San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-24
THE MAKING OF A HUSBAND
A SERIAL BY Ann Lisle
Chapter ISL.

Copyright. 1925. King rcutu
al hope you can paint Arlette as a
dozen different characters" 1 man
aged, after an ugly moment Of 81
lence.
Nicholas Perry laughed and sat back
in his big Morris chair at one end
of the studio Of The Hedgewood. His
eyes followed Jim and Arlette, who
had Just Gained Jim's anger and was
taking him to the further end of the
big room to show him the unfinished
portrait Of Jeanne.
1T would take time to do the Maid
of Orleans-and the Loreley. Do
you think the little elf is safe with
me?" asked Nicholas. you would
trust her with me even il Jim doesn't
like the, thought Of his sister,
Jeanie-"
IF Pat. Jeanie's husband. isn't
jealous, why need her brother, Jim,
be-" i said, trying TO get a certain
personal, singing, biting note out OF
the conversation.
"Jeanie and amused ourselves well
enough said Nicholas Perry, lightly.
"She was a new type to me. L was
means of revenging herself on Pat, but
little Arlette-"
"A marriage between you would be
very romantic" 1 suggested.
would you approve of Zeke
Schmidt as my brother-in-law?" asked
Perry.
"Id accept him for my own. I'm
not snob." l replied.
You shouldn't be. The Harrisons
had to accept YOU" our host said, in
n tone which removed some of the Of
fensiyencss from his words, but not all.
| arose and started across the room
| to tell Jim | could not remain long
lcr. But Nicholas Perry's hooking
laughter halted me before / had gone
five steps.
Il say beastly things" he confess
cd. 81 wa always bitter at heart.
think my childhood ideals went too
early. But you can't drag jim on
| just this minute. 1t will look odd, y
why odd?" l asked.
"As IL you were trying to break
in on his tete-a-tete with Arlette."
why should l do that?"
"She's very attractive"
Nicholas Perry plucked at my skirt
and drew me toward him, so close
that we could talk without being over
heard. And he asked pettishly:
Wouldn't you think a beautiful
child like that fortune-hunter IL she
married an old hulk like me?"
you're neither old nor n hulk.
"Forty to her IL. Almost a quar-
ter of a century older than she
|. What fascinates me is the
way she will turn from any other man
to me. Wait. You shall see. Arlette.
he called. and then again, "Arlette =
The girl did not turn her head. In
stead she went deeper into the recess:
where she and Jim were standing. an;
the murmur of their low voices hum
med like distant bees across the 40
foto studio.
Nicholas Perry laughed abruptly
"Her grandmother won old Doctol
.Iabez i'll her youth. Her mother, Ito
sina, made a mailman of Tarasov. Ant
now comes the third of the linear
lette. She is slim, unawakenet
Dryad. Yet l long to-paint
her. and Jim is absorbed in her
And Tarasov would kill to protec
her. and l think she is lovely. pure
innocent baby" broke i'll voice from
the doorway.
The English accent told me it wa
BERTHE Lingard speaking, even be-
fore l turned to greet Nicholas Perry
guest.
As BERTHE Lingard came forward u
greet me l was struck by the chang
in him. Only a few months ago h
was n sick man with brain tina
had become childish and uncertain
through grief over the death of hi
love. Lisa. Now. BERTHE Lingard wa
distinguished looking man who's
face was young and almost unlined un
der its streaked black hair that wa
quite silvery at temples and ears
The vicissitudes and needs he had me
on the night of the winters last biz
card had done as much to restore Lin
gard as to destroy Perry.