San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-16
CHAPTER X

especially Andrew kneeling at hei
mothers feet, his face pressed SC
against her hands.
In spite of her oppressive agitation
the picture Of the two sent culver
ing furry to her heart. She remem-
bercd the poignant, beautiful look on
her mothers face like a white angel
weeping. All beauty and sadness
She remembered that night two
years ago rs she searched the wind
swept road-a little brOken-hearted
child with her mother dying. Then
Andrew leaping from the car; An
drew standing at Margaret's bed with
that great look in his eyes. -
Nora Lee dabbed at her cheeks. All
the images of Andrew and her mother
had this sweetness-this overpower-
ing goodness about them. Then howl
Then how were things like this?
She got up slowly and turned to-
ward home. grief and tumult in her
thoughts. Yet greater than these was
the urgent wish to look in her moth
er's face-see If there were really
light and beauty in her eyes.
They were in the garden. Andrew
was planting pansies. he looked up
Mt Margaret, said something IN
quick, low tone and laughed. This
made him seem young and gleeful, al
though his hair was mostly gray.
And the sun shone on Margarets
face, brought gold and red to her love
ly hair. Nora Lee thought her moth
er more beautiful than anyone she
had ever seen. Then she laughed
oh. that silver gladness. No
one could laugh like that unless the
heart was pure.
Looking at Margaret, she was
crushed with remorse that even for a
moment she had thought so i'll OF her
that she had wished to steal away.
She went into the house and washed
her eyes, holding the cold water
against them. Margaret saw their
Redeemed lids; noticed the subdueo
pallor.
She followed Nora Lee TO her room,
aching tenderness in her voice. When
she put her arm about the girl it was
more than Nora Lee could bear. Tears
rushed TO her eyes.
Margaret said: What is the mat
ter? What is troubling yOu?-
-Oh, nothing 1 just feel
queer sometimes
why do you feel queer:"
After an hours evading Nora Lee
admitted: "Well-it's just that old
MADAME Broussel. / wish yoH
wouldn't make me study with her
Oh. / hate her, / hate her"
But she did not tell the converse |
ton. The utmost satisfaction Mar
garet got was this: Il hate her! She
says horrible things with her eyes
screwed up. / don't want to talk 10 |
her. I'm not going there any more.
Well, I'm not! Please don't make
meir
Margaret's own heart was bursting.
She smoothed the black curls from
Nora Lees forehead and kissed her
slowly. "AIl right, Nora Lee" she
said wistfully. Don't 90 to her any
more"
Nora Lee threw her arms about
her mothers neck. "0h, love you,
motheri ] do love you So
Margaret's pain was not as quickly
smoothed. All the next week she
hrooded. When Nora Lees eyes met
hers and were sometimes quickly
dropped, Margaret's heart sickened.
What was behind those Swallowed
syes7 What was the girl thinking:
or her? OF Andrew?
Margaret thought: ooh, she is too
much alone. She should have friends.
This is the trouble. l must let her
20 20 school"
But in the night she would wake
sp with a gnawing in her mind. She
would return to the day they left
Butte Valley - the night Andrew
brought them to this home and she
had sank her face against him. Per
haps she should have died.
She said finally TO Nora Lee,
would you like to go to SCHOOL,"
The girls eyes danced. "Yes, i
think would" She saw the pale
disappointment in Margaret's face.
But you would be alone an day.
You don't want me to 90. DO youE"
"Yes, / think you should"
So IL was decided. The night be
fore the term opened Nora Lee
didn't sleep. She kept sitting up in
bed. CHANGING toward a chair where
a blue slip-on sweater was carefully
laid. On the floor were new pumps
and silk stockings. They thrilled her.
But she grew frightened in the
morning, especially when Margaret
YVES dressing TO come with her. She
said: "Oh, l don't think you need to
come with me. Tn sure they don't
do that
Margaret was astonished.
Nora Lee added hastily: "Oh, it's
all right. j didn't mean il that way,
but IL seems-well, childish - don I
you Think"
They had TO walk near a mile TO
the Ninth avenue car. When they
got off Nora Lee was glad enough 70
: have Margaret with her.
She was given a trial in high sec
ond. The week flew on wild, excited
wiDss-fears and thrills and bubbling
euycties--at first great shyness-a
troubled loneliness-coycrt watching
OF other girls.
She cane home every afternoon
bursting with excitement. She stood
before the mirror trying out a lip
stick-plucking her eyebrows.
Then she made a friend-the first
rirl friend she ever had 49, and a
etnior-a girl with al kinds of man.
ncrs-broNn hair bObbed, brushed un-
III Il shone, and worn very straight.
This girl was Connie Paul. She
happened 20 stand nc o mirror In the
dressing room one day, flccking a BIT
81 mascara from her eyclashes. She
tats Nora Lee a long. duiZzical