San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-30
Ramon Leaves Sandy at
His Home With Dog
for Protection.
CHAPTER So


She listened to the crack
ling Of the logs. The flames
sent . wavering glow over
the dark, paneled walls,
touching a picture, a shelf
Of books, an old brass kettle.
Soft flashes of color weaved
through the shadows. Quiet
and dreamlike. The tap of a
tree against the window, the
boom Of the waves on the rocks
heishteninG the sense of isolation.
She lay with her hands over her
closed eyes, trying not to think. She
heard Ramon moving about, lifting
the lid Of Z stove, getting down dishes.
The pungency Of coffee and bacon
drifted through the room.
He set q table at the fireplace.
~I'm hungry. Are you?" He smiled
and pushed big, roomy chair for her
a. though she had merely dropped in
for friendly chat.
Standing, she caught a glimpse Of
herself in q mirror and was shocked
to find that her cheek was not terri
bly, swollen; that it merely looked
heavy and slightly blue. The encoun-
ter Of the night took on an aspect
of unreality-a grotesque and ugly
dream. Her flight and her presence
here with Ramon we're fantastic and
incredible.
She went up and looked at her face.
And she closed her eyes, feeling Mu-
rillo's hand, hearing his: Go upstairs!
60 to your room!" 1t was then she
had pulled open the door, stumbling
md running down the steps. The
wind blowing the light silk of her
frees. She saw herself crouching in
he shadows. Turmoil and chaos fill
I'd her mind. Running away without
hat or coat-leaving without word
ending it with black finality.
Pictures went with oppressive dis
order through her thoughts Herself
iarting through the garden; Murillo,
gray and trembling waiting in the liv-
ing room, going now and then to the
ioor expecting her return. Then Alice
md her mother learning of 1t.
@Ob, Lord" she murmured, sick
with the helter-skelter Of these i'm
ages. She turned from them in a
burning agitation.
She sat at the table, forced herself
to eat. "You didn't expect me here
for breakfast this morning, Ramon?"
She kept her eyes hard on her plate.
SANDY, why take it this way?
You've known it was bound TO come
for some time, haven't you?-
"I'm not sorry about that-but in
this wsy-oh, it's $3.50 brutal. It's
ended and not ended
"Why isn't it ended?"
She remained silent. thinking:
yes, ] knew it-a year ago 1 knew
it would be like this"
A year ago this very month she
had taken the ride with Jimmy. |
And she would have run away that |
night-that very night, only for the
fainting of the coming of the child.
And the whole year had been filled |
with ugliness. The whole year had |
pointed to this stark, ugly climax.
But she had expected to leave
luietly-prepare for self-support
and one day pack her trunk, write
him q dignified farewell and leave.
She wanted no more bitterness; no
more sordid quarreling.
Instinctively she touched her cut
lip, blinking and watching the flame
:reep along the log.
"Do you say it's ended yet not
ended because you don't know what
you're going to do. Sandy?'
She nodded.
you're going TO stay right here
as long as you like. Until you've
made up your mind"
II can't stay here, Ramon
why can't you?"
She put both hands over her cup
and tried to smile; tried to shrug.
He reached over and took them in
mis-. "You can stay here, Sandy.
LCt-.. 4.......l O.. D. q