The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-19
Chapter Is
SOlution-For A While

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SOlution-For A While
HAS he asked you to marry
him, honey?" Joe asked
gently of Lovely. His voice was
always gentle when he spoke to
her.
Lovely glanced at Roger. Then
to Joe:
Eyes"
Joe's big hands moved in a ges-
ture of release.
Then that's all there is. There
amt any more" But he looked at
her as if there was a great deal
more and Roger was impelled by
some impulse he didn't under
stand to get up and walk toward
the door.
"I'll have a cigaret out here,
he said.
There had been something
broken about Joe. Shattered. The
big hands that had looked as if
they could take an end of the
world and lift it were suddenly
helpless. His huge figure sagged.
1t was too uncomfortable a thing
for Roger to watch.
Lovely's eyes followed Roger to
the yard. She got up and stood at
the window staring at him a mo-
ment. When she turned to Joe
her eyes had waltzy glamor.
He's swell, joe" she said.
1t was the way she said it that
clinched the thing for Joe. The
words were ordinary enough. She
might have said that thousand
times about other things and
other people. But this time it was
as if her heart was beating in the
words and she didn't even know
it.
That's all need to know, kid, "
Joe said; but in the tenderness
of his voice there was a broken
note. ITS your life. I'd be a louise
if | tried to mess it up. You've
got the right sort of chance at
something you deserve. Don't
gum it. honey. You belong with
the best of 'em, Lovely. Good
luck"
ITS sweet - the way you're
taking it, Joe"
Haven't l always said it's the
thing your heart desires that
want most, honey? Well, | mean
TS1l n, mann ~ ~
Lovely was holding out her
hand to him. In it lay the little
chip diamond in its fiashy setting
Joe looked at it. .
Keep it. baby" he said. Keep
it for pocket piece. Not that
you'll need luck married to guy
with all the dough in the world
coming to him someday." =.
Joe" 1t was a queer half
stifled cry. She had liked him. He
was her own kind. It was prob
ably only sympathy but it did
something to her to have to hur:
him.
Joe stared at her an instant as
if he might have taken her in his
arms and then he turned and has
tily left the cottage. That was
Ike Joe's quaint ideas OF right
ness. She belonged to someone
else. His kisses had no business
on her lips. 1t was like him, too
that he didn't even glance at the
figure standing near the stone
wall looking down over the hill
toward the Hudson.
The old jalopy creaked and
complained as it started out oil
the drive. But once it started il
seemed to hurry as if, like its
driver, it was anxious to get out
of territory to which it obviously
didn't belong.
Promise
r OVELY, looking out of the
IL window, saw Rogers figure
outlined against the lowering sur
vaguely. Sudden mist hung like
a curtain before her eyes. It was
a few minutes before it was gone
Then she walked across the
clipped grass and slipped her arm
through Rogers. She was smiling
brilliantly when he turned to hel
and put his hand over hers.
Il was frightened to death" she
said finally. Il thought you'd
fight"
why fight over things no one
can help" Roger asked. Ano
then: Darling. why do love you
so? 1t would have been so much
easier if l hadn't. It's messed
things up for Joe and Emily"
But not for US" she nestled
closer TO him.
mo" slowly. mot for US.
hope" Then. after another pause
DO you realize you've just sale
you'd marry me-"
She looked up at him. her eye!
wide.
That was what you wanted ms
to say. wasn't i? You meant
should say yeS7'
Il did. OF course I did" Blu
Roger realized her answer hac
committed them he want exact
" sorry Yet he couldn't feel def
nite!y GLAD. He'd rather have set
tied things v-lttl Emily first Blu
they had been taken out Of hi
hands. He'd mad no control ovel
the situation
You said exactly what yol
should have. darling" he went OF
tenderly. his arm drawing he
close.
But in view OF the scene jus
finished he didn't know how h
vas going 70 60 through the din
ner at Aunt Analia's that nigh;
While be was dressing he hear,