San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-03
The Making Of
a Husband
A nm LiSle'S N e 10
Phase of Jim and
Anne's Marital
Adventure
BIZ Ann Isle
Chapter SIS.
BIZ Ann Isle

Dalton and 10 work" ! admonishct
myself when l glanced at the cloc
across the living-room at The Birche
and realized that / had been sittini
at my desk for almost an hour with
out getting my mind down TO writiDi
the copy for which my office had tele
phoned.
Ii was quite a while before
could take my advice. But finally
managed TO get immersed in ny
work and quite forgot Jeanie. jim
says / have a single track mind.
This is not an unmixcd evil, for though
j also am sometimes absorbed in wOr
rying over things / can't help, i alsC
get deep in my work once / get down
to it. So when the telephone bell be
gan sounding a summons, | hardly
heard it. At last. however, the vague
ringing which hadn't seemed TO arouse
me. penetrated my consciousness, and
1 got up from my desk rubbing my
eyes which j vas straining by working
right into the carly twilight.
Its Nicholas Perry, Mrs. Harri-
son." came the reply to my "Hello. "
Yes, Mr.. Perry" said as stiffly
as one could to the pleasant host Of
yesterdays Christmas dinner.
wont you run over and have tca?"
be inquired
Sorry, but I'm working" / said.
And il wouldn't do for the HsrrisOns
TO trespass too often on your hos
pitality. We dined with you only yes
terday, you know
As if that mattered,- Mr.. Perry
said in the Gliding tone of one whU
tried 10 brush away trifles from the
other persons perspective. Il thought
il would be jolly for you to drop in.
I've French roasting chestnuts here
and a box of marshmallows as big as
the largest wedding cake you ever saw.
/ thought we'd toast 'em and have tea
and then I'd walk alCug over with you
and Mrs. Dalton"
"Oh, is my sister-in law there?' ]
SAID with as much astO iishment as If
this wasn't precisely what l had been
convinced was the case.
My astonishment was actual. how
ever-though due TO the fact that
hadn't expected Mr.. Perry to an
nounce Jeanie's presence in just this
way.
yes, shes here he said as IL il
were nothing TO remark upon. She
was out walking - amusing herself
while you worked. And she came out
the back lot and across my studio
yard before she could get her bear
ings. i begged her TO come in. The
light for painting is gone, you know,
and Mrs. Cruikshank and Arlette are
spending the day with Mrs. C's mar
ried daughter over Connecticut way. |
Esther is i'll, and Zeke came TO get her |
mother, Mrs. c. and / sent Arlettc |
along TO help out. So, you see, ] de- |
served 10 have a good angel come in 10 |
make tea. Now doesn't all this make /
you think you ought to quit work and
join us?S
Il can't" / replied. adding severe
~: Though really l think l
should
-Of course. you should" insisted
Mr.. Perry, again showing either
naiTette or the greatest suayity in the
way he interpreted what / said 10 suit
himself. This is no light for work
ing. It's a tired time. You really
should have tea. Wen expect you
within twenty minutes. So long"
The telephone clicked, as Mr.. Perry
hung MP with what was obviously
/ switched on the light at the desk
and fell 10 work without stopping 10
draw the curtains or pull down the
shades. But when / finished work.
arose 10 shut out the dim moonlight
and turn on the lamps. and as / went
to-twO figures clipping up the hill
eide via the shortcut from the hedge
row. They stopped at Jeanie's car.
and / saw her open the door while
Nicholas Perry laid a flat package on I
the seat. 1t was obviously the Christ
mas gift Of yesterday-the portrait Of {
Jeanne which had been a bone Of {
at the feast. 4
! A moment later Jeanie rang the
doer-bell
"We waited and waited. expecting ,
YOU 20 come 10 tea she said in an
tone that made me
realize SIC wasn't giving her mind to {
her words
Il hope you didn't worry" ] said
With ironical pOliteness. i tried To
telephone you. but couldn't reach cen
trial, so ] went back 10 work and for
cot all about you until just now when
| saw Mr.. Perry bringing you
home"
~Oh. could you seeT' said Jeanne in
a slightly flustered tone. He wanted
to show me the sEOrL cut"
Sand carry home the portrait he
made OF you" / broke in firmly. de-
termined 20 clear myself from the
claim Of spring by relating just
what / had seen.
SO you were watching for me-"
Jesnie said vindictivcly.
II was drawing the curtains and /
happened to see you / amended.
Jeauie walked over 10 the table
where the evening bag she had brought
me was lying beside the lace hnndker.
chiefs Jim had sent her.
Stub is swfully keen for Jim" she
said. 1T really doesn't do 70 judge
docs III One never knoWs-I'll take
TIE handkerehiefs, Anne. I'm bound
10 meet Jim sometime. III write him
q lfktle note and thank him some time
soon. STUB says he's a cOrker-"
Stub" ! broke in.
.'Oh. forgot you wouldn't know. IL
was Mr.. Perry's nickname in college.
They called him Study because be
wasn't-because be was 50 tall. you
know. He was telling me about il
While We waited for you. Cute name.
fn't itg But ] didn't mean 20 use il.
50 informal II me-
/. Jeanie laughed Was she really
smused or was she hiding her cmbar-
Thinking Of this ] watch.
III Der drive away bearing Jims
Christmas gift Win her Then = new
aarsfion arose. How did Nicholas
Irrry recancils Icanis 10 Jimy
To Be Continued