San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-12

Crane Webster isn't fit to speak
to these days. Crane has wished him
self into trouble and now he's trying
to find the easiest way out. He
thinks he has found it. | wonder If
you'll agree with him.
A year ago Crane met Agnes P0r-
ter. Crane was at loose ends. His
wife had died, he'd failed in business
things looked bilious generally.
Agnes was a sensible, friendly woman,
three years older than himself-the
sort of plain woman men tell their
troubles to. So Crane told his.
1t was a great comfort. There was
Il comfortable chair in Agnes tiny
apartment and plenty of cigarettes.
Also she toasted cheese and crackers
and they had it with cold drinks on
warm evenings. She became a habit
after a while, a restful habit, not
thrilling, but dependable. Crane was
grateful. She was a good old scout
SO one night he INDUCED in n bit of
sentimental reflection on "how fell
low needs n home" In reality Crane
was fed up on homes. But, being full
of her good hospitality, he felt
warming urge toward Agnes and threw
her the remark as q reward. Before
the words were out of his mouth he
found himself engaged For Agnes
promptly agreed with him and accept
ed him on the spot.
So that was THAI. At first he was
bit dazed. Then he grew rather
pleased with the idea. For three
months they were very happy. But
during this fourth month he began to
realize that 1T WOULDN'T DO. She
wasn't his kind of girl at all. She
| was staid and settled and common
place. She would make him wear win
ter flannels and draw up budgets. She
would fill his home with the right
people and the right food and the right
vacuum cleaner and he. himself, would
60 utterly mad.
Also. he was still young. There
might be Another woman. Someone
who would stir his blood as Agnes had
never stirred it. He hadn't wanted TO
be stirred for long time, but now. as
he contemplated lifetime of refrig-
| Grafton, he rcbclled. Why cut himself
off from everything like this?
Most certainly it wouldn't debut
how is he to get out of it? Crane IS
81 and he was brought up in the old
tradition that made it unthinkablC
that a Gentleman should break his en-.
gagement with Lady. He knew OF
half dozen marriages, in his par
ents' social circle, where the groom
had gone unlOving to the altar. That
was what n Real Man was supposed
to do. But the more Crane thought
of doing it, the worse he felt.
So he has decided to make Agnes dc
it. The wedding is set for next month
He won't tell her that he cant pos
Siblv 20 through With it-he1l just lei
her find that out. He'll forget dates
and omit calls-hcll be cool and indit
fcrcnt and see her as little as possible
If the truth doesn't dawn on her with
in n month he'll n~Stpone the wedding
and keep postponing it until she doe,
understand.
Its the only way open to me as q
gentleman. says Crane. 81 can t pos
sibly humiliatc her by an open break
she's such Il fine woman. In this way
she'll be forced to do the breaking
and thus save her own pride"
Is it the only way open for gen
tleman? Or is it really the most con
temptibIc. cowardly form Of escape
Crane doesn't mean to be contemplate
or cowardIy. He is trying his best
to live up to tradition. Injustice
and deceit can never give rise TO honor
and that old tradition was founded OF
injustice and deceit.
That code said that gentleman
mustn't break his engagement with
lady because lady was frail ant