San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-25
The Making Of
a Husband
A n n LaSle' s N eW-
Phase of Jim md
Anne's Marital
Adventure
BY ANN Isle
Chapter Al.
BY ANN Isle

L must be a scab breaking uniOi
rules! No, I'm your landlord Perrl
and I'm also a crazy artist wh'
can't bear to see folks living witt
inharmonious colors."
Indeed" said Jim blankly. "Sorry
| can't shake hands, but I'm SO dirty
from doing a mans job with thcs,
logs, that i can't risk soiling youl
artistic hands"
l expected a snarl from our guest
But evidently Nicholas Perry doesn't
Know or care when he is snubbcd, for
with a pleasant chuckle he held out d
piece of plain crash TO Jim.
Here's my dustcloth. Clean your
hands on it and shakem he or.
dercd.
jim touched the cloth with his fin.
gers and avoided the handshake BIZ
picking IN one of the canvases Mich.
olas Perry had done for us. 1t was
family suggested portrait of Zeke
Schmidt in the blue oyeralls, which
bring out the amazing lightness OF
MS thick shock of hair and the red
ness of his face against the bronzcd
and powerful neck which rises like q
brown pillar from his hulking frame.
Good stuff" said Jim, with I'M
grudging admiration. "You arc ona
Of the real fellows, Perry. What
the dickens makes a man like YOU
putfer around with batiks and silk
drGperies for women folks"
you're my tenants, aren't your"
asked Nicholas Perry simply. "What
right have l to let you break every
canon OF art by living in place
did for n totally different pair? It's
an insult to your wife to leave her
IN this glaring yellow place"
Jim was examining the second can.
vas-a skctchy hit in smoky srays
with touch OF blue and lavender, 1t
was an idealized portrait of old Mrs
Cruikshank looking like a combina-
ton 0f witch and grande dame as
she leaned on her stick and hobhlcG
Reward in overturned bowl of pur.
pie Masters.
"This is great art" cried Jim.
You aren't giving us these gcms?"
why notF' asked Mr.. Perry care
lessly. IF / can't stand having you
live in a place that doesn't suit you,
I've got to fix it, haven't II"
And you've got to bring us gems
of art-pOrtraits and batiks tnn
painted canvas or crash or whatever
you call it. to keep US from living
against an inharmonious backgrounds"
Jim asked thoughtfully.
I'm glad you like the stuff" said
Mr.. Perry. mo trouble for me TO
fix il, but it makes me feel all out of
tune to think I've landed you folks in
place that doesn't match your aura
at ALL"
Jim stared at him for n moment.
Then his eyes began to twinkle and
he seized Mr.. Pcrry's hand ana began
TO wiring it furiOusly. | knew he
thought our visitor q very odd fish,
but it was evident that Nicholas Perry
was welcome to come and swim in our
brook any time he chose, fO- Jim
said with his most winning gentleness:
I'm not in the habit of rcceiv.
ing a collection Of gems Of art as
casually as I'd send some one q book
or a basket Of fruit. But I'm not
going to pretend that this place isn't
getting ready to look much better now
that it fits the aura as ! think you
called it,. of my far-from-ycllow wife. "
Mr.. Perry appeared TO consider this
a most delightful bit Of humor, ana
ms he burbled out in gargantuan
laughter suited to magnificent six
feet four, / glimpsed the simple charm
to which Jcanic and Jim had each
yielded, and which May Valleau cyi.
IDENTIFY regards ms dangerous to her
little sisters peace of mind.
We had n wonderful time hangin.
the pictures and draping the wonder
ful, colorful scarves and squares Mr.
Perry had brought us. And when
tea time came it was Jim who
wouldn't take "no' in answer to his
invitation for our guest to stay and
share our salad and sandwiches
with us.
Say exclaimed Mr.. Perry. sui
denly. Its been such a late winter
that I've plum forgotten Christmas is
coming. Are you two in the same
boat?"
When we acknowledged that we
were, Mr.. Perry insisted on doing
some hand-illuminated cards for us to
send out with greetings to our far
scattered trends. And in the midst
of planning a design for us, he looked
up with sudden dismay.
Say, I've got one bit Of Christmas
shopping ] wish you'd take off my
hands, Lady NeighbOr. I'd like you
TO get a nice winter outfit for the |
little girl who does chores around |
my place and does a bit of posing
besides. The child ought to have o |
fine dress, coat and hat and some
decent shoes. Would you pick 'cm
out for mcI'
you mean Arlcttc vallcau?"N II
asked quietly.
The very same. But, say. how |
do you know her nGmc?" demanded
our guest.
Her sister, May, works for me-"
said terscly.
"Oh, ycs--the big sturdy peasant
Ieke Schmidt is sweet on" Mr.. Perry
said absent mindcdly. But about Ar
lette. Would you take the child 10
town some day and fit her out like
the little lady she is?"
Jim sent me a slow glance fraught
with meaning. Then he said with i'm.
measurable quietness
Are you sure this is wise. Perry?
4 man can be too generous. There's a
lot in the old saying about putting q
beggaT on horseback and he'll ride
himself TO dcath.p
1.-THE child must have beauty pro
tested Mr.. Perry. "If she doesn't
get it the right way-shc's bound TO
find some way of getting it,"
Again Jim tclcgraphed me an odd
glance. found myself wondering
what there was about this Arlettr
Nallcau TO make her name give m"