San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-20
Copyright. 1875. by !

4 SopyfiBHts Assss ny hih1 o
people who play with fire de-
serve to get burned l said, senten-
| tiously.
Nicholas Perry stared ut me for a
moment. Then he shifted his gaze TO
Jeanne. / followed his glance. They
like two strangers appraising each
other. Then incredulous amusement
came over both faces, and there was
Il sudden shout of laughter as they
took in the full meaning of my words.
You confided in Anne? asked
Jcanie.
You told her you were just-using
me to discipline your husband"
asked Nicholas Perry.
You told her you had been anus
ing yourself by seeing how seriously
I'd take your-platonic flirtation:'
Jcanie countered.
"She's been laughing at US all day,
gaspcd Nicholas Perry.
Don't you think you both needed
lesson" asked.
Il hated myself for discovering that
don't really care for you-,and
discovering it Just when" jeanne be-
KAN, DuI ANltuOluS CRY AhlciiuPOSN
with a grim:
Il was dreading your feeling called
on to sacrifice yourself for me. j
thought you'd imagine you were called
on to do something noble on account
| Of
But this time it was Jeanie who
broke in with an accusing:
You make nothing of sacrificing
/ 80. nj
hands be frozen in the process of look
ing out for me-my reputation versus
your career. My reputation wins
| stop her." demanded Nicholas
Perry with a feeble moan. That's
just what / told you. This is just
what was dreading. There are som,
women who get so set on being nobl,
that they won't let men have the fur
of being noble at all. Don't let Jeanlt
sacrifice herself for me-"
mo, DON'T" / said CURLY. Dom
either one of you pose as noble now
You weren't very noble when thing:
were going well. You flirted ant
amused yourselves and philanderel re
CARELESS of consequences. This is thu
most honest stage of your-friendship
| =
don't care for each other.
"You have both confided that t,
me. Don't go turning back on event'
and trying for heroics now. This il
just little comedy of errors-a com
edy Of nothing, really. Please don
try to make something of it at thi
stage of the game. 1t really can't b.
done"
As said this 1 turned on my hee
and started toward the stairs. | fel
that my brutality was probably a
offensive as it was illuminating. i
| had cleared the air at the cost o
two peoples regard. il still seeme'
not only right but inevitable that
should be the victim of the situation
/ hadn't created but had to Sc
through.
Once on the stairs l fairly race
down. l was conscious of the silenc
above-a vital. electric silence j
which two people were probably find
ing themselves and an honest attitud
toward each other. / felt that Jeani
and Nicholas Perry were entitled {
this moment-that Pat himsel
wouldn't begrudge it to them If h
knew it.
"But he doesn't know" I told my
self. "And in spite of the fact tina
it was his tragic ENHANCEMENT wit
Brooke DE Courcey, and Jeanie.'
finding it out through Lucie Tremain
that projected this near-tragedy, II
not sure Pat would understands
that 1 am willing to be around whel
he finds out how Nicholas Perry froz
his hands, or how much Jeanie though
she owed to her Stub"
And all during the long day tba
followed / was so intent on whethe
or not Pat was going to add hlmsel
to the odd assortment OF folks
The Birches. that / missed a few o
the lights and shades cast by event
taking place right around me. l.
looking back ] recall the tableau tina
greeted me when / first came dow
stairs after the odd triangular cor
ference with Nicholas Perry an
Jeanie.
Arlette Valleau was sitting on
stool at Jim's feet. BERTHE Llnsar
was sprawled on the floor with III
chin in his hands and his eyes O
the Valleau girl. And TGrasov stoo
in the doorway of the kitchen peelin
potato and watching Jim and Bert
as they gave their almost worshipfr
attention TO Arlette.
The girl was sinsing-crooning
little French Canadian boat song. ]
high, clear lyric soprano which ha
the gay freedom Of a birds song an
some of the vibrations of goldc
bell. Jim was leaning forward wit
his lips parted and his eyes alight.
BERTHE Lingard was gazing up
Arlette like a charmed bird. and Tar;
SOW was gaspins like a victim OF adj
, noids. l was - enchanted by II
beauty of the girls voice that 70
stood and gaped, and it was not unit
later that l began to be irritated an