San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-04

of action in connection with the lit
igation threatened against his oil
holdings.
If he showed weakness during
this time of stress it was in his
stubborn refusal to make Tina
privy to his financial position. Be-
tween man and wife there should
be that bond of sympathy which
enables the one to take the other
into complete confidence. Hum
phrey hoped and believed that he
might save the situation without
acquainting her with the true state
of affairs. Vanity was the source
of that hope. He had taught her
to believe even thus early in their
married life that she had only to
express a wish to have that wish
gratified. 1t was unfair to her to
assume that she would not tolerate
even the prospect of having to cur
tail her extravaganza.
Meanwhile, Stuart Carteret, her
father, sought him in private and
without knowing of Humphreys
own embarrassment, confessed that
certain large loans he had taken
up with his son-in-law could not be
liquidated; the luck of the Car
terets was dead out, but, "the one
glimmer of sunshine, old man,"
said Carteret, sis that you are a
well-to-do man and will be content
to wait for your money"
Then came the night when Tina
told him of her wish to join Lady
Pinter's party for Spain and Lis
bon. She asked: Was there any
reason why she should not go?
Perhaps she was prepared for a
little hesitancy on his part, for she
said, quickly:
81 know they are not your
friends, John-not the sort of peo-
pie that appeal to you; but they
have been awfully good to me-"
He asked her: How long do
you think you will be away, Tina?"
They were in the study at the
time, and only the reading lamp
near his chair had been switched
on. For the first time the dispar-
ity between their ages forced itself
on her. Perhaps the meanness of
the light was responsible for the
grayness of his cheeks and the look
of WEAKNESS in his eyes.
Probably a couple of months"
she replied. as that a terribly
long while? They are collecting
material for a wonderful show that
is to be put on, and one has to be
so careful in art lest the critics
rear on their hind legs and empha-
size an oversight-you know what
| mean?"
at is a long time to be sepa-
rated from you, Tina" he said, and
she could have sworn there was a
stupid break in his voice.
'I'll write to you, of course"
said Tina
"That will be something" he
said, adding. rather wistfully, 81
suppose you're not anxious that |
should make one of the party?"
She started, not guilty, but in
surprise.
But you couldn't leave your
wretched old business affairs all
that time" she said. "True, you
go to town only once a week, but
I've got the notion that it's meat
and drink to you. Some men are
like that"
"You mean"-his lip curled
rather cynically-"that some wives
take that impression because it
pleases their conscience. After all,
Tina, it cannot be very flattering
10 a wife's sense of priue to realize
rat her husband prefers his work
10 her company"
Tina finched, but quickly recov-
erea herself.
You're not starting another of
hose wretched domestic argu-
you?" she asked. ooh.
did think we were beginning 10
GdCH OlneT.
"My dear Thar He laughed
with feigned good humor. 81 un-
1erstand you perfectly. By all
means, go on this trip. If you
wish it, I'll look in at your bank
and see that your account Is COM
Portable You're not a child
you should be able to look sfter
yourself"
She sighed in relief.
How splendid of you," she
said. 81 was Just a little afraid
that you wei" going to play the
old-fashioned, stern, suspicious"
Suspicious" he echoed why
should | be suspicious? ! gather
from you that il is quite the cor
rect thing for a wife to 20 for a
long holiday with her friends. leav-
ing her husband to get on with his
work"
She didn't feel comfortable. but
she couldn't get beneath the sur
face Of him. All she could say.
was: z
eve live in a very broadminded