The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-19

- Tie HISt COllpIetely ndppy OCCd-
sion we've ever gone to at
Amalia's. That house has been a
regular hoodoo. Everything evil
that's ever happaned to the family
happens there. Or at least begins
there. I'm glad we never tried to
live there. And I hope nothing
happens tonight"
| Roger could almost see his
mother shiver.
Nonsense, Marcia" Cosgrave's
voice was gentle. 1T isn't the
house, and anyhow nothing will
happen tonight. What could? Ev-
erything is perfect"
Too nearly perfect" Marcia
said thoughtfully. There's gener-
ally some little difficulty about
such things. But there isn't at all
with this, We love Emily as if she
was already our daughter. And
the Perrys are delighted to have
Roger for a son. /" her voice
broke off sharply then. ooh, Kar!
How could you!"
Roger could see through the
door. His well meaning, careless
but fond father had dropped his
hat on the bed and put his arms
around her to kiss her. Marcia
was concerned with the hat.
It was one of her pet supersti-
tions that hat on the bed meant
something bad would happen. She
lifted it quickly and handed it to
Cosgrave.
You would, darling! And just
at a time like this"
Cosgrave laughed gently. He
adored his wife'S little WITNESSES.
You make me as nervous as a
cat in strange garrett Kar."
Emily was lovely that night as
she walked into Aunt Amalia's
| living room. Beautiful in a with
drawn, cool, crystalline way. She
was perfect in that setting. Aunt
Amalia lived in the past.
Emily Takes The Floor
| CHERRY - not a cocktail - was
- served before dinner in glass
es that had known three genera
ton of Amalia Cosgraves. Anal
las hands were as small and as
fine as those of the first exquisite
Amalia who'd seen George Wash
ington ride through their prop
erty, stop CALAMITY, and bend to
kiss her mothers hand after en-
joying l.er tea and cakes.
Amalia liked Emily too. Emily
moved about her house, among
her fine things as if she belonged
there. Roger had a fieeting vision
of Lovely in that room. Involun-
tarily he passed his hand before
his eyes. 1t wouldn't do. Just
wouldn't fit.
Emily had come with her par
ents, her very much pleased
mother and her oddly nervous
father. Roger had noticed grow
ing nervousness and tautnesss
about Mr.. Perry. He wondered
vaguely if weddings affected
fathers that way. Perry had ac-
quired trick of walking up to
Roger. staring at him intently and
saying sharply: You'll take care
of her. boy? Emily needs someone
| to look after her. She's never been
away from us" 1t was as il. after
their marriage, they were going
to another world. It annoyed
Roger. And as they stood in the
hall moment Roger had heard
him say in that same nervous
raspy voice: II think we should
| tell them, now-make a clean
sweep of the whole thing"
He hadrA x~Sght Mrs. Perry's
reply.
| Candles in silver holders ngnt-
ed the beautiful scene that was
Amalia's dining room.
Their soft glow brought out the
pattern of the rich, heavy damask
and reflected on fine old silver and
china. Facets of light caught the
loneliness of rare crystal. Yellow
roses in a low bowl lay a warm
glow on the polished mahogany
of a side table and scented the air
family.
Conversation was a low pleas
ant eddy moving through the
large old room. White gloved ser
cantS stepped noiselessly. Amalia,
sitting at the head of her perfect
table, still quite lovely to look at,
spoke to Emily:
Emily, I've never seen you
look lovelier. Approaching mar
riage apparently agrees with you.
You're going to be a bride we'll
all be proud Of"
Emily looked up. Her eyes met
Rogers and held for an instant
Roger wondered what he saw IN
them. Something strange and diff
ferent. Something not quite Emil
". Then she was speaking.
Thank you. Aunt Amalia," she
said, "but / feel there's no better
time to tell you there isn't going
to be any bride. There's not going
to be any wedding That is. no
wedding for Roger and me-
The words were like lead pei
lets dropped into a deep. silent
pool. They stayed there unmov-
| ing, unchanging. Roger felt he
should say something. He knew
that after a quick glance at Emily
every one at the table was look
ing al aim. EVEN oAu EesSf' ttiS
butler who had been with Amalia
for years, stopped serving. one
white gioyed hand in the air as II
turned 10 stone by the startling
/ announcement
Il was Mrs. Perry who broke
the silence. Her voice rasped lit
tie in her thToat as If she was
| having difaEnIty controlling Il
Emily. yCaEe nervous and up
set. You don't realize what you've
/ said"
/ of course I'm upset and ner-
vous." Emily forced note Of