The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-10-29
Chapter 81
Mother Takes A Hand

Al 49, VIII some
~ vague sense Of uneasiness
dispensed with breakfast "a bed
dispensed with breakfast entirely
as a matter Of fact, as a triblIte -
the number Of cocktails she'd 49,
the night before. Not that ATrs
Harrington ever was guilty. =,
over lnnulgei4ce. But Cocktail
hsd an unpleasant tendency "a
add curves 70 figure already in
elined 70 plumpness. She wakes
out 70 a bench on the lawn where
freda was sitting staring AZ the
sea with unusual seriousness- She
studied her daughter for a mo-
ment- There was something diff
ferent about Freda.
you know, Freda," she finally
said with her usual directneSs
I'm not too pleased about last
what do you mean. Mothar9
Last night. Freda seemed TO be
coming out Of a dream.
you know very well What 7
mean. Freda. You're letting thai
little local girl get away WITH
murder and, incidentally. with
Jerry Winthrope."
$50 what2" Freda asked quietly.
so do something about II And
don't Use that sort Of language 10
mel"
4 didn't mean to offend vou
Mother" Freda turned "a her
mother with respectful attention
II was Just that / was wcndering
what a girl could do wfle7ia man
found he loved someone else?8
WHAT are you talking about7''
About Jerry and Pam QueIIer-
ton. Freda answered. Jvefg calm
lyc as II she had faeed 9Fs thing
for 50 long that there was no more
surprise about il.
Freda, please put what You're
trying 10 say into simple Englishl
I'm in no mood for conundrums
this morning"
-Jerry's in love with her. Moth
er, in love with Pam QueIlerton. -
Freda spoke without any DRAMATIC
emphasis The expression Of her
mothers face startled her. We'll.
don't look like tnat," she said
quickly. Its happened before.
And it'll probably happen again.
j means men have found someone
else after giving rings and making
promises. And after all, Jerry
never made any promises. We
asked tor this. you and /. I can
remember that day at the level
ers as II Il were yesterday. And
i isn't a very pleasant memory.
] didn't really mean 10. but I
tricked him into something-I and
the circumstances.
Freds. you're behaving ike a
f0cli' Mrs. Barington's voice was
Inc one dlscOrdant note in a per
tecl setting. The sea. out beyond
The gold Of the sand, vas a clear
turquoise. Lawns. sweeping in All
directions around them, we're soft
green velvet. set with the fragrant
Jewels az flower gardens. Trees
made lovely patterns o. light and
shade Mrs. Darlington went OF:
II you're telling me that you and
Jerry are breaking I'D. I won't
have u won't, ! sEyi"
Freca turned 70 her mother. :
question in her eyes
You can't embarraSs me this
way, Freds- / won't let you do this
. ne"
I think Il would 5e more en-
barrassing 70 Try 70 hold a man
against MS viii"
You're talking Ike al IDIOT
NO man ever wants % get mar
rel. It's a WOman's business 20
rake hin think he does. And
taen- after its all over. il always
urns cut al right. They not only
p1t up with il; they like it,
New Idea
MOTHER, forgive me. but
NA that's dark-sFe talk. Besides.
have the feeling that I'm doing
something decent and thoughtful
snd generous for a change. Ana
you've no idea what a nice feeling
= e think Pam deserves Jerry.
Sne.l make something Of him. ]
is5t 3, P si53 .l yAgs Pads some
They were silenpfor 6renent-
Tea Freda eontiHRed thought
7 haven't got il IN nv hands.
f1as potteT's clay and sculptor ScEr
q stun. when i cones 70 human
beings It's z little too big 2 Job
tor ne In not Interested in max
ING the effort. But Pam is"
Airs. Darlington stared az her
daughter thOughtfully. There was
something too definite. too final
. argue further with She asked
finally:
Has he asked you for the
NO As a matter Of fact, he's
told ne 70 keep thAt--iLct Is
gift"
That's nice" II came very
sweetly from Mrs. Darlington as
she looked out over the water
where bsthers were bright dots
On the scene
Freda laughed. Mother, you're
too transparent for words Too.
too delightfuiiS
What do you mean"
Nothing. darling! Nothing al
allr'
And then IL was Like ToIL Ba-
rirgton 70 say:
i noticed that gOod-iookinR