San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-07


"Helena-you're finished now-comC
with me for ride-only a few mo,
ncnts."
She saw the emotion in his face and
that hi eyes held an agony of plead.
ing: OH would so. But she is dy.
ing and afraid. She has no one. And
she doesn't want to pass in the night
alone. | have to stay, David"
She seemed so white and slim, the
smile on her face as she turned it to
him. radiance. All this hurt him
all this made her seem impalpable as a
spirit; infinitely cool and pure against
the hot shallow faces in his mind.
He was unnerved and turned his
head: Tomorrow afternoon then.
You will, Helena. 1t is the last time
I'll ask the favor"
She felt suddenly as though the
world were fading and only he and the
summons in his eyes remained. She
answered: Tomorrow afternoo n
/ then"
1t was Saturday. She was to have
lunch with Janina. When they met,
Janina's black eyes were brilliant with
triumph. She took Chickie's arm and
walked along with a jaunty step.
But she waited till they were at the
lunch table. Just as she unfoldcd her
Iapkin, she leaned over with a spark
ling laugh: congratulations, ole
dearl | got down on my knees last
night and said 'Hallclulah! seventy
times"
Seeing Chickie's blank establishment,
Janina's lip curled: why hide it.
baby? He practically announced to
the world last night that you were
the only woman on the face of the
earth and no one of us was fit to wipe
your feet"
Then Janina told. She repeated the
conversations word for word. She
omitted neither the red trickling of the
wine from Barry's glass and David
hopping it up, nor the alarmed heat in
Has face and the tragic pallor of her
husbands.
I'D go through seven bells, ole
thing, to win what you've got :"
Chickie's eyes were dry and brilliant;
the humping of her heart a thunder.
She dared not trust herself to speak,
so moving and incredible this was.
That he should stand before them all
and speak for her
Janina said: "When?"
She shook her head. Janina was in
sistent. What was the idea? You
let one king go by, you little fool:
Do you mean to ruin the life of an
other?"
L would ruin it if / married him"
Janina's shoulders raised in a fine,
infinite scOrn: You would! So
you're going to be kind and self-sac-
rificing, are you, and fling him to the
likes of Dulcie Hartrick or Marsha
Newlands? That will round out his
days in sweetness, That will give the
man a mate! Do you think man of
his caliber needs you to protect him!
Give him credit for knowing what he
wants-and what is good for him
The fellow who did what he did last
night, Chickie, doesn't need you 20
think for him"
Chickie scarcely listened. Her
thoughts SCARED with a lifting aban-
don: her pulse beat with song: tears
rushed about her throat in strange,
melting tumults-oh-what was this:
All this!
She looked down two roads. Along
one she walked in her quiet, grave
alOneness, removed from the heat and
feryOr Of living; the years fading in q
chill routine of service.
And along the second were two
she and that other who was so strong,
yet with the cleanness and the
sparkle Of the waves or the happy
morning about him. They would blend
their lives: their thoughts. oh, she
would have a share in his work and
be would aid with hers. The glow Of
il; the full and ripening beauty Of
years opening with ever higher deeds (;
ever nobler striving.
Sitting in her room that afternoon
waiting for David's call, Chickie saw
herself 50 and wcpt. Had she the
right to it!
She thought of that thing Martha
Blake said: You, yourself, Chickie,
! and not the world must rule your life.
Mark out your way-walk braVcly in
your own thought, thereon taking no
| heed Of hands that would push you
aside nor Of tongues that would beat
you down. Only have you triumphed
when you rise superior TO this fear Of
| other minds. -
She walked about the room, clasp.
ing her hands together, drawing back
tears from her eyes.
| II was late when David came.
| They rode, and did not talk. Now
and then the winning glance met hers.
Now and then his hand reached over.
They stopped on a bypatb along tb2
North Loop.
He said LET US walk"
He murmured: Beautiful. sweet
lady :" Then the wind blew the HAIR
and the color to her face. He smiled.
They went into the forest. Trees
| murmured about them: the leaves
/ were tufted under their feet.
She saw him so tall with light IN
bis eyes. She did not look again for
fear that she would laugh; or in fear
| that she would cry.
They came % u little opening and
| here the trees formed a circle. The
| light was dim because Of the thousand
leafy branches. There was no sound.
/ Ii was a sanctuary.
David stopped and took her other
hand. He raised these two hands aud
drew them TO him. She felt again 10
this vast and rhythmic silence that the
world was gone. Only they two and
| the love between them had a being.
His voice was deep and tremulous :
Helena, tell me If you love me. Look
at me and speak"
The words flew from her: "Oh.
David! Love you" Then she was
frightened. pushed him a little and