San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-19
Sandy Tells Her Mother
She Can Live With
Ben No Longer.
CHAPTER 80

SANDY picked up the chipping
frowned to hide the sudden panic
whats it all about, Isabel?"
"Read it. Madeline saw it. Chris.
sic Kciston was there this morning to
talk about 1t. So you see" Mrs. Nc
Neill clasped her hands, rubbing the
thumbs back and forth one over the
other. She said with frightened reso.
luton: II told them it wasn't true.
The clipping was from the Society
News-a rambling item written with
SNUG provincial chattiness.
"Rumor has it that one Of our pop.
ular young matrons, bride of last
year, may soon enter suit for divorce
Gossip that all was not tranquil on
the matrimonial sea has been floating
about the younger set. almost since the
honeymoon days. The bride was for
merly one of the much courted mem
bers of the debutante group, being con-
sidcred particularly. pretty example
Of the titan type. She has recently
been sojourning in the Hawaiian Isl.
ands, where she went to convalcsce
from a serious illness. We are told,
on excellent authority. that she was
besieged with admiration during her
trip, which those in the know state
was taken as the first step in the
separation proceedings.
THE bride belongs to one Of the
pioneer families of Santa Barbara,
being connected on the paternal side
with the Spanish aristocrats Of the
mission days. The groom is one of
the richest young men in the South.
He comes of an old and very conserva-
tive family"
As Sandy read her mother watched
in a panied, breathlcss anxiety. She
now repeated: Its not true. OF
course! You didn't know of this?"
Sandy didn't answer.
ibid you know If it?"
"Of course not"
Leaning forward. the warm hand
pressing on Sandy's: "You haven't
taken any such steps, have you?"
what chance bave l had? I'm
only home five days. What right
have they to print such things!'
Mrs. Mcneil drew long, relieved
breath. They have no right, of
course. Papers do these things. Sandy,
want you to tell me the truth. are
you THINKING-I mean even think.
ing of divorce? You said-well. ]
never know whether to believe what
you say or not, you're so daring. You
intimated something like it while we
we're away: you were joking, weren't
you:"
Alice. drinking her tea, now put
down the cup with a long suffering
fronic smile expressing to all TIM
Mcneil family her utter disdain. Alice
was a violent enemy of family in
reference" She considered her Life
had been viciously warped.
At 10 when she was in the lists as
a beauty, she bad fallen wildly in love
with young Teddy Sesnon, hand
some, ligbt-hearted deckhand on.
boat plying between Santa Barbara
and Santa Rosa Island. She wanted
to marry him. In vain did Isabel i'm
plore: what kind of n marriage
is this for a Mcneil? Did 1 think
I'd ever live to see the day daughter
of mine could so far forget her up
bringing? A sailor-a common sail
or.'
Alice was obdurate. So Angus step
ped in. He called on Teddy. He
threatened him. He had him trans
ferred to Los Angeles.
Alice, recalling this episode will
ever-growing bitterness as the years
went on, could become perfectly flu
rious in her resentment. Indeed
If she only knew as much then as she
knew now."
She looked at Sandy, closed her
eyes and repeated her smile OF dis
dain. This plainly said: READY tc
back down, are you? Awfully brave
when you're not up against the guns,
aren't YOU?
Il want you to answer me, Sandy.
You're not trying to put aside your
marriage?"
"Ive put it aside already, mother
1 told you So"
what do you mean? Have you
started this suiti" - +,
mo. But mean to-"
what are you saying DO you
realize what you're saying? A girl
brought up as you were. to say such
a thing. You married Ben. YOU
knew what you were doing"
"One thing you never know till you
try is marriage !" 80 .
"You can make Jest of it,"
Sandy's heart raped swiftly, al
most in her throat.