The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-04-03
Chapter %


WHEN you read this" Lovely
w wrote, you'll know what
happened tonight because l saw
you go when they called you. You
were right. I shouldn't have gone.
I didn't want to really. I don't
know why did. 1t wasn't any fun.
/ was the only one not hurt. | ran
away from it because I didn't
want your name mixed up with it.
/ wanted to come home and ask
forgiveness. And then when I got
here Isaw you and Emily together.
Isaw you kiss her. And you looked
so right together. And l knew
then that everything I've ever
done has been wrong. I've brought
only unhappiness. I should never
have stepped between you. I
haven't been the sort Of wife you
should have had. And so now I'm
going, Roger my darling. Don't
try to find me. You never will"
That was all. And there, on the
floor was the scuffed mate to the
slipper Roger had brought back
with him. She must have walked
to the houses in her, stocking feet.
Yes, there were the stockings, one
was a mass of holes.
Roger was stunned. He was too
disturbed for sane thought. Love-
ly had left him, as she thought, to
Emily. But that wasn't the way
human lives were disposed Of.
He'd find her, of course, and bring
her back. No matter what had
happened she was Lovely and he
wanted her back. He knew her
waywardness was not a matter of
the heart, that it was purely a sur
face gesture that had nothing at
all to do with her love for him.
Meanwhile Lovely forced her
car over the slushy parkway to
New York with the peculiar luck
Of the reckless. She automatically
headed for the west side and
found herself stopping in front of
the tenement where Cert lived.
She was shivering with something
more than cold as she got out of
the car and walked up the four
flights of stairs. On the landing, at
Gert's door, her uplifted hand
halted just before it touched the
bell. She remembered with clari-
ty so painful it was like a knife
cutting into her heart the last
time she had stood so.
Lovely turned then and started
slowly down the stairs. That night
a thousand years ago, she had not
had the courage to face the quar-
rel that ragged out at her from be-
hind that shabby, thin, closed
door.
Now she couldn't muster the
courage to break the spell of the
deep, silent peace that lay over
the place.
So she drove the few blocks to
the slightly more shabby place
where Joe and his mother lived.
She made no apologies when the
ugly old door opened to reveal
Mrs. Hulse, a shawl over the
shoulders of her outing flannel
nightgown. Nor did Mrs. Hulse
apologize for her appearance.
Their lives had been too familiar
with extremity to apologize fol-
trivialities.
Mixed Welcome
IT oVELYl Oh, Lovely, dearie!"
- Mrs. Hulse opened her arms
and took Lovely to her ample
bosom. The faint odor of Loveiy's
expensive perfume glorifed the
dim, narrow hall.
Joe stood just behind his
mother. His eyes narrowed and
hardened slightly as he looked at
the girl. H'JEJtF tiaair
What are you her for2" he
asked. i.q ..f,f.-t
"You certainly know how to well
come an old friend" she said, and
laughed up at him.
But Joe wasn't 10 be fooled. The
hardness of his eyes was in his
voice as he said: Il told you not
TO gum IT, and now you've gone
and done it,"
you don't know what you're
talking about" Lovely flared. an.
xiety and contrition feeding the
flame of anger like oil flowing
steadily on a fire.
You get out of here" Joe said
sharply. Go back where you be-
long. You made your choice! Have
the CUTS to stick by il"
Keep still joe" Mrs. Hulse
seemed to take on height and dig
nifty. There was authority in her
voice mo ones being put out of
this house II they need TO come in.
Least of all Lovely"
But, Ma, tell YOU she's run.
ming away from something she's
done herself and"
Hush your mouth. Joe HulSel
What she's done makes no differ.
ence." his mother said. Its not
for you or me 70 question Lovely
II the good Lord had meant that
you should judge His people you'd
have been born with a scepter in
your hand"
Joe was looking at Lovely
steadily.
Little idiot" he said. Just be-
ginning 10 value what you've run
away from-what most people
give their lives for"
stop that, joel" said Mrs.
HulSe. "Lovely's never done a
wrong thing purpoSely in her life
and she's probably got good rea-
sons now"