The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-31
81 MARGARET WIppEAER

y
end of her hopes, and nearly of
her money. She and Molly had
moved, a month ago, to a single
room which they occupied to-
gether. 1t was crowded and un-
comfortable, but from every point
of view it was a good idea; it
cost half the money, and when
Molly married RiS she would for
the time being move into the Pap
oulos fiat with Z him. Just, of
course. till the flower shop was
on its legs.
Molly dropped on her bed, limp
and eye-circled.
Gosh, the price of success"
she said grinning.
Eileen, sitting in the rickety
chair at the window, lifted an
eyebrow. Il wish l had some sue
cess to pay the price Of" she said
trying to laugh. What do you
mean, Molly"
well, it's imply that this
r-clerk-telephone-girl OBJ
in those two shops is practically
finishing me. But you have to
have somebody nice and classy
in flower shop. Nice people
come in. And Ris cannot afford to
pay enough to get the kind he
wants. Reliefs easier, of course,
than standing on your feet four
teen hours day including Sum-
days -" She sat up, looked at
Eileen, and said "fIey, you've
been crying. Anything new"
Eileen said, steadying her lips,
mo, that's the trouble. Only
letter from my aunt in Denver.
She thinks I'm on the top of the
wave here. And she's hadsa pay
cut-and I was on the edge Of
writing to ask her for money. to-
go back home. And I can't bear
to give up. I'm just so down, l.
haven't even any judgment"
IF you go back, / suppose it.
means marrying the Estill man,
doesn't it? Frankly, I never could
see why you shouldn't. Think it
over, Eileen"
Stink back - without any
money, without any job - when
l left with all flags flying - when
everybody / knew thought, and
sc did I, the idiot, that all / had
to do was 20 walk into New York
and be given the keys to the
city? If even had cerfare home
it would be different"
Last Hope
"COSH, l forgot to tell you"
NJ Molly sat up, penitent, wrig-
Cling off her shoes and curling
her toes in relief. ooh, doctor,
my feet! Nick said today that
his pal at the secondhand car
place had bite for the old bus.
He was almost certain"
Well" Eileen said YEARLY,
that would be a help. /. Oh
Molly, | simply don't know what
to dol"
TOO bad you're a Protestant"
Molly said. She dropped back
again and stared at the ceiling.
Whats that got to do with it?"
"Well, don't suppose you'd
think it would be any help to
burn a candle to St. Anthony for
help, but that's what / always do
when I'm in a mess. Hey, I'll tell
you; if you like I'll do it for you.
For your intention. He's broad
minded guy. St. Anthony; l know
lots of non-Catholics he's done
things for"
"I'll take you up, Molly" Eileen
said. IN ybe it might help"
We'll, / guess now's the time"
Molly said "At that, I'll stake us
both to bus fares. l couldn't walk
another step if my life and love
depended on it."
She sat up good hearted,
weary Molly and pulled her
pumps on with a groan. She got
into her cheap fur coat; Eileen
put a sweater on under the smart
fall-weight coat she had not been
able to replace with a heavier
one. They set out.
Il have to stop at the shop and
tell Ris," Molly said. II said I'd
only be gone for the half hour it
took to eat"
They went into the shop to-
gether. Ris, with his usual gem
tleneSs. said, go on. Sure, go on.
And burn candle for the shop
too, he added cheerfully.
Eileen, standing there, suddenly
made her mind up. Shed put her
pride in her pocket. She'd give
up this crazy dream. of Martin,
this futile hope of being any
where, doing anything, important
enough to touch him or find him
again What chance or hope was
there after all? She shook her
self out of the romantic dream.
TITS been an obseSsion. I'll 90
back and start over. It's not even
a whole lost year." she said reso-
lutely to herself.
She went over and picked up
one of the telegraph blanks RiS
kept handy for clients who want
ed to telegraph flowers.
II am coming home. You were
right. Let's start fresh. Yours,
Eileen"
"Will you send this?" she said
hurriedly to Aristides.
He stared down at it.
"You YOU want me TO send
this? You are going away?" he
said.
Going away. 'Ay tank ay 60
home. Eileen quoted as lightly
as she could.
He said, very well. I send H."
He laid il down on the counter
with the shears 10 weigh it, and
hurried to attend a customer.
Molly" Eileen said. Here.
Don't let's waste time aud money
on that candle. I've made up my
mind" Yu ri =
ITS bad luck to start to make
a.tt a Al