The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-05-04
Chapter Is
Stubborn Girl

a S THE days passed Joe had the
feeling that Kathleen had
walked straight out of his life. So
Tar as ever getting an opportunity
to talk to her. he and she might
as well have been living on oppo-
site sides of the globe.
He forced himself to keep hard
at work, trying to improve upon
the play, giving a honey" air to
ms column, and polishing up his
play reviews. There was certainly
plenty to do-and he liked work
ing. But he couldn't keep his
thoughts from returning again
and again to Kathleen and the
dreams and hopes he had so long
held where she was concerned.
Finally there came a day when
ne could no longer resist the urge
to see her. to talk to her. He wrote
a last item to his column - an
item about Miss Camilla's furni-
ture being used to outfit a stage
setting-and then placed the cover
over his typewriter. He picked UP
some rewritten scenes of his play,
planning to read them aloud to
Kathleen, ran down the worn
stairs of the Linville Gazette
Building. and jumped into his car.
Not long afterwards he was fac
ing Lizzie out at the Vaughan
residence.
mo. Mr.. joe" said Lizzie, "she
amt to home. Seems like she amt
never to home no more"
"Okay!" said Joe. Thanks, Liz
zie."
He turned to go, but Lizzie had
an idea.
"Ah's got some sugar-cured ham
for supper. Mr.. joe" she said.
mo kidding?" said Joe.
"An' it's shame for Mr.. Frank
to be eatin' by himself all the
time"
Are you going around your
elbow to ask me to stay and eat
some of that ham,"
Lizzie's face brightene d.
"Yas'r," she said. "Ah shore hates
seem good food going to waste"
Then I'll stay" said joe Sure
I'm not going to be pest?"
Lawsy. Mr.. Joe, you-all amt
never no pest" Lizzie hustled off,
calling back. "You-all just set
there and cool off. Ah'll go add
the final fixin's."
Joe dropped down into a porch
chair. He took the rewritten scenes
of the play from his pocket. and
tried to read them. But he felt no
interest. He iammed the typed
sheets back into his pocket, and
stared out across the well-kept
yard. He was still staring, lost in
moody thought, when Mr.. Frank
drove up.
Supper For Two
HELLO, Joe, boy!" Mr.. Frank
Il greeted. Waiting for some
one?"
NO." said Joe. I'm waiting for
some sugar-cured ham. Smell it?"
Mr.. Frank shifted the air. do
II" he said. "My, that smells APP
petizing. Where's Kathleen? I
thought you were waiting for
her."
She's not coming home" said
Joe. He explained about.the tele-
phone call. Lizzie thought you
might like to have me eat with
you"
"Lizzie's right" said Mr.. Frank.
He sat down upon the top step.
"Kathleen's been as scarce as hens
teeth here of late. Oh, well, I sup
pose rehearsing is an exacting
business.
Evidently" said Joe dryly.
but not unexciting when you
have a handsome actor to coach
you, and drive you back and forth
to the theatre"
Don't let it get you down, joe"
said Uncle Frank. 81 don't think
it's going to come to anything"
Whats not going to come to
anything?" Joe demanded.
"All this stage-struck business.
Ruby told me the longer Kathleen
rehearsed, the more certain she
became that she was an amateur
and nothing more"
"She did?" Joe frightened. "You