San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-15

ing them fixedly. She regrouped tn
chairs; Strengthened a picture in tn
corner. And suddenly. turning he
face against the wall, as though sh'
would gladly press herself out Of ex
istence, she began to cry.
II Three days had passed. An houl
ago Sonny, immersed almost continu
ously in a tepid bath, had smiled
He had looked at his father with ;
merry twinkle and declared:
Il allight, daddy!" A little latel
he noticed a Noah's ark on the table
and demanded that all the animal,
be marched out in orderly pains.
MAY ESCAPE"
They wept with Joy: ". When en-. tn n,
bilantly: Hes better!" And follow
ing him to the door she asked
eagerly: "The danger is past?"
i A throbbing, studied pause, then
Hes recovering from the shock. IL
a grave burn such as his, there il
always likelihood of intestinal com
plications."
But not fatal?"
! "He may escape
She repeated these words: "May
escape" They made monstrous, crue
sounds in her ears. Only MAY
escaped He was alive now-the las
tie between them. He had glanced
at them with bright momentary
glee so that they fancied him al
theirs again-grabbed back from
death. A day might come and h
would go-the blue, roguish eye
close; the chirruping voice hushed.
LONELINESS LOOMS.
Then what a quiet and desolatior
in the house! Then what bleacknesi
and means in the thought
She saw herself standing by his
empty crib-alone. Yes, she would
be alone. Dane would be gone. He
would feel the power Of other ties.
In her imagination, she heard hin
bidding her farewell, heard his steps
echoing down the garden walk--sav
herself watching dumbly-unhurt
because her heart was dead.
II would die-it would become
frozen muteness in the momen
when she looked at black, sill!
curls falling on q stilled child'i
face-Sonny's face.
She saw it stilled now, and blaz
ing swept from her feet to her throat
No-neyer let this be- She made
sharp, excited rush toward the hal
knocked against Danes arms.
What Leaving him alone!" SD
asked. faint with terror. "He ma
die"
He put his arm about her, smoothet
the hair from her forehead: "Th
nurse is there, Norry--poor darling
Why, you're crying Sonny's better.
She was weak with strain and emo
ton. She was forced to lean agains
him while she struggled with the sob
rising in a hot tumult and wrackin
her.
When he pressed his lips softly oil
her wet eyes when he kept murmur
ing gentle, solacing things, her spiri
covered. How could he do this? Ye
she was glad for the comfort Of hi
arms. She told herself she would b
glad for a strangers kindness.
And she had no intensity of bitter
ness or anger in her feeling. BE wa
helping to save the boy. IL for thi
only, he was dear and beloved. IN
loved the nurse, the doctor, the DO
who rushed 10 the house with med
cine. Her heart went out in breaking
grateful thanks TO all who served tn
little one to all who said help
ful word.
For hours sometimes Dane sat a
the boys side. he made sketches Q
funny men and old ladies and sass
little girls. If Sonny gave that aston
ished chuckle, Nora Lee would b
ready 10 drop on her knees and say 4
Dane: "Oh, heaven bless you!"
The anguish and jealousy wer
showed aside-the battle postponed
Nothing mattered now-except tina
Sonny be kept alive.
One day she was passing the liyini
room when the phone rang. Mechan
ically she answered il. 1t was Nata
lie. Nora Lee was dimly aware tina
Natalie had phoned frequently. Sh
had never chanced to answer thes
calls.
Now she didn't even notice tn
flush and then the breathless quie
that seized her heart.
rs Sonny better, Nora Lee?" Nata
lie asked.
"we don't know. It will be week
before we're sure
"Oh, Nora Lee. my heart is break
ing for you"
Nora Lee trembled. She though
Of Natalie's letter. Suddenly she wa
seeing Natalie's face ghoet-white an,
stricken-seeing Dane as he cam
with that storm of accusation in hi
eyes from the same door whence Nata
lie had entered. She chung TO tn
phone, whispering vaguely: "Why
Natalie? Why does it break? Oh
I don't know what I'm saying" Blu
her thought vert on crafty, thong
her lips became mute: You'll hay
your child-do you ca reif I los
mine?"
Suddenly she interrupted the NJ
heard words Natalie was feyerishl
pouring over the wire: "He won
die, Natalie. He WON'T"
PRAYERS SOUGHT.
II pray that be won't. Nora lie,
can / do anything? Anything"
She answered brayely, and near
ing il, because Of gratitude for III
sob in Natalie's yoice-she ar
swered: "You do enough, Natal,
If you pray that he lives. oh, d
that-do that.7
She went into Dane and sal
quietly: THAT was Natalie. Sh
prays that Sonny will live"
| He was standing with his bacI
half turned. Even so, she saw tn
ashen streak that went across tn
brown cheeks; that smudged tn
sweet yet dominant mouth.
He started 10 speak, but a queei