The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-11
Chapter Eight
Alone AT Last
ID OGER was speaking:

OGER was speaking:
N Food, beautiful lady"
There was warmed ann e 6
corned beef hash, canned peas;
crackers from package. Canned
peaches, great golden disks. Small
cookies and coffee.
Afterwards in the softly lighted
living room Lovely found in Rog-
er's arms and lips fervent, beau
tifully tender passion.
They talked in little scraps.
'I'm foolish about you, darling"
Roger murmured, his lips against
the bright gold of her hair. "Pve
lost all sense of everything else"
Lovely smile d. Her fingers
reached up to brush his face.
"Its such nice foolishness
though" she said softly.
"What are we going to do about
it?" He was thinking of Emily.
His diamond she was wearing.
Their marriage scheduled in less
than month.
unjust we do anything?"
Roger let it 60 at that. The path
that led into the future was
suddenly confused thing where
two days ago it had been plain
and clear, with Emily walking il
beside him.
He looked at his watch.
'Its another day, deari Four!
You've missed your beauty sleep:
Though Heaven knows what you'd
do with any more beautyl Better
turn in now. Pick your own bed
room" He hesitated a moment,
then: "You're not afraid of being
here alone?"
Lovely looked a trace startled.
"Alone? Afraid? No, of course
not. But" she hesitated, "is this
all there is, Galahad? Isn't there
any more?"
Roger swept her against his
heart and held her there tightly.
I'm no Galahad," he said kiss
ing her fiercely. cts you Pm
thinking of. I've got to. / feel that
way about you"
And Lovely left alone was a lit
tie startled by the turn of events.
Roger, driving down the hill to-
ward his fathers big house, was
thoroughly shaken.
He tried to face the situation he
discovered himself in and found ii
too startling for any calm solu-
ton.
He was engaged to marry
Emily. The invitations for the
wedding were all but out. Emily
had selected her attendants, he
his ushers and best man. Their
parents lived on nearby estates
and had been friends for years.
Emily was a fine sweet girl.
Thought of ever hurting her
wrung his heart.
Yet there was Lovely.
Lovely Like a hot sweet flame
in his veins. Like a thread of
bright gold running through all
the pattern of his thinking. Like
hands clinging to his heart with
never to be forgotten tenderness.
Like a haunting refrain singing
over and over again in his being.
Could he marry Emily, go
through the ceremony before him
with Lovely so imprinted on his
heart?
He swung his car into place in
the garage and then started up
the side steps. Daylight was strug-
Cling through dawn mist.
A figure rose like a pale ghost
from the shadows of the top step.
"Rogerl"
Emily" She was like a wrath
here in the strange half-light Of
dawn, still in her long sweeping
chiffon party dress. Emily what
are you doing here?" Her hands
were icy in his. i
"Oh, Roger!" Terrific let down
in her voice. Forgive me, dearl
! had to do It'll | knew something
was wrong. could feel ii tonight
And then when you left I watched
and saw your car turn toward the
city instead of homel ! felt as If
something terrible was going to
happen. / had to come here and
wait"
Silly little babyi" Gathering
her in his arms. "It's damp. You'll
catch your DEATH"
"Oh, Roger, TO have you back
safe and tee Same!" Her voice
trembled. She was all but crying
with a sort Of hurt Joy. II have
been silly! Tell me, darling. I
have?"
you have, sweet. Very silly to
spend one precious little minute
of your time worrying about me. "
He was taking her into the house,
leading her up the stairs. AT the
door of q guest room he stopped.
Go in and get comfy and sleep,
little thing" He kissed the lips
she lifted 20 him with an innocent
gesture. He could kiss her. It was
like kissing a child. 1t left no i'm.
print on his soul as Lovely'S lips
flaming under his, had. They had
burned 70 the very heart Of his
being. Their mark was scared un.
forgettably deep within him.
As Roger undreSSed he saw the
collar Of his shirt was hpstick
marked Lovely'S. Of course. Emf.
" evidently hadn't noticed. Nor
had she asked him where he haG
been.
Peace Again
MARCIA CoSgrave was not sur,
AN1 uriSe9 To find Emily with