San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

out of breath, are you? 1 forgot you
dislike to walk quickly"
Mrs. Dixon, their next door neigh
Dor, was just getting into her ma
chine. Sandy bowed cordially. She
said to Murillo in an undertone
Fetch a smile. You look like a wife
beaten"
He caught her arm, holding it in q
wise as they went up the steps. he
pushed her to the living room.
Who is your correspondent that
you must 90 sneaking to the postoffice
for the letters?"
who il yours, that you must put
a lock on the mail box?"
"This is my house. I've a right to
see what enters it; to safeguard the
interests of my home"
Take all the rights you want with
your house. You've only one right
with me!n
And that?"
She tilted her chin with a bright,
hooking laugh. THE right to support
mel Permanently
He pushed his face near to hers,
scowling: take care! You may flout
me once too often
And what will you do then!
Turn me into the street? That's
what l want!"
She went up the stairs whistling,
her head flung back as though she
were tingling with joy. She stood
before the mirror taking long, gasping
breaths, fascinated by the scarlet
stains on her cheeks, the hard bril-
lance of her eyes.
She felt hard and brilliant-hard
with contempt: brilliant with de-
fiance. She thought: Il owe him
nothing. NOTHING. I owe no one
anything!-
She walked with q quick, firm
step about the room, shaking out a
drape at the window; strengthening
a row Of books; busting off powder
from the dressing table. She owed
no one anything! Life was rich and
sweet. 1t offered her gifts-joyous
gifts. She was taking them. She
had q right to take them!
"Dearest-dearest-when will you
tell me that you care? You will
some time-how / love you."
Phrases from Ramon's letter
drifted to her mind, loitered like q
caress.
She told herself presently, conscious
of an oppressive warmth: I'm free
of all that Free of conscience! Free
Of restraint and the old hankering
scruples Isabel had grated to her
spirit.
She was free 10 live; take bound
lessly of this exultant sweetness.
He was coming Saturday? Yes
let him come-Saturdsys and Sat
urdays!
There now entered into her atti-
tude a pathetic abandon. She had
nothing to lose: no sanctities in her
life that needed guarding. 1t was
shsmeful-made up Of lies and in
dignities. Fling it away-all of it
make it anew in flame and beauty.
Murillo dared her to hout him.
But why shouldn't she? What had
she 10 fear or to forfeit? She was
awaiting some terrible climax that
would end this ugly sham. Why
shouldn't she flout Murillo and
hasten il?
With flying pulse she now stole
through the back garden these Sat
urday nights when Ramon waited in
the shadow down the road. Murillo
was never home. But then-ah-one
never knew. She sped along till the
hand reached out and caught hers
warmly. She laughed when Ramon
kissed her as she had laughed In
her girlhood at Timmy's ardor.
you must care for me, Sandy,
or you wouldn't put yourself out to
meet me-"
l like being loved" she an
swered truthfully.
He frowned: I'm coming south
the first Of the year. III be in Los
Angeles all spring. l took the job
because of you" The warmth Of
his eyes which she could clearly see
in the December moonlight, brought
flush to her heart You won't
always be bound, Sandy"
at seems so. don't know how
IN ever get free"
IF you could-listen-H you could,
would you come to me? Would you
marry me, Sandy"
She shut her eyes, liking the touch