San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-02

The Making Of
a Husband
Ann Lasle' s N e 10
Phase of Jim and
Amme's Marital
Adventure
nv ANN IygVE
Chapter LOG
By ANN Isle

n
Perry said in a tone OF light and
casual camaraderie.
l started involuntarily. Whether
it was his voice or his use of Vir-
ginia's pet name, or his calm ignor-
ing of Jim that so amazed me, don't
know. But 1 felt rs if the studio OF
melodrama.
"She's not going" Jim said, with.
out relaxing his air of serenity. II
the storm blows up again it may last
three days. And if my wife and l arc
going to be showed in we'd like my
sister with us-eh, Amer"
by all means !'' said, taking my
cue from jim. Husbands and wives
never should be left to entertain each
other during billiards. 1t really
wouldn't do for Jeanie to subject us
to the hazards of such situation"
"How silly !" said Nicholas Perry,
good-naturedly. Were wasting the
loveliest, softest light I've ever be-
held. And you folks ought to get out
n bit in this gorgeous snow. Suppose
Mrs. Dalton and I start ahead with
Arlette-if you don't mind. And then
you two lock up and come romping
along for a cup of tea. If there's
more snow we might az well all be
showed in together at the Hedgerow.
And IL there isn't another furry, how
CHASTITY to waste this day in suppos-
ing! Is it go?
why yes" said Jim almost lamely
adding curiously: why not?"
So Jeanie got her way, and the
threatened drama was either disposed
Of or postponed. I don't feel quail
fled to say which! But as soon as
she and Arlette had gone sliding off
on the snowshoes Nicholas Perry
insisted on unearthing from n closet
under the stairs, Jim turned to m e
with n quiZzical:
"He knows our house better than
we do, doesn't he?" =
''He also knows now to get his own
way pretty WE'LL" answered with q
curt laugh.
Better than we do" agreed jim.
"And he understands our sister bet
ter than-anyone ] know. How about
that. Anne?"
"Jeanie's gone through lot OF odd
experiences in the last few years." 1
said.
"Since introduced you and little
modernism into the Harrison family"
Jim laughed.
Were you such old fogies?" ask
ed. ...
Buried under traditions" Jim said
thoughtfully. Showed under. Well
do we strap on some more of those
tennis racqnets, shut up shop and trek
as Perry ordered?"
whistle and III come TO you my
lad" said impertinently.
THAT applies so Jeanie-not to
me-" Jim replied. taking me up quick
~. "Or does it? Do you think she
is anything TO Perry save a patron
Of the arts and particularly charm
ing model"
"She's both those things" / agreed
soberly. whats more, / can't say.
But don't blame Jeanne too much
who's blaming her at all?" Jim
cut in almost roughly. shes my
sister. ! guess l understand how.
stubborn and high-strung and restless
she is and how upset she IS over
this business Of discovering THAT it
was Pat who-admired Brooke De
Courcey. Come on. Let's get ready
i took my cue ut once, and my
orders without a demur. / realized
that Jim probably wasn't at all sure
what to think of Jennie, and that he
wanted to reserve judgment until he
felt better posted and so better able
TO cope with the situation--if there
was one. We made the house fast
against storm in case 1t happened
that we were kept over at Perry's
and We even packed a provident little
bag OF belongings and swung it into
a pack which Jim merrily strapped
on his back. Then we put on galosnes
in which l preferred TO travel. swung
our snow shoes over our shoulders
and set out with great laughter and
enjoyment.
IT was not particularly hard going
MS far MS the gate and for few rods
beyond our entrance there was mark
OF n sleigh's runners, but they turned
suddenly and revealed the unbroken
snow ahead.
"It's snow shoes for ours" said
Jim. "The crust is thick enough to
hold us IL we spread our weight via
the shoes.
1--WE never had any on before and
they look so clumsy" 1 walled but
Jim laughed rs he insisted:
You'll make il all right. Don't
lift your feet. Just sort Of shuttle
along and plant yourself flat and
you'll find yourself getting a good
show -shoe-roll before long"
But ] didn't. / tripped myself up
and flolndercd into snow drift be-
Gore I'd gone ten feet. And when ]
tried TO get up, j only got in deeper.
Jim was ahead and didn't miss ne
Sor a minute. Then be came back
with n quick gliding movement and
/ could hear rather than see and he
righted me with self-reproachful
Poor little thing! You look like
nm Esquimaux flapper, but j bet you
feel like a drowned rat. Come I'll
rush you off, and when we start on
again, I'll stay back Of you"
The thought of going on terrified
me. Jim's casual tone hurt me. Aud
nv cold face began, to smart md ache.
Little streams of melting snow began
flowing down inside my coat collar
I felt my lips pickering and the next
thing | knew / was in Jim's arms,
sobbing against his heart and warm
ing 10 his eager:
"Bless your heart, darling. why
don't you do this oftener? It's won
derfuI to have you crying in my
nrms!'
There was sudden crash. !
felt .Jim's muscles relax and then
tighten. He pushed me away, AMI
nav heart went cold with fear and de-