San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-08
Natalie, Goaded Beyond
Endurance, Tells Dane
of Love for Him

, to the day when all the counting
all the fearing had been done by
young Dane Herrick. She wondered
as often woman wonders, what
had been her lure; her great, unfail
ing charm. Perhaps she could learn
the secret, try it all anew.
She sat in the living room with
Max. turning the pages and musine'
He had a frightened. almost eager
look on the smooth, pale features.
He half feared her judgment. And
she trembled to pronounce any word.
Suddenly he put his hand over
the pages: "Do you like the first
chapter?"
Greatly"
The second?-
MO" She smiled; Its not
worthy of the first"
He took it with a laugh and tore
the leaves across. Il thought as
much"
"Oh, you shouldn't do that! Others
might enjoy it more. It's grip
ping"
But rather shoddy, Nora Lee;
Thanks for the candor. ! knew you'd
tell me honestly. Others wouldn't ="
Il suppose honesty is about all
! have, Max. Once l thought I was
to be a brilliant person, too. But
I've almost forgotten those early
dreams. I've not grown much since
l left my teens"
you have-infinitely. Mellowed
and deepened."
She shook her head with attempt
ed sayety. mo. Pve had things
too easy. I'm afraid
He caught the poignance and
regret: he saw the violet shadows
under the lowered lashcs and guessed
at the pain in her heart.
rs that what you meant, Nora
Lee, when you said you died two
years ago."
She laughed: "Yes, Things were
made so easy for me that I shuffled
out of existence and didn't even
know it. But Natalie says all wo-
men die at the age Of %. The sad
thing is they don't bury u.s."
The black, polished eyes flashed:
. Perhaps Natalie died at that age.
The average woman just begins TO
live. In her youth she stands afar
on she is part of the aching contest.
She is the suffering and living fac
tor in the drama"
She murmured softly: do women
suffer more than menu"
A droll flicker touched his lips:
They have more time to devote 10
agony more inclination TO bark
back and analyze their emotions
And thy're more aware of them
selves, Max. More aware Of their
power. No woman could win a mans
love and remain unaware of it as the
man in your story does. j wonder
If you're right there?'
Il believe So
You thank a man can be Worship
ed By a womsn-especially by beau
tiful woman-and never guess it,"
Some men-yes-"
''Oh. that seems strange and in.
credible 10 me. For woman always
knows when she has the heart of
man in her grasp"
A tenseness crept into her voice and
went across the room like taunt
wire In the same moment she caught
uoru- CudututluE silitcE IN MS y -.
Ii was Immediately snuffed. He said
quietly: Always. Nora Lee? Does
she always know
Fine needlepoints Of excitement shot
along her nerves; brought a flashing
color TO her cheeks. She said rcck.
lessly: always, sir. To be sure,
always"
He gathered up the pages in
husbed absent way. will you read
the rest of it, Nora Lee? Perhaps
you'll phone ne if / may come
again?'
The flush and hurry remained in
her pulses. She put the manuscript
in corner Of her chest. near her
Did diary. She felt brightened-a
winged lightness in her feet and in
her thoughts.
She said to Dane after dinner
said it airly: You should practice
that rhapsody, fellow. Natalie FAR
excelied you."
He gave her a sharp, astonishcd
ook-snd colored. But he didn't take
Up the violin.
Now he wondered If Nora Lee had