The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-08
MEMORY OF THE moon
by Jeanne Bowman

the CdbrIllOS since time began. l
don't intend worrying about their
making any headway."
John drew an ottoman close.
"Tm jealous of that Taylor,"J he
confded. half ruefully. Hell be
there seeing you every day. Con-
stance, how about taking me on
as your business manager?"
"Dollar-a-year MANI" inquired
Constance. But don't be foolish.
John. there's no reason for my
seeing Taylor every day. or even
every week and what if ]
should?" she added. Look, here's
a letter from the State Agricul-
tural college. must be Pederson's
credentials: Peterson is the Dane
Mrs. MacKelvey believes in so
firmly"
Constance tried several times to
interest the family in the ranch.
Imagine man graduating
from cow-college." disparaged
Donna. What good are those ref
erences? Who cares if he's had ten
years of practical husbandry since
then? Anyone who could stand to
be around a cow could run a
dairy"
Bound By Kindness
| CONSTANCE gave up. She was
- leaving for the west. two days
before Christmas. There would be
nothing merry or peaceful among
the Cabrillos IL she remained.
She had one last chore. She
must tell her story. Fortunately
the reporter had imagination. Into
his account he wove the history
of Michael Mahoney. as well as
the Cabrillos. and. he gave full
credit for the present condition
Of the ranch to the Taylors. who
had carried on despite changing
conditions.
"That," stated John. striking
the paper as he drove with Con-
stance to her west-bound train.
will nut final check on Cabrillo
credit. No man. aside from the
one who loves you. will believe
you can make good against such
odds"
Constance settled into her COM
partment: Lamson bringing evil
dences of John Raskthorne's af-
lection with him. Candy, flowers.
magazines and a number of books
on dairy farming.
She had received her Christmas
gift from him. a feece-lined coat
OF softest leather: a leather bound
wristwatch: laced boots of softest
doeskin. and. riding in the bag
cage car. handsome stock sad
die.
Lamson. the only family repre-
sentative, gave her an agitated
farewell "Be careful of the
'orses. Miss Conchita. I wish YOU
would wait until I could Join
vol, J." @ 1910
"You can Join me ANYTIME
you're ready" Constance assured
him. Someone has TO drive my
car out in the spring"
Lamson left and she turned TO
John. How could she think of him
IS sweetheart. when he was
father mother and brother to
herr He'd thought OF the things
Nadine should have remembered.
He'd stood bv her through her
troubles as Don should have
stood Now he was letting her go
on, into a new world, without try
ing to hold her: letting her try out
her wings, as father would And
he'd be thore in the background.
waiting. if the wings weren't
strong enough.
John. you're binding me TO
YOU with your kindness" she
whispered into his shoulder. and
leaned there a moment.
And then the train was moving
out and she was alone. Lights
slid past her window. colored
lights, tinv trees glittering in
shack windows along the railroad.
snow hiding the uglinees Of the
moon places which held them.
Once after she had turned out
her light and Law watching the
landscape. a sleigh waited at a
crossing. a sleigh filed with peo-
ole old and Young -, a family.
all together. going somewhere to
celebrate the holiday.
! Constance thought Of her moth
nr's fnrewell. quick, light, per-
fun ed kiss. II hope you're not
melting n mistake. dear"
Don and Donna had left for a
cocktail party without offering
farewell.
Constance had watched the rlit-
tering narade. seeing herself in
severe black tailored clothes. Now
she thought. bitterly. 1.-THE runt
NJ the litter: the queer cross
bre ID; The throwbaCk.
Nornin0 rarnn with the snow
falling thick hiurring the land
scane and casting an unear'hlv
| slow in tho rowpartmert The
djoer was filed with families 20
ing home for Christmas: with
commercial men. hurrving home
for one dav with their families:
| even the waters were tilted with
thH 'ov Of the HOLIDAYS.
| Constance retreated from the
hsnDv peonle. She rang for a
table and buried her thoughts in
the future.
Here were thN letters oertain-
ing 70 transactions She'd read
them .hrouEh. every enc az them
b,tt later. rnw Sare wvSti'i
study 9airying. She read, Hol.
stems. JERSEYS. GuernsevS. SHIRT
hernS HeTeforis. Gailow 8
Devons ard Durhams m arch . 4
scross the pages Of the books
Feed mash tillage. housing. mar
ket'ng. cranred into her mind
What would Michael Mahonev
have thought OF his throwhack
y