The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-11

quiet, following her aunt meekly
down to the dining room.
Throughout the meal, which
was chiefly spaghetti--and Eve
thought she detected Mrs. Jack
sons delight as she served the
simple f0Od--She was equally
quiet. Only Brett Rodman, how~
ever, seemed To notice her silence.
s'Are--are you feeling wella"
he asked hesitantly.
Yes, thank you.e Eve answered
remotely
'sY0u seem SO quiet. y
"RealIy?" Ewes question
seemed 10 silence him. too, It was
not until dinner was almost fins
ished and Mrs. Jackson appeared
with a bottle Of sparkling burgun-
dy that he joined in the conversa-
ton.
ITS a celebration" Brett said
in surprise. Whats the occa-
STOMP
Good for your Neil cheered,
standing up and raising his glass.
Mr.. Rodman has guessed 1t. This
IS an occasion. Miss Evangeline
Prentice and | are announcing our
engagement
What Neil said after that was
lost on Eve. She could see, as she
automatically got to her feet and
faced Neil across the candles, only
the odd, stricken look in Brett's
eyes, and the unbelief in his ex-
preston.
1t seemed to her that everyone
must see his reluctance to join in
the volley of congratulations, the
wisecracks that came from Gina
and Ham, and the beaming salts
faction expressed by Julie and
Mrs. Marbury. But as she man
aged troubled smile, Eve
noticed that everyone was looking
only at Neil or at her. M
And when she glanced again at
Brett he was on his feet, smiling,
his glass raised in gay salute to
her.
Doubt
PEING engaged made a differ
~ ence, Eve discovered. The rest
of the company took 1t for granted
that she and Neil wanted to be
alone, and although they gathered
in the living room after dinner, it
was plain that they expected the
engaged couple to take them
selves off. Brett enlisted Jim
Droissard's help and the two
started up to the secret room.
Gina and Ham went after them,
but LOrdy Mac could not be in
duced to mount the stairs, He
whined softly as they approached
the opened bookcase.
why don't you take Lordy for
a walk?" Julie suggested to Eve,
her eyes twinkling.
Don't go far" put in Mrs.
Marbury. "I'm still a little afraid
of what might happen-although
we've been very quiet here late
ly.p
That's a perfectly swell idea"
Neil chimed in. Come on, Eve.
AAGA 40 q AlAOOl b
Eve went with a strange reluc-
lance, which she hoped she did
not show. She was eager to see
the room upstairs, and the idea
OF sitting on the sand with Neil,
even in so romantic a setting. did
not have the same appeal.
But she did appreciate the beau
ty OF the night, when they finally
found fallen log and were seated
on it, watching the restless move
ment Of the sea against the shore.
The moon laid silver path to
their very feet, and the salt smell
OF the ocean mingled with the pun
gent sweetness of the flowers.
Neil, as if he sensed her mood,
did not make love to her, but sat
close, gazing with her at the water
and talking now and then in a
ldesultory fashion about nothing
IN particular, Eve, to her embar-
rassment, suddenly found herself
yawning.
"Oh-I'm sorryl" she apollo
gized quickly. But Neil laughed
and drew her to her feet,
OF course you're sleepy. We've
had a rather hectic day. Just one
goodnight kiss" he held out his
arms and Eve was, for the mo-
ment, thrilled by their strength
and tenderness. She kissed him.
and his arms frightened.
I'm going to make YOU hammer
than any girl has ever been be-
fore" he promised, as if he were
taking vow. "And I'll never get
over thanking the powers that be
Tor letting me have you. As soon
as we get off this place" he said
more practically, ''Tll send to New
York for the ring-there's an old
emerald in the safety deposit box
that Mothers hung onto. for lust
such an occasion. Wait until I tell
her that her future daughter-in-
law has eyes to match the en-
eraldl"
They ran with Lordy Mac back
to the house, to find that every-
one but Brett Rodman had al
ready gone to bed. He was look
ing through the old book again
reading not the love story, but the
account of how the original house
had been laid out.
What was in the secret room
Marguerite's room?" Eve asked.
said, "but dust and cobwebs
They'd even taken away the fur
niture. It's a terribly small room
whoever does the house over
might make it a bath"
;sYou certainly are romantic"
Eve could not resist the thrust.
You're romantic enough for
everyone" Neil chided. 'Rod-
mans right, Eve, and you know it.
| Run along to bed now. Well talk
for while, if Brett doesn't
mind"
"Glad to have you'll I'll stir up
I II. = -