San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-02

wish me to hide the fact. You waat
me to keep it from my family?'
Tears flew to her eyes. She said,
trembling: "What business is it of
theirs?"
What business OF theirs: YOU
not thinking of what you say. See
ing that I'm the only Murillo in this
generation, it is certainly a matter of
family interest"
She had vision of the whole MI
rillo family - the mother, brown.
shrinking little body, with swapping
black eyes and thin parchment lips
the three sisters, all of whom wore
n great deal of jewelry and were very
cffusiye; the aunt, who was patroniz-
ing and nosey. Sandy had picture
Of these Murillos coming up one by
one and officiously congratulating htr
as Beatrice had already done.
She said nerviously: Call off that
dinner, Ben. please''
Saturday morning she heard him
giving orders to the maid. She
asked flamingly: Are you uavIns
your people here tomorrow night"
Yes"
Il asked YOU not to-
He smiled; patted her hand. "Now,
don't get excited. Certain things
must be DONE
She walked out Of the room. tears
burning her eyes. But she held her
head insolently high, knowing all the
while that her bluff was called. The
feelings that she had frightened her
Try as she would she couldn't master
them. She hated him - hated the
whole arrogant tribe of Murillos-rc-
scented violently the fact that now
made her doubly one of them.
1t made no difference how many
times size said TO herself that she
would do her share; that she was GO
ing to be game. No amount Of reason
ing vanquished her emotions. When
he came slowly behind her, as he had
a habit OF doing, and slipped his hanls
under her arms or when he looked ar
her with those languid, possessige
eyes, as though ner beauty were a
thing Of his creation, she wanted TO
scream: Stop looking at me, Stop
paving me! I'll go out Of my mind -
When she saw him in the middle Of
the afternoon. stretched on a couch,
his jaw falling sleepily, a magazine -
fervid stories dropping from his hand.
she couldn't bear to remain in the
same room.
There was no argument about it.
he filled her with aversion. And
this was terrible enough, but the
thing that filled her with unbearable
panic was the hostility she felt to-
ward the child. She dreaded that
it would resemble him. She wept
about this.
Murillo was aware Of her antagon-
ism. 1t made him vicious with re-
sentiment. He sought to compel her
affection, dominate her whether she
was willing or not.
He was intensely proud of the no.
tice she attracted. Sandy was a
prize that be liked possessing-now,
more than ever. He wanted to parade
the completeness of his ownership.
lie decided TO give a housewarming.
Sandy said: wait n few months
more. / don't feel like celebrating"
why not now-give it when we're
six months married"
She answered lightly: "Oh, make
It year."
\ few days later he came home
with engraved invitations. 1t didn't
really occur 10 him that she had
seriously opposed her will to his.
She thought of refusing TO come.
But that would be only another fu-
tile threat.
Murillo made out the list Of guests.
He passed it To Sandy. told her to
add any names he had overlooked.
There were none Of the young
friends Of her girlhood included. She
added ten of these. They were the
girls and boys VINO had sat at her
bridal table-companioDs since child
hood. Jimmy was on the list,
Heinie. Dick Chapman and a. num-
Der OF girls.
One day Sandy was shopping. She
met the Arliss sisters. May said
odd thing. il didn't do us much good
that you married millionaire. Why
don't you liveD the town up a bit:'
You're coming to my housewarm-
ing. q rent you?' Sandy asked.
They had received no invitations.
Heinie had received none, nor had
Sandy walked hOmeward. her
brain on fire. She guessed what had
She said TO Murillo:
Some Of the invitations have been
lost"