The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-11

Chapter 20
Yielding
I'VE turned, happily, to find that
~ Neil had come 10 where she
stood on the porch.
That looks like a good idea. /"
He nodded TO where two figures
were sitting on the sand, looking
A the ocean, Lordy Mac romping
about awkwardly, and getting
them covered with sand. What
say we take little stroll--in the
opposite direction?"
-All right" Eve agreed, her
voice scarcely above a whisper.
She went down the steps and
turned toward the boathouse, feel
ing a queer shiver Of anticipation
within herself.
But Neil, once they were walk
tsg, seemed TO find it the time for
Renaissance. He recalled sum-
mer long ago at Bradley's Beach,
and another time when he and a
group Of his friends had gone to
the Riviera and tried 10 break the
bank at one of the famous gamb-
ling spots.
BY the time they had almost
reached the pier, Eve was listen
ing, enthralled, to the story of a
world she had never known. A
world where the principal object
was enjoyment, and where money
---Or rather, the lack of twas
not a constant subject of irrita-
ton
She looked at Neil's tall, strong
figure, and wondered what he
would think of the small, scrubby
town where she was born, and
where her mother had worked so
hard 20 provide the pitiful little
bit of income needed to send her,
Eve, through scheol.
He probably gambled away in
one evening more than my
mother earned in year." she
thought.
She was looking at him, as he
talked, and was utterly unpre-
pared when he turned, suddenly,
and met her glance. Her own eyes
were hastily averted, but Neil
had one of her hands in both of
his, and he held it tightly.
"Evel" His voice seemed rough
ened by his thoughts. 1--we
been talking ike fool-trying
to make you see something of me,
and something of my background.
But--but il doesn't really matter,
does it? Tiff / were someone
else, and you were someone else
/ think we'd still feel the same.
Eve--I know it isn't strictly ac-
cording to etiquette, but but
will you marry me?"
As Eve started to draw her hand
away, unprepared, in spite of his
effectiveness, for the sudden pro-
posal, he held it more tightly.
Please - don't be unkind.
You've known-you must have
known how / felt from the first
minute saw you. The stars and
the moon and heaven itself mean
nothing at all, unless you're beside
me. Lord--I'm getting poeticl But
don't-please don't make me wait
for an answer"
Ihere-there isn't any moon.
-. Eve said desperately, staring
into where the sun was burning a
bright pathway across the sea.
~Evel"
The pleading and yet the digni-
ty OF his appeal, made Eve turn
toward him quickly, her shoulder
leaning against his.
yes. Neil, she said quickly
'Honestly"--she put him off as his
arms reached for her-'Tm not
sure. ! don't know whether any
girl is, until she's been been
married But if getting thrilled
when you speak to me and
feeling sort of--sort of happy
every time see you, means I'm
In love
She had no chance to finish, for
NeiPs arms were around her, hold,
ing her so closely, while his mouth
pressed so hard against hers that
she could scarcely breathe.
She had time TO wonder, while
he still kissed her, and kissed her
again as if he would not let her
go, II every girl thought, as she
did. of entirely extraneous mat
tiers; such as the warmth of the
sand between her fingers, and the
sound Of the sea tapping along the
shore, and even the odd call OF
the birds. so unmusical, yet reaS-
surfing. When Neil let her go.
finally, she was looking at him
with puzzled expression.
You can't back out on me
now" he warned. IF you don't 90
through with it, I'll sue you for
for breach of promise"
managed aTter some time, 10 per-
suade him to return to the house
They agreed to say nothing until
dinner time, and Neil promised
that he would have Mrs. jackson
serve the best wine in the cellar 70
crown the announcement.
Announcement Party
JULIE was more her old sell
j when Eve went to change into
her one dress for dinner. She de-
Gberately ignored Ewes attempts
g tell her about the afternoon,
and launched, instead. into the
rforv OF how she and Mrs. Mar
bury had explored the secret pas
Sage. and their opinion Of the peo-
ple who would keep anyone