San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-09

house again and again? Gave him a
your Saturday afternoons
Il went to Max's house. WIS
about it?"
He stood beside her, trembling, an
pressed her hands hard against Ii
table. Good Christ, Nora Lee! Yo
admit that? And all the promises "
had between us?"
She turned her head swiftly but tn
tears raced to her eyes. "Let go of m
hands. Dane. I'm sorry about thai
but there was no harm in it-oh, Their
wasn'tw
He took sharp step backward
mo harm in that! No harm in Rich
ards diamonds. Only a piece of lucl
that he gives you a furnished apart
menti"
Suddenly his eyes were accosted b,
the great bowl of orchids Nora LIE
had fingered. His hand swept out
dashing bowl and flowers to the floor
Surveying them he folded his arm,
and gave a short. throttled laugh. i
laid terror on her. mo harm! You
want these things! You don't want
what you thought so fine three years
ago. You want beauty and you don't
give a damn how you get It'll"
She stood erect and still. the proud,
resolute chin raised. her lips drawn
sharp against her cringing pain.
He wanted violently to break that
proud calm; strike rawly on her heart.
why did you lead me along, Nora
Lee? Why didn't you tell me what
damn fool i was and be done with it:
Good God. if | had any sense / would
have known. You ran out on me when
l was coming home-dashed off with
this smooth rotter. You like the gay
times he can give you. You take his
gifts. Use his luxury"
"0h stopl"
"And you go alone to Max's house.
You never open your lips about that.
What in Gods name do you think
men are that you can pull stuff like
that and get away with itF'
She walked up to him and stamped
her foot: Don't say i'll Don't dare
went to Max's house and typed and
that's all there was to il. | kissed
him a few dozen times. / thought
I've told you-I've-oh you should
De ashamed to speak So"
KEPT FAITH.
The acute misery Of his half-lowered
eyes; the white twitching line of his
mouth unnerved her. He said with a
gulp: Il am ashamed. But / kept
my faith with you and il was pretty
damn lonesome; pretty damn hard.
could have stepped about and gath
cred a few pleasures, too. But I
thought you were thinking Of me all
the time and counting on-on the
things We promised each other. So
stuck home and tried TO study and
thought you were doing the same and
wondered about you and il the time
seemed long to you and If you were
almost crazy wanting to see me"
He went up to the wall and struck his
list against it an kept his back
urned.
She stopped down to pick up the
,roken flowers: why are you saying
hese things now, Dane? / told you
i Max. There's nothing more to tell. |
lou didn't seem to care. Why is il |
different now?"
He turned about, a blazing sayagery
n his eyes: you sent Max away.
Why? And kept Richard, What
lain has he on you that he didn't
ICED gOt Why does he come here
very day? Why does he spend for
une entertaining You? No wonder
.ou scorn my paltry hundred and
She pressed the orchida against her
ace. her heart muted.
What does be get in return for
hat he giyes?'
She got up. limping and dumped
be flowers in the fireplace. Her
ongue, even her hands turned rigid
18th swift. consuming fury: You've
aid enough. ] think you better co."
And leave you to him: No, By
-od. ] don't go! Not yet. If you
link. Nora Lee, that any man can
lsS you the way that dirty rotter did
nd not mean harm by it.; If you think
e can hold you the way he did"
She flashed her hands 10 her face
You saw that
Il saw it,.
He'd been drinking"
"Iou never kissed him before? He
ever kissed you:"
"Wait-listen. Dane-dOn't 20
lid like this-don't spoil every.
ling"
81 spoil things!"
"Listen-I can tell you about those
liHgs-abOut all-listen-''
ITO what. An affair with Max
ass that up-harmlessi But what
bout Richard; What's his hold that
ou wouldn't dismiss him even after
got here; Even after you pledged
Durself 10 me. Lord God, you must
Ike me for a Keeling fool You carry
D under my own eyes. Let him kiss
gu till Good God, this is the way
ou waited for me, The way you
nged for me-Nora LeeT
IL be had raised his hand and struck
Pr, she would have borne IL. But
hen he came over suddenly humble
nd would have taken her in his
rms. flaming reyulsion seized her:
wild, imperious hardness. She flung
nj a hand striking his away and
rev herself tsut. mol Don't touch
ei Don't give me any lordly par
IN = Are you donel Then Won 20