San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-12
Sandy Becomes Exhausted
in Swim ming and
Worth Saves Her.
CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 70
The night was drenched with stars.
A dreamy lsnguor exhaled from all
the flowers.
Sandy wore a big, dropping hat of
jade color. 1t made the red hair
CLEAN softly, brought a faint glow
over her pale features. She walked
slowly through the hotel gardens,
lettering toward the beach.
She was in an expectant mood.
She wanted things to happen-excit-
ing. thrilling, beautiful things.
As she went along she pictured
another. handsome and gallant, walk
ing az her side, his eyes turning to
hers with alteration.
For two days she had kept very
much to herself. She was stormily
resentful that Rsuon Worth had
learned her history. She would have
been willing to subtly drop a fact
here and there, enhancing her own
story. But to have her whole life
Haunted before MIN the way Jack
Horace would do it made her feel
stripped and shamed.
She had revealed herself AZ q ca
PRECIOUS, andacious being-one who
shrugged her shoulders in debonair
insolence at a frowning world; a
queen who dispenses favors as pleases
her royal within.
Now he knew what q sham she
was. She was Inundated that he
might think her slavish, living with
a man; accepting support from him
when she didn't love him.
But this resentment was now van
ishing. II he thought this Of her he
would have 10 change his opinion.
She stood on the beach, watching
the swimmers, wondering where Worth
might be.
She looked far out to where the
moon shower wavered on the water.
On nights like this she and Jimmy
had stood on the long pier. How
sweet Il had been to close her eyes,
waiting for his kiss. 1t made her
pierGngly lonely to recall those
young, happy hours.
Tonight the memory tainted her.
The air was so warm and still; the
night all spattered with the stars.
Long before she turned, she knew
it was Ramon's step.
He saw, at once, that her pique
was over. He said, laughing: "Are
you going in the waterT
mo, I'm Just out for a stroll"
"In search of me, Sandyy"
81 can't say as I'm angry at hav-
ing found you"
81 saw you from my door. i
wouldn't have kept you waiting. but
went back 10 get this out of my
trunk He showed a little package
wrapped in newspaper. 'sThey match
your hat. l thought of them the
first time you wore it. Aren't they
exquisite? / picked them up in
China and have been casting about
ever since for the proper setting for
them"
1t was a string Of jade, the beads
OF a shimmTring, water green, most
delicately carved. Sandy ran them
through her fingers lovingly.
Put them on-they'n 20 over the
hat"
She laughed, tried them and took
them off again, banding them back.
They are beautiful"
"why don't you keep them, them
''Oh, did you mean them for me?
Very nice in you. my dear! It's not
being done. is it?'
Il should say not. Did you ever
see string like theml Won't you
take them, sendy?7
"Of course mott Why should II
"Why shouldn't you? i give them
because ! consider them lovely and
they would look beautiful on you. i
thought you were a law unto yourself.
Why do you refuse because of a silly
convention"
She shrugged.
He insisted: They're Offered in
the merest friendship"
u sccept the friendship but return
the beads"
He looped them straightforward.
He said. baffled: 81 wanted you to
have them. III sffer them three
times and you'll take them as Caesar
did the crown"
"No, / won't take them because
/ hate 10 be given fayors. i can't
bear TO feel grateful 10 anyone
even a very dear friend"
Gould you bear to 20 for a drive
with me?"
She laughed. ~Certainly-becsuse
you're the one 20 be grateful for
that!"
He was in the highest spirits-de-
lighted that her resentment had cooled.
Be missed her these two days. When
she refused his invitations be became
angry and glum. He meant, Of course,
merely TO have a fascinating filtration
with this tall, lovely girl. She would
go home and be would forget about
her.
They would have a gay week or two
nothing more.
So he talked very happily. He was
full Of flattering attentions. BE
ehuckled mirthfully at Sandy's frank
audscities. He liked 10 hear her
air her views on men and women,
marriage-wives OF yesterdsy-wives
Of tomorrow.
Sandy entered into il with her old