The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-10-09

with exeryone. That was mart Of
II ne thought. That was the thing
tnat was reaching out and taking
hold OF his heart. Her besuf9
alone couldn't have done IL He
mad seen hundreds OF beautiful
girls. II was that sweet gracious
ness, that unselfshness rl.unins
Ike a bright thread through al
the pattern Of her living. that
drew him to Pam. Tt was a golden
chain linking him to her life. And
ne was glad.
There were no more unhaou1
incidents that evening. Jerrys
mother stopped a moment at their
table, but declined JerTy's inyi-
tatlon 70 dine with them.
l know young people Ike 70
oe alone, she said. 81 won't suoiI
this for you And then went m
TO another table.
She's sweet " Pam said a trace
wlsttully. recalling her own
@Adele's swell" Jerry was
looking thoughtfulIy at his
mother, rejecting that If she
knew what ne did about Pam she
would not feel their time alone
together was to be so short that
she might spoil something Just by
having dinner with them. II had
oeen a rather generous gesture
on the part Of his mother, yet II
gave him clue to her belief re-
garding himself and Pam.
II was evident she thought II
was to be an affair Of short du-
ration.
The Kiss
THE fragrant dark Of Florida
L night was vaguely silvered
by moonlight when Pam and
Jerry finally walked down the
curving drive of the hotel toward
Jerry's Car.
Pam was glad Jerry drove
slowly through The deserted
streets. white. under sthe pale
moon. She was glad he didn't talk.
much. She had never ceased to
love her home town. Key West.
She loved the quaint charm Of
It Friendly little houses, their
shabbineSs turned to beauty by
the shadows, nestled close as II
TO give some long-gone seafarer's
wife neighborly companionShip
even while she scrubbed the wide
tioor-boards of her kitchen or
cooked the rich guava to richer
preserves.
To be there with the things she
had known and loved-and Jerry
beside her-was happin ess
enough.
And Jerry, too, was thinking.
He was thinking of Pam and
Ffeda. Freda with her sleek,
smooth beauty. But that wasn't
the kind of beauty he wanted.
There had been dozens of girls
dancing there at the hotel who
had Freda's sort of beauty. 1t was
available at exclusive stores in
little jars, in pretty bottles. in
dresses and gadgets that bore
names representative of class and
distinction 1t was purely and
wholly of the exterior. And it
left him cold.
While Pam-he dared look for
an instant at her lovely young
face beside him, dream
exalted, her soft brown eyes and
gently tanned skin, a startlingly
lovely note against the gold Of
her hair. Her beauty was real
Something deep from within.
Like a lamp burning steadily.
Like a candle lighted in a cot
tage window. Her beauty was
real and natural It had nothing
to do with things handed over
the counters Of shops.
They reached PANS home, with
its lawns and garden much larger
than most of its neighbors and its
chimney that rose from a spacious
fireplace.
It had been a happy evening, in
spite Of IGNORES cruel remarks.
AS family. the Quellertons had
always made a point of trying to
forget unpleasant things Pam
still kept to that philosophy. II
had been one of the happiest eve
nings she had known since she
had been alone. The thought
frightened her because Jerry
was. after all, a winter man. She
must dismiss him quickly.
With a swift, audacious gesture,
she took one Of the viOlets from
her dress, kissed the tip Of her
finger, touched the kiss to the
.iolet and gave it to Jerry.
There! That's goodnight and
thank you for a lovely. lovely
She drew back then, startled at
what her impulse had led her 70
do. But Jerry caught her hand
as he took the violet and raised
it TO his lips and kissed each fin
ger tip.
you're cutter than moussas
ear" he said, as he carefully put
the violet away.
Pam laughed. How cute is
that" she asked.
For answer Jerry's arms closed
around her and drew her close
against his heart
That cute" he said as he
kissed her.
Pam drew back. hurt and con-
fused.
aDon't look at me like that.
Pam" he said. Il mean so much
that l can't say now. Things that
shouldn't make you unhappy,
dear"
But still Pam drew back
Don't" she said softly. in hurt
little voice. "Please don't say
anything more.
"Why, Pam? Is there someone
else?"
no" she answered thought
fully. HAfter all, you're winter
man."
"Pam!" He claimed her hands