San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-09
Dane Herrick Is Unnerved
by Natalie Herbert's
Confession.
CHAPTER XII

little boy Graded in her
arms. Their cheeks were
pressed together; Sonny had
one small hand clasped on
his mothers ear.
In the shaded glow Of the
lamp, her skin had a pearly
luster; the wide, scarlet lips
were parted happily. They
looked more like two children dreams
ing than like mother and boy.
For a moment Dane stood at the
foot Of the bed, then he turned hastily
and pulled off his necktie.
The boy began to humble, then Dane
freed him gently from Nora Lees arms
and carried him to his crib In the
small adjoining room. The warm, moist
lips touched against his face ; the small
head nestled on his shoulder. He felt
suddenly cold and trembled.
"DDN'T KISS Me-"
As he returned to the room Nora
Lee flung out frantic arm, felt along
the bed. She sat up, distracted, with
q sharp: Sonny! Sonnyi"
Il put him down. We're you dream.
ing?" t.
She sank back sleepily: "You put
him down? When'd you come? Slate?
Didn't kiss me, did your" She was
half smiling-half tcasing-only a lit
tie awake.
He waited for her eyes to close.
But she repeated in trailing mock
cry: ~Didn't kiss me-"
He stopped and laid his lips on hers.
She patted his cheek with an airy:
"'Sbetter, fellow"
The flush and softness Of her lips,
the youngness of her Swallowed eyes
focused on his thoughts with a dis
turbing holiness. ell switched out the
light and undressed in the dark.
And in the dark the events Of the
evening became unreal and bizarre.
he found himself thinking: II couldn't
help tit wasn't my doing!" Any
man would do the same. He'd have
no choice. A woman Of Natalie's quail
ity demanded consideration and deli
cacy- Nothing to IT." He yawned
with exaggerated WEAKNESS and wished
tc sleep.
MIND AWAKE.
But his thoughts and mind remained
startlingly awake. He saw the oak
tree and himself standing in its shade
Natalie Selling his hands, covering
them with swift, eager lips. Their i'm
press throbbed now ike small, red
wounds.
He saw her run from him-her vivid
face but q flicker of light In the
gloom. He could have held her! He
could have followed! In the assur-
ancs Of the desperate extremes to
which he might have gone, his attitude
now seemed remarkable, incredibly abb |
stemious.
Few men-perhaps not one in ten
would have acted as Loyalty. In his
momentary self-applause he reached
for Nora Lees hand. 1t was soft and
pliable and trusting-not as pretty,
perhaps, as Natalie's, but warm and
far sweeter TO touch.
As he clasped it. he suddenly re-
membered that he had covered Ma
tales hand; that he had twitted her
on its GOODNESS, pressing 1t between
his palms. And when those hands OF
hers reached to his neck he had
clasped her in exultant arms; his
clasp had frightened and he lifted her,
feeling her lips close on his.
ACQUITS HIMSELF.
He turned impatiently, shutting eyes
and pulling the covers over his should
ers. Why should he regret that mo-
mentary lapse? Only boor or an
idiot would have acted differently!
Who did he hurt by it? No-if the
incident were to be rehearsed he could
not have acquitted himself more hon
orably.
Again he saw Natalie moving in
that quiet, heartbroken way to the
table, murmuring sadly: 81 suppose
<r-...u.,oJ 80 Dooo On Dart ~