San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-13
CONTINUED from Page 12)

took her for his second wife, and
was himself mercifully taken away
before seeing much of his hard
earned fortune squandered on i'm
pecunious nonentities who styled
themselves Advanced Thinkers.
Some phases of her nature were
not without merit. She was ever
ready to help financially anything
or anybody that showed spark of
what she believed to be genius.
But she could speak with acid ooz-
ing out of her when the subject
was outside her range of sympa-
thy. And there was Greeba, the
violinist, who had come out of Po-
land with an unpronouncable name
and a rooted objection to soap and
water; and Freda, the actress who
had figured prominently in two di-
vorce cases and was on the lookout
for more. Saturn" as they called
him, had written a musical COM
edy which lost fifteen thousand;
and Belilah, a caricaturist with a
passion for Sarling, the decadent,
was a short, dumpy creature who
went as near to blackmail in fol-
lowing her profession as a chilled
navy will go to the fire without
actually burning himself.
Altogether a highly intellectual
little band, among whom Tina had
so often declared, she was able to
look after herself. Lady Pinter
said she was the sweetest thing ever
for darting up from the country.
"Tina. beloved"--from the Flax
woman-"you positively exhale the
delicious aroma of the soil and the
hedgerows.
"Give us the latest news from
the far country" drawled Sarling.
al haven't been out of town since
Jimmy Farrand put my last play
on. Anything bright in your dome,
Tina?"
Charlton urged cigarette upon
her and arranged her cushion.
"We're having a musical night
here" he said; Eve toddle along to
the Mitre tomorrow. Well, how's
the dear old 'hick'?"
"The hick?" -from Lady Pinter
and Belilah.
Charlton smiled mysteriously.
"Ahr he said. "You haven't
heard of him-have you? Tina, l
have refrained from stealing your
thunder. Tell them the sweet,
sweet story"
"Ho, ho~ - from Sarling.
"Gather around, children, Tina
hath come from far country with
new tales to titilate our jaded ears.
THE hick'? And who, pray, is the
'hick'? 1t sounds vulgar-like a
film-play subtitle"
"The nick" said Tina, settling
herself on her cushion, els the name
given by she irreverent Charlton
to a new acquaintance of mine-a
gentleman who has done me the
honor
"Tinar' cried Charlton. "You
don't mean that?"
"Silencer-from the rest of the
company.
"Who has done me the honor"
said Tina, "of giving me very
hard smack for being pert"
you've spoiled it." said Bell
lah, "you were going to say that
he had proposed, only Charlton in
terrupted. Is he rich?"
"Exudes it," said Charlton. give
met him."
"Middle-aged?"
Getting on"
profession"
Cotton" said Charlton.
"Rotten," said Sarling, disap-
pointedly.
Tina, resenting Charlton's inter-
ference, said:
"Mr. John Humphrey is a very,
very fascinating man even if he
doesn't write plays"
"Does he back them" asked
Sarling with avidity. "Tina, I'm
serious"
"That's more than can be said
for your plays" said Tina. mo,
don't think he would back a play
not one of yours, at all events"
Don't be rude, little girl" said
Charlton. 81 don't mind your to-
basco tongue, but these good peo-
pie are more sensitive than l."
Tina accepted it as chaff.
Hes a perfect dear" she said,
referring to Humphrey. "Too ut
terly utter"
"Tell US about him." pleaded
Lady Pinter. as he positively
new: you know what / mean?"
"He's going to be a country
squire" said Tina, with mock grav-
ity; "and he's a Justice of the
Peace. He's travelled, and he's
wealthy, and he's single, and-and
oh, Charlton if you had seen him
tonight! | dined with hinl-alone!
And he was so uncomfortable be-
cause it wasn't quite the right thing
TO do. Such quaint views of life!
You wouldn't credit. And yet I
have a suspicion that just around
the corner there is a secret longing
for something he cannot define"
How positively devilish"-
Belilah. Fancy you keeping all
this to yourself down there in the