San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-02
You don't need me to protect you, per
haps, but there's my side Of it."
What may that be, Helena"

| what may that be, Helena?
"Well-people will see me out with
you. They will think it qsite out OF
order. They will talk of me, and that
l left one hospital" She smiled
drawing in her lips. "And then they
will talk of you. i don't think you
should want me to be put in such a
sosihon-oh well-of interfering with
your career"
What people say can't interfere
with my career. I've told you that"
al right-then it interferes with
my happiness to be regarded as one
who hurts others"
His fingers clinched on her wrist
"One who hurts others! When have
you hurt anyone, Helena-how can
you hurt anyone?"
She drew her hand free, becoming
very busy tucking in locks of hair.
Its a beautiful night, isn't it
I'm awfully tired-can't we have the
problems some other time. You know
this is the first peaceful hour I've had
in weeks and weeks. I'd much appre-
ciate it, most kind sir, if you would
allow me TO forget yesterday and the
day beforehand just have this mo-
ment. Morally, David-I've only
a few months more-not even that
long, and you let me finish-then
after that we can see"-
What do you intend to do when
you finish"-
She laughed. "Oh-didn't you
know. I've 81. That's what Jake left
me in his will so that 1 could have
mission in my life. ."
"Yes? Well, i can't believe Jake
would wish such fate on you. He'd
tell you there were better things than
missions. ."
But you don't think so, David, do
you-you have a mission? That's
what l think SO fine in you"
Lets hear about that-will you?
'My mission, you mean"
That's so fine in me-or rather
what you think fine in me"
Two months and nineteen days
from tonight I'll tell you. But it's
true about Jake. Did you know he
gave me $30,000?'
And she told him Of q hundred
last sum Of money and she was to
build a castle near the ocean and it
would be for children people didn't
want and they should have everything
and be raised in glory and with all
manner Of nobility about them.
He listened and grew sober, then q
warm sadness came to dwell in his
eyes. do you think you can do all
this on $30,0O0?"
Isn't that an enormous amount Of
money?
"No-not for such a dream as yours.
guess there'n have to be another
81 subscribed. When are you to be-
gin - -
when I'm %
Rather a tender age 70 be playing
mother TO all the abandoned world.
Is &c a long time from nowT
a year and a few months
Jake was TO help you with this|
"He said he would" ..
"Well-Miss-you'll need expert as
sistance and advice. can recommend
someone for the place-and you'll
have TO begin on a very small scale"
He kept on talking but his mind
grew excited, then impatient. All
this talk Of hers was to put him off
y: Il came from Laredo to tell you
that ! love you" To lean down to her
and say: 'Hush-I love you!"
She was sitting forward a little.
She had taken off her hat. A mist
was in her hair and her face white
rs the now luminous and paling moon.
With a dreamy grace she turned her
head upward: you aren't listening
to me, David. ! thought you meant to
help me in this"
In the gloom he bebeld her eyes and
her parted lips. He moved toward
them, smiling. he put his arms about
Der.
For a moment she was aved by his
COX; By the tremulous nearness, then
she closed here eyes, and with a
gentle, almost imperceptible movement,
averted her face. It gave him a sharp,
piercing hurt. He said 10 himself,
"Sne doesn't care for
me-"
She repeated IN a soft, strained
voice: "But you don't mean 10 help
neT
"Yes-I will help you in this, or in
He was impatient now 70
be alone. He was shaken and afraid
that she might notice. |
For this was incOnceiyable. BE
had had an idea she did care. What
gave him that? What had made him
20 sure?
He ratified the gears and swore
softly TO himself when they baked.
She heard. but it ran like a far
distant sound-deep and even melodi-
Gus TO her thoughts. She, too, was
lager for the quiet
She smiled when be said: "Goodby
then" and she didn't look at his
lace.
In her room there was no light.
Miss Pructt, her dark, precise face on
her folded hands, like a child, was
sleeping. Chickie tip toed across the
room, sat on her bed.
She remained thus motionless, her
hands pressed 10 her lips. She was
Of a laughter opening in
her heart and OF a still agitation
She felt fingers on her wrist, then
arms about her. She said to herself,
No, nO-nO."
She closed her syes-ths laughter
rose.
It was an hour before thought stole
in like a wave over this strange, un-
emotion-an hour before
she began to think.
Then she lay in bed, smiling cynic-
ally, because tears trickled 10 her pill
low. She said TO herself: TOO bad
about you-o5, a great pity about
you!"
CHAPTER LXXXIII
The Snub ~