San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-06

"That's not it," said Tina, Wig
orously. "What annoys me is the
tacit suggestion that every young
girl, nowadays, is horribly immoral
in-in her outlook: they don't
give us credit for being able to
look after ourselves"
Charlton stretched himself laz-
lily.
eve had rather a wild party at
Lady Pinter's place the. other
night" he said, changing the SUBJ
ject with characteristic abruptness.
"No! Tell NE"
"My dear Tina! / don't remem-
Der the half. You promised to
give us look in if you were in
town."
ave been stuck down here a
fortnight. What was do
ing?"
FEverythingw =,
ooh! Do you thin!. you had
better say any more about it?"
"Lady Winter dressed up as a
page boy and"
"No, no, Emsley, / don't want to
hear any more. That's the sort of
thing she would do in order to
prove that she isn't as fat as she
is"
"And Mrs. Hummerbee made a
dreadful exhibition of herself,
running after the Naddly boy.
Why do these middle-aged women
60 absolutely potty over al mex
perienced kid just because he has
written g play or a book or done
something equally silly? l was
really sorry for the poor little
beggar: She chased him like fer
ret chasing a rabbit" Charlton
paused for he could hear Carteret
and Humphrey returning from the
billiard room. "We'd better
change the subject" he said caus-
tically, '1est our non-comformist
friend should be checked"
"Shockedw she echoed. "Why
should he be shocked?"
"He's so very, very good" said
Charlton with q laugh.
She nodded to Humphrey as he
entered with her father.
"Hope papa hasn't bored you to
tears" she said. "After the mu-
scum he generally trots out the
family album, but Charlton and /
will defend you against that"
81 have been most interested"
said Humphrey, gravely.
She WINGED in annoyance. He
was too stolid for anything.
"Oh, come" she said, infusing
a note of banter into her voice,
"don't let me down like that, or
| shall ask for the album to be
brought in right away"
"Don't tease" said Carteret,
cor that album shall be found and
Mr.. Humphrey shall enjoy a
laugh at your expense. .
Miss Christina Carteret when a
child You know the sort Of
thing | mean, Humphrey"
Humphreys reply brought a
burst of laughter from Charlton :
Miss Carteret is little more than
a child now" he said; and he was
serious.
Tina's eyes flashed wickedly.
She swung around to Charlton and
instantly he stopped his laughing.
Then, to Humphrey:
"What is your idea Of a
woman?"
at is generally a woman who
dictates the mans opinion Of her"
he said, and an embarrassing
silence fell on the little company.
He added, like one who seeks to
rectify a faux pas and makes it
only the worse: "a man regards a
woman just as she would have him
regard her. Don't you think so?'
Tina sought refuge in evasion.
She turned to Charlton.
"Wouldn't Lady Hummerbee
simply adore him for his sweet
innocence?"
There was something in the ex-
preston on Humphreys face that
counselled reserve in Charlton
adroitly, he changed the subject,
urging Tina to play to them or to
start the understanding to
make them feel more comfortable
in their minds. Tina did play, but
there was a malicious twinkle in
her eyes. She determined to re-
pay the staid Humphrey for his
rebuking of her.
And it was not till after he was
gone that night that she conceived
an enterprise which might teach
him how absurdly old-fashioned
we're his views of life. Charlton
went off to bed; she was left
alone with her father.
"What do you think of Hum
phrey?" he asked.
"An old boot, if ever there was
one"
81 rather like him." said Carte
ret. "Simple, but as honest as
daylight. That's my impression. "
"Your honest hickory sticks
rather bore me-" said Tina. "You
ought to know them by this time :
Bible in one hand and wick
eddy fat dividend in the other"
al should say he was absolutely
sincere" said Carteret. "He's
very child-like in some respects"
"At fortyr
"Tt's a dangerous age, Tina"
"A sentimental age"
There's something in that" he
conceded. He smiled at recollec-