The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-13
Chapter is
The Dead Man

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RLAzE gazed at her a moment
longer. shaking his head.
I've a bunch that a lover. like
an artist, should not be too svrn-
pathetic" Anne continued IL
stare at him, blinking helplessly,
He drew the bed pallet fha,
had been left them to the froni
OF the tent and threw himself
down on one side of il where
ne could look UP and see the
sky. -
Presently Anne sat down On
the edge near him.
Hungry" he asked. scrutiniz-
ing her face.
MOT especially. "A slight head
ache. You?"
mot so bad. Think Of our
blessingsl Free at last from al
compulsionsl Nothing to do but
exist!''
She answered, a trace of deri-
sion in her voice. Snow IS your
chance to prove what absolute
surrender to Destiny will bring
YOU"
II I'm man enough" he said
Anne began to laugh bit UNI
steadily. Grandmothe must be
turning over in her grave. Her
young man said, Darling, I'm moi
worthy to kiss your little hand .
He grinned and persisted. SIN
trying to say that you and I be-
long to each other, Anne. Always
have. Always will. Not in the
sense of possession-1ove is not
bound. But In the sense Of having
the same destiny, travelling the
same road, responding to the
same rhythm and.D he smiled
enjoying the same fun"
She eyed him skeptically. sc
what?"
you know what" he retorted.
Don't pretend"
You're speaking outrageous
Granted. Anne. I'd like ia
shock you out Of this smugness
OF yours. You won't admit you're
human bsing. You're more than
a clothes horse"
She sprang angrily to her feet.
Blaze Sherwood -
Don't high ha. me, Queen Vic
toria." He caught her ankle and
brought her down on top of him.
She screamed in unexpected sur
prise and terror. He released her
a! once. rolled her over on her
back on the pallet and moved
away an arms length on the rug
and sat up.
Anne, you're acting like a
little fool. Your body shouldn't be
afraid of mine.s
She laid an arm across her
eyes, and when she was breath
ing quietly again, tried to explain.
All her life a girl is trained
and admonished to keep herself
to herself. Then someone like
you comes along and calls her q
little fool"
He gazed at her contritely. Il
understand. i've Deen clumsy.
Sorry, precious" He clasped her
hand that lay between them,
ANY objection to our hands, al
least. becoming acQuainted?"
She smiled and shook her head.
Besides. I'm here on mission
that excludes you. ! will not for
get that
"You can't keep from falling in
love with me, Anne
Il can keep from doing any
thing about IT,
Agreed" he admitted. But
people who live only for the flu
ture cheat themselves Of both the
present and the future"
Anne looked at him helplessly,
"You think of the strangest
things"
He smiled. Maybe hunger has
something TO do with it, She
felt that he gave all kinds OF
meanings TO the word.
Il should think you'd hate me. Z
she remarked. IF / didn't exist
you wouldn't be in this horrible
predicament.'
s'You swear we're going to
live" he reminded her, suddenly
changing tactics. "If so. it's not
such a horrible predicament. A
week or two of fasting is no more
than food for the soul" He sprang
to his feet. I'm getting out See
you later"
Eagles Nest
CHE sat up and watched him
- walk down to the little lake,
follow the margin around to the
farther side and strike off in the
direction where they had seen
the eagle.
aWhv didn't he tell me he was
going 10 there2" she asked her.
Self, Hes a difficult person to
understand" One moment ne had
stabbed her heart with the
words: only a few more days IN
which to really feel alive and the
next he had bewildered her with
the statement: "a week or two OF
fasting is no more than food tor
the soull' What was q girl to pe-
lieye2
The sun was low. Sherwood
disappeared, tiny speck in the
distanee, and she remsined there
alone IN that strange crater ol
desolation so barren of life beside
her own that not even fiy shared
i. with her. Presently she pulled
q blanket about her shoulders and
closed her eyes.
When she opened them at dawn.
she saw Sherwood lying near py
wrapped in a rug.