San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-08

" ceai eno PounuihS cohiuSioh "
her thoughts
an drive you down. Shall II"
! She remained motionless. her puz
zled, helpless look enhancing its sal
appeal. Finally she said: You vii
drive me home? Do so! ] am afrai(
to be alone-just now"
His glance rested on the phone. HI
went tovard it in a tumult of .anx
iety and reluctance. As he was about
to take off the receiver an aversion
for the indelicacy of speaking with
Nora Lee in the presence of Natalie
seized him.
And Nora Lee might raise Sonny
to the phone, as she often did, and
let the little fellow babble imperious
delightful orders
He bit his lips and pushed the
phone from him.
He took up a piece Of paper. He
wrote without rereading the lie, for
it was offensive to him:
"Norry. dear--Can't reach you by
phone. They tell me the line is out
of order. I'm detained in a confer.
ence with Birkell, the New York
engineer. We'll have dinner in town.
Hope to reach home around 10
Dane"
He folded this hastily and rang for
a messenger. But he was now wretch
ed and unnerved. He saw Nora Lees
ripping, scarlet lips part in astonish-
ment as she read the note; he saw the
flashing sapphire eyes. the black curls
falling just above them. He could
have gulped like boy and admitted !:
~ can't-Lord. I can't do this J"
But he was burningly aware of Ma
tales delicate figure, with its lower
cd head and pale. appealing look: he
felt her white, chiseled mouth cling
ing to his; heard her pathetic: All
some things are strong.
He went up to her gently, touched
BY the sudden loss of her vivid en-
ergy brave, lonely soul. seiz-
ing this moments rapture and COW
cred now with bewildered regret.
Something piercing about her sur
render-piercing and tragic. He took
her hands, raised her to her feet.
She turned dark profound eyes to
his. Her lips were not smiling. yet
there seemed a beaming in their
depths. Without word she followed
him from the building.
The sky was now dark and over
cast. They walked down the mar
row alley. where his car was parked.
They were hemmed in by shadows. He
felt her hand touching on his arm, and
he had the odd notion that they were
started on black, mysterious jour
ney with no light to guide them but
the radiance of her face.
SOME QUIET PLACE
But she would go eagerly. Gladly
and blindly. Follow vhever he led.
He felt her light, graceful form
swaying against him as they walked,
and an exnltant fire took spark in
his thoughts.
"Natalie." He stopped to catch
her sudden smile and the music Of
her low-spoken: "Danew
I'm hungry" he whispered boy
ishly. Natalie, are you? Let me
take you to dinner first? Some quiet
place"
She paused: "Oh, then 7 will have
to say things to you-many things.
Yes, let us go. One hour, Dane.
and then forgetfulness. You must
promise this"
She drew her hands sharply TO-
gether. clinching them. She drove
the fingers hard against his arm
and nodded.
But when they were seated in n
small, secluded room she suddenly
became eager and young. She made
a swift, expressive gesture with her
hands, as though to Danish sadness.
you must 20 south, Dane next
week. Before the end Of this month
/ want the building contracts let
TOO late in the year, Natalie.
IL will soon be September"
PLANS FOR FUTURE
mol It must be started at once.
Well have three months Of dry
weather, perhaps. Get double shifts
of workmen. I'm determined, ALSO
lutely."
why, Natalie?'
BECAUSE" She broke a cracker
pensively-"Well | think / may go
away early in the year. II l. go, !
shall never return"
Then you are not to co."
She raised her eyes and they were
filled with a yearning and a glad
ness: ooh, hope am TO go, Dane.
I shall want to go. No-you mustn' I
ask me why-not now. But if 1t
should be that go" She turned
her face swiftly, frail, eager laugh
rushing to her lips. She began to
talk wildly Of her visit south; her