The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-03-12
Chapter Nine
Explaining Emily

OH, you don't? Well, I know
~ about you, you see. / mean
this" She handed Roger a paper
that had been lying on the table.
Somebody must have been care
less and left it there.
Roger stared at the printed
page. Heading the society gossip
was picture of Emily and him
self snapped few months before
at dog show. Their engagement
was spoken of, their approaching
marriage, their prominence. The
perfect fitness of their marriage.
Lovely's eyes were on him with
peculiar intentness. He knew he
should say something. What? How
could you expect anyone to be-
1ieve you were trying to be
honest when you said your heart
belonged to two girls? But that
was. true. He could feel Enily's
cool hands, calm, poised, elegant
but holding on just as firmly as
Lovely's more impulsive, passion
ate, expressive ones.
nj He said finally:
-m"T hadn't been trying to hide
that from you Lovely"
She looked startled.
"Jeepers creepers! Then what
were you doing?" Not exactly
angry. Not exactly laughing. Nor
was she crying. But Roger could
not tell which she was nearest.
Il thought when you brought me
up here and then went home last
night--you were so swell and all
Il thought, maybe" and then she
broke off, the flame of her voice
overcast. ooh, well, I don't know
what l did think. Some crazy
thing guess like-that you might
really like me-"
Lovely, I dol" Quickly from
the young man. 81 do. more than
like you. love you. I could 60 on
and tell you I love you with a
consuming passion, something so
deep and riotous it frightens me.
1t would all be true. But l am
engaged to that girl in the pic
ture. She's wearing my ring.
We're supposed to be married
within a month"
There was a forthrightness and
honesty about him that would
have given a more experienced
woman cause to wonder. 1t was as
If he had taken his heart and
laid 1t out there for her to see
its truthfulness.
, Lovely Daye was blind to the
( gesture. ot
! well, I'm engaged toow Her
voice rose a little as she held up
her hand. Joe's chip diamond was
there. That's a game two can
play at"
But wasn't playing a game,
Lovely" Tensely.
"If you were fooling me | was
fooling you'll And howm Her rich,
full laughter grated little.
you didn't have that on your
hand last night" Then he had
seen a ring on that finger when
they first met.
Lovely laughed as if in appre-
citation of a good joke.
''Of course not, dope! l took it
off and put II in my purse"
Roger stared at her.
II wasn't trying to deceive
you" he said finally, quietly.
Il wouldn't know that big boy.
] only know you did. / might have
known though" Bitterly. 81 might
have known what your kind were.
Engaged TO one girl and trying
TO have some fun with another.
The sort of fun your girls too
good for | presume! She's prob
ably one of those glamor girls
a petticoat wired for sound"
Yielding
II OVELYl Stopl Don't ever LEI
H. me hear you say such things
againl That isn't the way I feel
about you at ALL"
you're going to pay FOR thisl"
Ignoring him she went on madly
You'll pay" I'll get even with
But Rogers controlled voice
cut through her passionate cry:
II want to pay. Lovely. | mean
10, But not in the way you think
/ want to do what's right
haven't meant 10 trick you. T.
he paused and something in him
seemed to be breaking up.
1--WE been tricked myself
Lovely" he said finally.
"You can't kid met You think
because you're smooth and hand
some and rich you can get away
with anything" Emotion, anger,
disappointment ran riot in her
voice. Well you can't. You can't
l tell you. This is once when
you're going TO pay. You'll pay"
His arms were strong. Stronger
than her resistance, They swcp;
the girl mad With something she
herself could not understand
TO his heart and held her there
tightly. WordleSS. His face pressed
against her hair. Until finally her
voice came brokenly.
"Oh, Roger, | can't fight with
you | can't. And l don't want
anything from you. -
She was little girl, broken
shattered. crying In his arms
Il know darling" his lips warm
and urgent against her skin. a