San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-09
Driven Mad by Husbands
Drinking Margaret and Her
Baby Depart.
CONTINUED From Page 1, Section p

be one of those luminous hours of under
standing. They would feel the love about
them as they had sometimes at the first.
He came in silently. And now he was
hanging his hat precisely on its hook, then
his overcoat with equal precision.
Margaret knew this deliberate manner
and was afraid of it. Yet she said lightly:
I'm so glad you've come, Will. Is it very
cold outsider"
Without facing her. he mumbled: paper
Gomez" At the same moment he drew on
from his pocket, pulled chair to the table
and spread the paper before him, pushing
away knives, forks and butter plates. All
the prettiness was mussed. He hadn't even
looked at her.
Margaret went into the kitchen and closed
the door softly. Even her lips were pale.
She sat very still, her eyes closed.
Ten minutes passed. There came bang
ing of fist and heavy: "Say-does
fellow get fed here tonight?"
She brought in kidneys and rice with
rich brown gravy.
He shifted, helping himself until the plate
was almost spilling. But he didn't serve
her.
She touched the flowers where the paper
had crushed them and waited As he con-
tinued to eat, the tears rushed to her eyes.
She got up with quick, ierky move, I'M
willing that he should see her cry.
The swiftness and quiet aroused him. He
reached across the table and caught her
arm. Even now, the virile coloring of hair
and eyes; the free, reckless carriage Of his
head gave him charm. She said family with
fast dwindling reserve: 'Will-dont act
so-not tonight, anyway-oh-how can this
60 on?"
He pulled her to the chair. "Cut the
high strings! Sit down and eat!'
When she remained motionless he showed
an empty plate before her: Il say eat"
Sit up to that plate and eat"
She saw then how terribly drunk he was
She felt frozen and sick When some of the
gravy trickled over his chin, she could have
wept, so unbearablc was the tension.
He ate and ate. He wiped his lips, folded
his napkin and stared at her: "Sourball!
Wouldn't eat, would you? You're damn
sourballi"
A flush spread over her features. She
gave no other sign.
Nothing maddened him like her silence.
But she couldn't help it. He walked up and
down, his arms folded Suddenly he stopped
before her: "Say something, will you?"
She turned her read, but his breath blew
in her face This shook her so that she be-
gan to laugh. She stood up wildly, crying
and a breaking in her heart. I'VE were
married three years ago tonight"
She said that and darted into the kitchen.
He followed. He stood on the threshold
chewing his lips. The blue eyes she had so
loved famed: "The hell we werei say,
the hell we were!"
Then Nora Lee cried. Margaret gave a
swift, short run that was blocked by the
fathers massive arms. The child cried
again more loudly. And Margaret begged:
LET me go, Will -. please-thats the
baby-she needs me-"
Needs you! BY God, needs you'll don't
Ell? / don't" He had hold of her wrists
and now twisted them in fury. Suddenly ne
whispered in hoarse, deliberate tone: I'll
give her what she needs"
Like shot he was across the room. A
door opened and slammed 1t was locked
when Margaret reached it.
Half fainting, her forehead cold with
sweat she turned the knob. She put sick
lips against the keyhole and pleaded: "Will
Will, darling-open the door! I'll help
you. Let me take her-Will, dear-dont
bother"
She heard him moving at the crib: A
deally hush. The baby's cries stopped in an
excited, abrupt curtailment.
Fear twisted like serpent in her heart.
Her hands went pounding in madness at the
door. LET me in! Open twill"
1t was jerked from her grasp. He came
out bluffly, pushing her before him. She's
all right! You get over there and sit down.
Sit down and talkl Understand? By God,
You'll open that face of yours! You'll talk
get me?"
She braced her hands against him, smiling
in the starkest terror. Eyes, Will, I'll talk
10 you. OF course / will. Let me see baby.
Let me Just go a moment"
"Sit down! say she's all right. She's
mine. amt she?"
And she, that was its mother, hesitated.
Into the silence came a faint, throttled
gasp. The sound went into Margaret's soul
like blood in the mouth of tiger.
She leaped and struck Will Meadows in
the face. beat him with maddened fists and