San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-07
Chickie Accepts Doctor
David's Proposal Of
Marriage.
CHAPTER LXxxVIII


David bowed to his aunt
but his eyes and his thoughts
were on the ashen, haggard
face of the man across the
table, the man who had
taken Helena's love and now
listened mutely with his
head lowered and his eyes
miserably glued to his plate
while the pathetic love was
desecrated.
Then Barry Dunno, with reckless
motion, ran his hand through the
thick, red hair and pushed from the
table. His eyes we're dulled and burn
ing. David noted the quick, furtive
escape. a sudden revulsion for this
scene and its stupid hypocrisy seized
him.
The hot faces of the girls, their
low cut gowns, their hands twincd in
the hands of men; their whole sen.
suous makeup struck along his nerves
in passion Of contempt and revolt.
Gladys Ross was now sitting on the
chair with her partner, her cheek
pressed on his; other girls remained in
the room, crowding into groups, smol;-
ing, calling one another aside for a
drink; telling highly colorcd stories
Young married girls exchanged hus-
hands with bright and laughing fam
iliarity.
Frederick Mol, the thin, elongated
girl who started the attack on Helena,
was still leaning on the table. A man
with an arm about her, drank from
her glass. He ran his palm across her
shoulders.
Two other couples began to dance.
In Davids excited state the dipping
and swaying Of their figures seemed
abominable. Phrases formed in his
mind-namcs to call these girls-tcrms
to crystalline their license.
His thoughts grew cynical. Squan.
derers! Playing safe and calling that
doing right. Cheating the spirit, but
Saving the flesh. They spill the wine,
much or little, but always holding to
the flask, with this meaningless SYM
Dol inducing themselves and others to
believe that the treasure remains. He
said to himself Technically virtuous,'
and this was the least vicious of the
words with which his mind now des.
ignated the promiscuous and almost
unconscious familiarity.
He thought again of Miller's re-
mark: 'Do you really consider a girl
who has had such an experience as
good as another?" He wanted to laugh,
loud and mockingly..
Dulcic ran her fingers under his
cuff, pulling him TO the edge of her
chair, "You naughty, wicked David,
aren't you going to talk to me? Why
did you, go and get mother all fused
up comparing that awful Miss Bryce
TO your own mother?"
He gave the girl look OF scorn
that brought the blood leapins to her
checks. He jcrkcd his hand free. The
vision Of Chickie, shadowy and visit
full, moving from him with that path
cite remuneration, "Love is not for
me-; the vision of her, with the deep,
beautiful eyes filled with sadness, re-
fusing love because she was not
worthy. passed like flame before
him. He pulled out his watch and rose
hastily. Its after II. Dulcie. ]
must be at the hospital in a quarter of
en- hour"
He went directly to the floor where
Cbickic was on duty. He heard her
voice softly and he opened n door. 1t
was the room of woman suffering
from n hopeless malady. Chickic was
at the bed, bending down to dress the
wound, an exquisite gcntleness in her
touch. She finished. Then she brought
water and batbcd the woman's face,
and spoke TO her. He heard her say /:
Don't be afraid, dear. No, there isn't
anything to fear. I'm going to stay"
Then she saw him and smiled. The
look brought a gulp to his throat; her
look would have given a beauty, 20 nc