Strange Request
FINALLY Emily looked up at
him, a strange expression on
her misery-maSked face.
Roger" she said in a very
small voice." want you to do
something for me-"
Roger looked at her, waiting for
her to go on. He dared not say he
would. She might ask something
he couldn't do-like give Lovely
up.
Il want to see her. / want you
to take me up there. Now" Her
voice came in little broken pieces
with taut silences between.
Roger wasn't sure he had heard
Alright. He stared at Emily.
II want to see her, Roger" she
insisted II must see her."
But" hesitatingly," can't do
that"
why not?" her hands moved
out in the dimness of the room
like pale ghosts Of appeal. why
not, Roger? We're two girls in
love- she paused and changed
it," who want the same man. If
thought she really loved you"
she paused thoughtfully. II was a
long time before she went on.
Blaze had gotten up. tired of mac
tivity and strolled from the room.
Roger" finally. II think we
have right to see each other.
You have belonged to me first.
| have a right to see the girl
give you up to. if must give you
up" The last scarcely above a
whisper.
Emily showed g firmness that
Roger had never suspected exist
ed under her soft pretty exterior.
There were depths of sustaining
metal there he'd never touched
before. He was 10 see more of that
quality as months wore on
Eventually they were walking
to the garage together They got
into a roadster and Roger backed
out eXpertly. Marcia CoSgrave
watched them and smiled con-
tentedly, r..
Everything was all fixed again.
They were going out together and
they looked completely poised as
if nothing was wrong Young love
had its ups and downs. Marcia
thought indulgently. 1t was un-
thinkable that Emily shouldn't
eventually be her daughter. Emily
was so suited to fit into their fam
| lily circle and ornament the home
Roger would eventually create
for her.
She was perfect for carrying on
all Of the fine old Cosgrave tradi-
ton. She belonged with all of the
priceless old Cosgrave possess
Slons 1t would be a pleasure 10
/ pass them on TO her Marcia Cos
graves heart was light and glow
ing with happiness.
Emily and Roger rode up the
| hill in silence. There were still
/ hollvhocks in bloom around
Granny Hale's cottage Phlox was
4 riot of tender lavender and
white al the edge Of the lawn. Old
/ fashioned Lady-of- the Lake lifted
helotrope spikes toward the sun.
/ A gnarled apple tree bent under
It's weight O. fruit
ITS beautiful" Emily's voice
was rnuteG
| Roger knew quite we'll what
she was thinking Honeymoon
7 cottage That's what IL always
/ had been And she had always
loved the place. and supposed her
own marriage would start there.
! II would be. II not their real
home their hi3e-awsy The place
! they 80 when they felt the need