San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-08
CHAPTER XXXVIIl
Avowal.

Natalie's telegram tainted his
senses. Its brevity enveloped her de.
parture in mystery. Following as il
did that revealing scene. her going
took on the color of a drama tic and
piercing remuneration.
He saw her vivid face. pale and
chiseled as a gardenia. the family
coral lips losing their color. the
intent eyes turned appealing TO his.
He saw her stand so and wave her
hand in farewell to him. Excitement
famed his thoughts.
Because of him she had gone? He
waited uneasily, yet feverishly, for her
letter. He grew warm wondering
what she would say.
He was young and had looked but
little on women. The idea that this
one-so superior TO the vast legion
of women-could be swayed and domi-
mated and so played upon by him
this idea stole secretly with a CULVER
ing heat again and again across his
mind. 1t looked about furtively 10
make sur that he was half dreaming.
then it seized fire from his senses and
set il blazing in his thoughts.
Would Natalie return? Would they
see each other again? How would
the affair end?
These flushed speculations we're
carried on a little outside the thresh-
old il his conscious mind. They told
him complacently that he was not
concerned-but just for the sake OF
argument it was natural 70 inquire
what happened when such a woman
as Natalie Herbert became involved
in this kind Of love affair.
Then he found. himself wondering
about other men-men who lived
solely for the fevered pleasures Of life.
He knew plenty of them-rollicking.
bonny fellows. They worked like
slaves, some OF them, in their toilins
hours. In their leasure they rc;oiced
like Titans. By contrast, the quiet
Of his own life seemed hueless and
poverty stricken.
Why should a man shut out the
music and fire Of life Who gained
He'd been doing this now since he
was a boy. What was the profit
His thought went back to exotic
dreams that had excited him in his
youth. He saw himself a magnifi.
cent rover. travelling over the earth.
meeting romance and love under a
thousand sultry yellow moons. Live
Observation-Disclosures before it was
too late.
1t became difficult to concentrate
on his work.
Days passed. No letter came. His
ardOr chilled 10 annoyance. How
absurd for her to act like thisi
NIGHT RECALLED
But when two weeks went, Ma
tales silence became imposing and
pathetic. He recalled her reluctance
TO play that night. he saw fire.
quently the white look Of supplica-
ton and the pain that murmured !:
mo more. Dane! l can't endure il. =.
She had gone because she could
no longer bear to stay. She
wouldn't write-no-let the parting
be vague. yet final
Gradually be felt relieyed-a weight
thrown off. He became merry and
exuberant again.
II was early in August. Saturday
afternoon he hurried home TO take his
family on a weekend down the line.
He would push back the black curls
from Nora Lees forehead and kiss
her teasingly.
Because be was aware Of a subtle
Kind Of treason and wished 10 wipe
out the stain. his devotion became
dCubly tender and spontaneous.
She found him two or three times
stealing into sonny's room when tie
boy was asleep-standing at his crib
and looking at the ros- face-touch-
ing the damp, silky curls.
OF ANDREW.
When they were out in the country
he would hoist the little fellow 10 his
shoulder so that he could touch the
branches Of the trees. Sometimes he
would swing him on a bough.
II made Nora &c think Of her own
with Andrew and Margaret
Selling their love, EMBEDDING her in its
sweetness. How she loved il when An
drew cooked his head on the side and
initiated the glad, fluting songs Of
birds.
Then Dane taught the boy to
whistle and snuggleG bis head down
merrily at the cbild's valiant and fu-
tile efforts: at the small checks get
ting red and blowsy with initiation.
watching the two of them, the
brown head and the black, shaped ex-
actly alike, tears crept 10 her eyes.
All she thought happily, Mine
you blessed fell0W-all mine again -
She asked him about Natalie.