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

She had begun flowed oy-- nee,
so hot that she vas esraid az
herself. She could have str.;cx
him. She could have strang)es,
him. She knew now how girls
felt who went and shot irsn, OK
mailed them poison in caney. I.
wasn't ridiculous or unbalanceS.
Things like this had happened.
and what else could she dos -.
The door tinkled. 1t gvas huEg
wide. There was a rush of crisp
air and loud, laughing voting
voices. A man and girl came ii,
arm in arm. their heads thrown
back as they laughed and
wranglea and pushed each other.
He was in topper and tails, his
tall hat pushed little back on
thick fair hair. She was mink
cloaked and tall and white. :. /.
He turned his head toward Eileen.
It was Martin. Martin, laugh
ing. Martin. an arm half round
another girl. Martin, VINO did
not remember her at all.
Confusion
THEY brought in gust Of win
1 ter air and cigarette smoke
and night gaiety. The tiny shop
and its occupants might have
been back drop, for all they
knew or cared. They glanced at
them carelessly, and went on with
their crazy argument.
you don't mean it." the girl
said. "You were just brought I'D
to hear it round the house when
your mamma was practicing
suffrage speech. Don't be silly,
nothing in trousers ever meant
it."
Eileen, small, shabby, desper-
ate, stared helplessly. The girls
face came back to her. She was
one of those girls who had come
downstairs with Martin, an arm
thrust through his. Eileen started
to laugh Historically and checked
herself. Was the girl never any
where NEAR him without having
hold of him? :.
He was saying Nonsense,
Caroline. I meant It,
The girl shrieked. Dangerous
to say it in leap year.
She swayed and shrieked with
laughter again. swinging on his
arm.
Il mean it word of honor! he
insisted, laughing too. "Any year.
ALI years. Word of honor. Girl
has right to do anything a man
can. Girl has right to ask any
thing a man can. Gosh, she darn
well does. and he takes it. Take
him on party-propose to him
whats the odds? Why not?
Other things silly. Not fair"
They continued to laugh.
YOU goon!" Caroline suffered.
you get me orchids when tell
you-tht's Victorian stuff, getting
q girl orchids when she asks.
Rests eyewash. You wouldn't
stick to that. If a girl asked you
marry her you'd be sick.
That's how much equality we
poor females got to creep up on
you by wiles. You demand wiles
-Wiles, Martini" She shook back
her blond curve of hair and
wflouped.
Martin detached himself from
her, guided her hand to a sup
port against the counter, md
came over himself and bought q
spray Of orchids from Ris. He
said over his shoulder. 'sYou
ought to know by now that when
! say word of honor I'm not kid
ding. Happens to be my pet little
virtue--only one, probably. You
know perfectly we'll"
How your nanny raised you?
Prominent feminist. Never missed
q parade-white horse. Votes for
women now spreading through
South America.
So that was why he had flown
out TO say goodbye. OF course.
He was Edith WilIesdon's son.
He was the son of the handsome
feminist who had been the COM
mencement day speaker.
He was grinning at Caroline.
Sure she Is, and the SWEETEST
mother anybody wants. Lay off
her"
Answer me. You mean it?r
"All right. all right, / told you
I meant ii. / was brought up like
that. A girls as good as man,
she has a right 10 as much respect
as a man. whether she proposes
or turns steeplejack. Hey, we
have no use for a bushel Of glad
ioli, you nitwiti"
She dropped them on the fioor
and said in satisfied way. Back
TO the Nine O'clock. then"
All In a minute they were gone.
The door tinkled behind them.
Eileen stood paralyzed. for q
moment Then she came alive,
violently alive all over.
II was Martin. He was here In
New York City. He had been here
within a yard Of her. And she'd
never see him again. He hadn't
even looked her way.
A sick desperation swept her
and was gone. leaving only des-
perate action. She was frantical-
~ sweeping Up the scattered
sheaf Of gfndi0lL She knew per-
fectly well that they did not
want Sc She also knew exactly
what she was going 10 do with ii
She ran out across the slippery
pavement. She caught Martins
free arm. She said breathlessIy,
Here. ycu forget these" And be-
fore he could answer she delfher-
ately fell. deliberately screamed
oh. my ankIeg~
II was one Of the Oldest tricks
in the world. And Il worked as
well ~ ever. lie had her I'D Ia a