San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-01
CHAPTER XVIII
EQUIPPED FOR TRIUMPH.

For a week, every time she looked
at her image, Nora Lee thought: III
look gorgeous - beautiful like a
queen," Her pulse raced and she
raised her head with q passionate fer
vor of resolution. She was almost
pathetic in her wish to triumph at Ma
tale Herbert's dinner.
On the appointed day she spent
hours in a beauty shop-her nails
manicured. her hair shampooed and
the rich, glossy waves set with combs.
She even tried new face pack, though
this, the woman said, was quite I'M
necessary. But it brought the vivid
color dazzling to her lips and checks
made her eyes deep pools of fiery blue.
She laughed with the thrill OF her
. own young beauty. Thirty-seven could
scarcely look like thisi
Then she sat near the bed. putting
buttons in Danes shirt. The baby
climbed TO her lap. He kept rubbing
his nose against her throat. and re-
peating: "Pitty-pitty smell"
She Rugged him violently: Darling,
darling, am ] pretty: Am / beauti-
ful?" She held him at arms distance
and laughed.
A CHILD'S VERDICT.
''Is mother pretty? Very pretty
He slanted his head with q wise
grin, not quite understanding.
He became roguish and slid from her
knees. But after q moment he toddled
back witha solemn: "You pitty-yes.
q. She whistled a soft, gay tune. An
hour later she slipped the delicate
shimmery brocade over her head. 1t
shone with lights Of gold and green
and blue. 1t toned and made rhythmic
her gypsy coloring.
A warm, startled light went across
Danes face when she came for his APP
proral. BE said nothing for long
moment. Then he turned her about
with a short: You'll do"
A dark flush crept to his forehead.
s He laughed, and taking her bare arm
pressed his lips on its smooth, cool
uuderside. She was tear-fiIed with
happiness.
SIMPLICITY COSTLY.
Driving down to San Mateo, be said
sppraisinsly: There's not a darn
thing TO that outfit of yours, yet its
wonderful"
"Tbe kind Of regal simplicity, my
dear. that costs a mint OF money.
ebe rejoiced that she had chosen
SO cleverly when she saw Natalie IN
black velvet cut with almost nun-hke
severity. 1t had only a long, sweep
r a 81 void
feather tucked at the carelessly draped
sirdle. TIE gown left Natalie's haunt
ing face sharply cut and white as =
cameo-a vivid face that gripped one
q heart not because of It's beauty. Put
because Of a lettering sadness chiseled
exauisitely in its depths.s
at was good of you TO come. Mrs.
Herrick." Natalie said in a family
weary tone.
Nora Lee answered youngly: at Is
most pleasant 10 be here
She greeted Dane with equal indif-
ference. hut her face became young
looking into his.
She presented Nora Lee. who was
already tremulous with a suppressed.
cbild-like eagerness. There was Mack
lin-the great architect swarthy.
heavy man of gorilla-like build with
scintillatins gray eyes and large.
porous nose. He laughed, rumbling.
profound. infections.
There was Joyen, the artist
lsnky. slack-muscled fellow, with =
penetrating gaze and dreamy. nebH-
lous chin: geologist just back from
survey into the far places Of Asia :
an actor. and two doctors.
Nora Lee was the youngest Of the
vomen. She couldn't help it that her