The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-03-06

4
tioning the INTO him.
The only two changes that took
place in the even tenor of their
lives from the time they were
married until October, 1941, six
teen years, was the lowering of
Joe'S salary during the depres-
sion years to $4,000 a week and
the raising of it back to $4,000 in
1888. Edith was not particularly
curious about either change, for
she had quickly become almost
as taciturn as Joe.
They were very happy, and no
different from any other couple
of their age and circumstance, eX-
cept that they never talked about
their lives prior to their marriage.
They liked the same things, and
enjoyed being together. Once in
a while they wondered if they'd
ever have any children, but it
didn't bother them unduly that
they remained childless. They
were completely contented just
as they were.
1t was in October, 1871, that Joe
disappeared. He didn't come
home to supper. For the first
hour Edith didn't worry. During
the second hour she became I'M
easy, and by the end of the third
hour she was frantic. She put on
her hat and coat and headed for
the nearest police station. Half
way there she stopped short, for
suddenly it occurred to her that
the policeman would ask queS-
tons.
What is your husbands name,
MADAME" Il don't know. exact
ly. We were married under the
name of Strange, but that isn't
his real name"
Where does he work." Il
don't know that either"
: How long have you been mar
ried? Where did you meet him?"
Sixteen years. In Madison
Square Park"
Where did he come from?" 81
don't know"
| don't know. / don't know. I
don't know. Edith realized her
utter helplessness. The answers
she would have to give would be
odd, and useless. They'd think
she was crazy. She'd better go
home. Maybe Joe had returned
in the meantime.
| But Joe hadn't returned. Edith
waited six months for him to
come back. She read every pa
per every day, to see if any un-
identified bodies had been found,
or if there were any amnesia vic
TINS in custody. Nobody answer
ing Joe's description was ever
mentioned.
Meantime she had gone to work,
because she didn't want to touch
her savings account. Every
morning she was careful to leave
note for Joe, just in case he
came back. After six months she
decided she'd go home to her
family in the Middle West. She
had several married sisters and
brothers and knew they'd be glad
of visit from her. She passed
the three years very pleasantly,
though she continued to brood
about Joe.
And then.
| "One day, back last November,
the woman continued her story.
Il had the funniest feeling all of
a sudden. Like Joe was looking
for me. | knew | had left for
Warding address when l gave up
the flat, but who'd remember aft
er three years? ! thought and
thought, and then l said to my
self: He'll look for me in Madi-
son Square Park, maybe so l
decided to come back here. I've
been waiting every day here for
him, all through the winter and
Everything, but he hasn't come
yet"
The Metropolitan clock struck
, one.
Maybe tomorrow" she said,
and got up. 1--we got to go now,
but I'll be back tomorrow"
sat and thought the whole
thing over. 1t was a mystery, no
doubt about that. l wondered
what could have happened to Joe,
and at least forty possibilities
flashed into my mind immediate
ly.
Being the kind of person l am,
| raced back TO the Park the next
day to see if maybe Joe would
come. Joe didn't show up, but
then, Edith wasn't there either.