San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-03
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body else but why had Ma brennan
let them take her away? ~
My darling child" There was
rustic of silk, wave of the same
perfume which had greeted her wax.
ing senses and two arms ciasped
her in tense embrace, "Alva, do
you know me? Therese told me that
you had come to yourself Mt last.
Alva, speak to your mother"
Sallie's lids lifted slowly and she
beheld large figure in lavender
draperies and handsome face with
steely gray eyes close to her own.
Mother" indeed, There was some
thing in this that she didn't under
stand but il they were playing some
game? Sallie grinned family.
Il got hurt?
"Oh. my dear, there was terrible
wreck But do you recall nothing Of
it?" The visitor seated herself on a
low chair by the bed and took one OF
the girls hands in both of hers. I'VE
were on the train returning from
French Lick Springs, asleep in our
drawing room at the end of the ear
when the crash came! l shall spare
you the horror of it for l. too, was
buried unconscious in the debris, but
oh. Alva. NY thankfulness when
came to myself in the hospital and
found you there beside me, even
when the doctors told me-"
She paused shuddering and Sallit
watching her closely saw that hel
face had whitened beneath its coat
ing of cosmetics while a haggard line
appeared about the narrow, firm lips
There wasn't any acting in this
Salie started to speak and rler
checked herself suddenly; that maid
had seemed to recognize her, also.
wasn't she-?" The girls quicl
brain caught at the name which the
older woman had used and in un
conscious mimicry she initiated the
accent. "Wasn't-Therese- there
toO?"
"Ah. yes dear child. I see you
are beginning to remember She
was in her berth just beyond ouI
door and thrown clear of the wreck.
age, being merely bruised. But you
have not asked about anyone else. :"
There was half-playful chiding
note in her tones which seemed
forced, somehow, and Sallie gave a
little start. She'd better watch her
step now
who else was with us?' she
asked carefully.
why, your cousin, Wheeler. He
was in the car ahead and fearfully
shaken up but he rescued you, Alva
He saved your life!" She gestured
toward the dressing table and. for the
first time Sallie noticed that there
stood upon it the photograph of q
man. 1t was encased in large,
jeweled frame and the features were
not very distinct in the subdued
light. but he appeared to be young
ish, with a long nose and something
unpleasant about his eyes. Her own
came back to the face bending above
her and she saw that she was being
studied in turn with curious in
| tensity.
He - saved my life?" repeated
Sallie and a mental picture rose be-
fore her of what she must have
looked like in that sleazy kimono,
all tangled up in Ma Brennan's wash.
The little smile which quirked the
corners of her mouth faded quickly,
however, at the suddenly command
ing tones Of the older wOman's voice.
"Ycs. You really must thank him
as he deserves as soon as you are
able to see him l don't know what
l should have done without him. II
was he who arranged to have a spe-
cial sent to meet us at the next sta
ton and q motor ambulance to take
us out of that wretched hospital
within an hour after l had regained
consciousness. He would not be-
lieve for a moment what the doctors
told us, and be has been so devoted ~
HAS he?" Sallie's own tone was
noncommittal. what did the doc
tors say!"
"You' suffered a very severe con-
cussion, Alva. and it was feared that
when you did recover consciousness
you might not be quite yourself fol-
time" The words fell slowly from
the older woman's lips. "The spe.
cialist whom Doctor Qualters called
in was of the opinion that your
memory might be impaired and you
would not be able at first to recog'
nize any of us. Dear child, if you
were my own instead Of a stepdaugh'