San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-06

he had been tramping the newly
purchased estate TO satisfy himself
about those boundaries. He hadn't
changed for dinner, which was to
be simple, one-man party, but a
brown velvet smoking jacket lay
across the back of a chair ready
to be slipped on when the gong
should be sounded. 1t was to be a
quiet, restful evening, he told him.
self. After dinner he would re-
turn to the study to smoke and
read. The housekeeper brought
the news that knocked this plan to
atoms. Someone had called. &.
"Name?"
81 didn't ask her, sir. l was so
scared"
"Scared? A LADY,"
"Well, she doesn't look like one,
SIR" The old housekeeper glanced
fearfully in the direction of the
door. "Shall / ask her to come in,
. sir?"
He nodded, but before she could
cross the floor the study door was
pushed open in a brazen manner
and Tina appeared on the threshold.
Don't say you didn't expect me,
Mr.; Humphrey. told you should
callw
If he was amazed by the spec
tacle he had wonderful control
over his facial muscles. He dis
missed the housekeeper and, as the
door closed, turned again to sur
vey Tina. From the hall of her
fathers house she had brought
regular arsenal to protect herself
against the wickedness of forty
year-old bachelors who had yet to
realize that the modern young wo-
man was quite capable of looking
after herself. An old horse pistol
and modern service revolver that
belonged to her eldest brother
showed in the Mexican belt around
her waist; her staff" was a
Kaffir assegai.
"Well?"
Are you on your way to fancy
dress ball?" he inquired, politely.
"Not at ALL" said Tina. II
thought I'd like to see those curios
of yours, and, as papa is in town
and there was nobody else at home
to chaperone me, thought"
"Tell me-" he said, gravely, "do
you find it necessary always to
carry those things about with you
in this district? You rather star
tied me when you came in"
without being invited?"
81 invited you to call just when
you chose"
""And l gathered from your re-
marks that it might be a risky
thing to do"
what did l say that should give
you offence?" he asked, almost
alphabetically.
"Offense?" She laughed joy
ously, for the complete subjugation
of the man appeared to be immi-
nent. "La, la, Mr.. Humphrey,
there was no offense. You thrilled
me-"
Thrilled you?"
"Umps! / just dote on the
strong silent man with the iron
jaw and the CLASSY eye. And
when you said that-that woman
dictated a mans opinion of her, l
said to myself: "I'd love to know
what sort of an opinion I've die
tated TOTO Mr.. John Humphrey"
"Did l really say that ?"
"You did say that" she said.
"Then ! meant it," he replied
solemnly, "for it is not my custom
to say that which l don't mean.
| might have amplified the remark
by saying that some women invite
judgment of themselves by the
jests they indulge"
Her eyes flashed resentfully in
turn.
"Say it, then" she retorted.
Pass your judgment on-on mew
81 think you're a damned pretty
girl" said John Humphrey, who
feigned insolence.
She opened her mouth and kept
/: open for second. Then, "0hp
she said.
Suddenly, he grasped her by the
oliOuluSIS anu uItW leI nearer.
pretty" he repeated. "And
I'd love to kiss you! And | will"
And he did. He drew her so
tightly to him that he almost
crushed the breath out of her. He
kissed her full on the lips, holly,
passionately, before he allowed her
to struggle free. "There," he said,
that's my share in the jest, if you
still feel disposed o call it a jest"
She had staggered back from
him and there was something akin
to terror in her eyes.
Beast" she said.
His expression changed. His
voice was gentle, almost paternal,
as he said:
Much as / may hate myself for
what have done-much as | may
have merited your contempt, |
have done at least something to
convince a young and very beauti-
full girl that there is a serious sic
TO life no matter how we may blind
ourselves to the codes of a past
81 think / hate you"
you're not certain he replied.
I'll be more emphatic. There's
about you that / like
hat / love-"
Like the average woman of her