San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-03

my own answers. I was too filled with
fsncor and resentment to think of
what was going OH around me. ! was
too bitterly conscious OF how ] had
let myself DO made q fool of TO think
OF anything but my own misery.
But somehow ! got an impression
that all the HarrisOns were alike--in-
tent on their own selfish desires, and
that ] was a. foolish woman to let
myself care deeply for Jim or to
worry much over Jeanne, even though
Pat--like her-wns q philandcrer.
And as Jeanie sat, obviously doing
her best to make herself attractive to
Nicholas Perry. and eurtly eager tn
belittle any interest he felt in Ar
lette's mysterious trip to town, I crept
into my own soul and tried to learn,
all in a minute. not to care too muci
for other peoples problems and their
way Of meeting them. But / couldn't
help plying May. could see that she,
like me. Is . ''giver," and that her de.
yotion to Ariette meets with small
return. Her indifference to Zeke as
man plus her faith In him as an oracle
are strangely reminiscent Of my own
attitude toward Ralph Lacy. 30 all
through dinner felt a growing de-
tGchmcnt and indifference to all that
was going on around me, save only as
il concerned May Valleau.
After the dishes were out Of the
way, and 5 o'clock had struck, Jeanie
began to show 4 nervous eagerness to
get home. :
you can't drive back there in the
dark" protested Nicholas Perry in al
ton that made rae think they might
have rshca rsed all this before.
Ny car holds three. Perhaps Anne
and you will drive over with me. But
how can you get back ?" asked jeanne.
by train" said Mr.. Perry care
lessly.
And change three times? No,
thank you" l said.
Once upon a time / would have felt
called on to "chaperon" jeanne. Now
the Mrs. Nx-it part of my nature
seemed dead. Perhaps a little of the
milk of human kindness had dried up
with 1t. / did not know or care, as
l added with grim indifference to the
fact that poor Zeke Schmidt might
be yeaEning for a tete-a-tete with
May:
"Mr. Zeke can walk over with May
and me. Then everyone but Mrs.
Crukshank will be protected-though
from what / don't know"
Il have the dogs" said the excel
lent old woman. Nor is there any
fear.r
"weIl drive you home first" said
Jeanie. IL don't blame you for NOT
wanting to jump from one little local
train to the other, IL only were as
brave as Mrs. Cruikshank is, /
wouldn't dream of letting Mr.. Perry go
way over home with me. But I'm a
frightful. cowardly eat"
And that was how it came about
that in few mintcs l found myself
running up the dark path to the
Hedges alone. Jcanie had dropped me
ut the gate with hasty goodbye, and
an evident sense that she'd better
hurry along home il she didn't want
q bad quarter of an hour with Pat.
Mr.. Perry had said nothing about
seeing me TO the door, and knowing
that May would probably be back in.
side of half an hour ccen if she did
a little loysrly lingering, l didn't
think OF asking for the courtesy that
wasn't offered to me. !
The house sounded cold and empty
as ] let myself in. The darkness had
a dull chill that startled me. i turn
Cd on the lights in the hall and stood
there for moment hesitating to
move.
Suddenly I heard rustIe in the