San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-11
CHAPTER XIX.

long in Lisbon. The atmos.
phere of the Portuguese city is
enervating and from the river
comes the stencil of garbage flung
from the ships. One goes to Lis
bon in the spirit of the holiday
maker at home who goes to the
seaside in order to take delightful
walks into the country. The show
places of Lisbon are exhausted
after one has become dizzy
through gazing at the crazy mosaic
of black and white waves in the
Praca de Dom Pedro. Everybody
points that out as Sight," no
body seems to think of it as an
eyesore. The Rua Augusta is
spoken of as the street of silver,
but then the Portuguese have a
quaint conception of values; their
sense of humor is reflected in their
coinage: a rel is about a thous-
andth part of the price of a cigar
and the shop keeper derives great
fun from the CONSERVATION of a
purchaser who is told that the
cheap filigree brooch selected is
priced at million reis.
Tina was bored to distraction al
the end of the second day. She
went to the bank and cashed the
draft which Humphrey had ar
ranged and, sentiment or no senti-
ment, she sat down and wrote him
a long letter expressing gratitude.
She knew that he wouldn't get it
till his return from America, but
it soothed her conscience wonder
fully. Also, she wrote letter to
Mrs. Bolingbroke. She felt thor
oughly spiteful as she wrote, and
she was more than usually careful
about her spelling.
81 understand that Mr..
Humphrey has left for Amer
lea. Naturally, he telegraphed
me the day of his departure,
but | don't wish to curtail
my tour of this delightful
country unless you feel that
my presence is needed at
Wingrove. You will find the
staff exceedingly well-trained,
but don't countenance any,
thing in the nature of laxity:
| have made it a golden rule
to keep them firmly in their
place. The tradespeople are
not likely to give you any
trouble, as l called on them
before left. ....."
Just a harsh, formal letter
which was wholly unreal.
1t closed with an expression Of
hope that if Mr.. Humphrey should
return earlier than expected, he
would not find his comfort dis
turbed as the result of Tina's alb
sence.
1t was on the evening of the
third or fourth day of their stay
in Lisbon that Charlton brought a
couple of Portuguese artists to
dinner. They had spent some years
in Paris during their student days
so that Tina was able to converse
with them in French. They were
in nowise eminent in their profess
sion, but they had cultivated most
Of the Objectionable habits which
frequently pass for fame in it.
They smoked necessarily, and had
ring Of cigarette ends around
their plate at dinner; their hands
would have gained them chastise-
ment in an elementary school and
there was enough paint on their
clothes to "dress" a ship. They ap-
peared to know every slum in Lis
bon but they gave each one the
reputation for having aspects that
would send the soulful into rap
lures. Tina tolerated the pair of
them because they helped to
chase Mrs. BolingbrOke out of her
thoughts and when they suggested
a moonlight drive as far as Belem
and along the road to Cintra, she
was ready TO accompany them.
Lady Pinter and Sarling had
made other plans, but she said to
Tina: "If you really won't be
bored, dear, ] wish you'd 20 with
Charlton. These two unwashed
creatures get on my nerves and
Charlton will be glad Of the ex-
cuse to get rid of them"
She went, a soft thin purple
cloak over her evening gown, for
the night was warm. They rumbled
through the city and into the 2
suburbs in a crazy conveyance
which threw her against Charlton
as they swirled around a corner
or bumped her from her seat when
they passed over cobbles. The