San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-10
Nora Becomes Suspicious
When She Catches Dane
g in Untruth.
CHAPTER XII

She noticed his quick
change of color and laugh
ed: "You blush with pleas
ure, merry one? I thought
you might be wishing to take
me to dinner by way of a
surprise" :.
'Fine-I was waiting for
Harrison. He's late. Come
on! Let's beat it quick and
fool himw
He scrubbed on a card: "Called
away Unexpectedly. Phone later. Dane
Herrick."
He stuck this in a little metal
frame on the door, caught her arm
and went swiftly down the hall. She
noticed his almost feverish unrest and
the sudden lapses when he became
momentarily unconscious Of her pres
ence. He reused from these with ner-
yous self-reproach. -
"Not much of a companion tonight,
am I, Norry? Had a devil of day.
Things went wrong de
launched into hectic conversation.
REASON UNGUESSED.
She never for a moment suspected
the cause of his unease; never guess
ed he was agitatedly seeing Natalie
standing before his closed door. read
ing that hasty scrawl and wondering
what kind of a cad he was to run ou'
of the thing like that.
She never dreamed things had or
could reach such a pass. She wouiu
have felt besmirched, stained even 10
the soul to judge him SO.
Yet two weeks later the merest
chance recalled this dinner--recalled II
with a pain so violent her love, her
faith and hope seemed all about to
die.
Her car was in the shop for com
plete overbauling. She had been III
town shopping. She was tired and
unwilling TO stand all the way home
in the street car. So she decided to
drop down in a sweet, friendly way 20
Danes office and let him drive her
home.
She wasn't 50 feet from the en-
trance to his building when he came
out. He had his head turned from
her and he was holding the arm OF a
slim, graceful girl.
well-she didn't mind that. He was
gallant and merry and would never
skimp on smile or two il the face
counting 1t was pretty.
So she hurried TO overtake him {;
laugh gayly in his happy eyes.
Then she caught glance at :hc
girl. With a shock of uncertainty,
she recognized Natalie. They reached
the car. He helped her in. She saw
that he wasn't laughing. but that n
tense, fevered interest Strengthened his
lips.
Poise and honesty ordered her 20
walk up graciously; greet them;
never for moment imagine they could
have any secret purpose.
But her steps faltered. She knew
that her voice would never utter the
graceful hypocrisy and that she would
have to snap her eyes shut to hide
hurt. childish tears.
She Jagged. And the car sped away.
carrying the two Of them to what
destiny they had.
She bit her lips in anger. What
paltry, priceless coward she was.
She slumped in the streetcar, hold
ing an evening paper cheerfully before
her eyes. At this rate she'd end up
in Napa, the first thing she knew !!
Getting excited because Dane and Ma
talie Herbert came out of the building
together! Why, most likely he was
only going to drive her to her car or
TO some home, where she might be
visiting. This was all nonsense-
shameful in her. Shed not tolerate
such Mysteries!
All this, she snapped to her trou-
bled heart. Then she began to smile
and very breezily stepped from the ear.
How calm and beautiful the trees were