San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-26

The Making Of
a Husband
A nm Lisle's Ne 10
Phase of Jim md
Anne's Marital
Adventure
nv ANN Isle
Chapter 48.
BY ANN Isle

Arlctte Nalleau TO the city and buy
her handsome winter wardrobe,
but Jim met the situation for me
with a hearty:
I'm sure Anne will be glad tc
help your little maid-of-all-work We
are very fond of May Nallcau and
We know how tenderly she loves her
sister and how she ycarns to have
the child possess the lovely things
youth Graves. 1t is fine Of you to
take such a fatherly interest in lit
tie Arlettc." ....rr
As Jim said "fathcrly interest"
there was a rising infection in his
voice which expressed n question and
challenged Nicholas Perry, who re.
sponded with a quick:
That's fine, Harrison. I'm sure
your wife will like little Arlettc. She
is strange, shy, reserved child with
a passion for beauty. I'd like to see
her warm and comfortable and bit
less shabby than their narrow re-
sources permit her to be. The child
ought to make something of herself,
but she's likely to be a drudge unless
something wakes her out OF the fairy
like lethargy in which she goes about.
1t will be wonderful for her if Mrs.
Harrison will take her in hand.
There's no one else who can do it.
And I'd like to get May complete
winter outfit, though she may come
and chuck it in my facet"
SO 1T was settled that Arlette was
to be given the next day off, and
that l was to take her to town, out
lit her decently and make an effort
TO penetrate the reserve which Mr.
Perry felt might conceal something
fine and beautiful, of which he knew
nothing, but suspected much.
After our visitor was gone, Jim
came and took me in his arms with
the sudden tenderness which always
thrills me so, and he said in a low,
husky voice:
- I'm proud Of you, darling. I can't
tel you how il makes me feel when
see how everyone who comes with
in your circle turns to you for help
and inspiration"
II must be n wonderful person
or you wouldn't love me- L said
happily.
Il love you so much that it chokes
me sometimes. And when think that
I've ever been fool enough to do things
that made you unhappy, l could kick
myself" Jim said fOrcibly. "The
man who didn't appreciate you would
be a fool"
And Id hate to have you call your
self Names" | broke in, feeling al
most shy at the torrent of feeling
that was impelling Jim's jerky speech
and making him hold me so tight 1
could hardly breathe.
An evening such as VIC had in the
wonderful big room Mr.. Perry had
made so charming. is an unforgettablc
thing. If ever the day comes when
sorrow and doubt knock at the door
again l feel that the recollection of
such a perfect evening must make me
strong enough TO defeat trouble and
overlook disappointment.
So when May Vallcau arrived the
next morning looking more glum and
miserable than I'd ever seen her. it
was natural to try to help her meet
her difficulty, whatever it was. But
she was grim and taciturn and would
hardly answer my questions. She
fingered over her work, doing every
thing so badly she had to do it twice.
Between her awkwardnCss and the
passing of the hours without Arlette's
appearance, i grew very nervous. jim
had promised 10 take my little pro-
tege and me TO lunch il We got to his
office by 100, but when Arlette had
not put in an appearance at eleven, |
began to think / couldn't keep the
appointment with Jim, and I was so
filled with love and devotion for him
that i hated TO think Of waiting I'M
I'll dinner time to see him again.
L chided myself, telling myself that
| was acting like a girl on her honey
moon. But at IL 80 | couldn't re-
sist going and calling up Mr.. Perry.
Say! Arlcttc should have been
there an hour ago." he told me. II
sent her along at 10 with an envelope |
containing a bunch of twcnty-dollar |
bills in her fist to buy her outfit and |
Mays, i am such a dub. | should |
have given you the money or n check |
last night. Do you think I'd better |
start out and lookfor the child?"
Wait a minute" said, as u sud |
den movement outside the window |
where / was tclcphoning made Inc
peer down into the shrubbcry, Il
think she's here, waiting outside for |
me to come and call her. I'm sure
Of il. If l don't telephone you again
in half an hour, you'll know the dryad |
was waiting for me to come and get |
her out Of her tree
Mr. Perry laughed in relief, show
ing how willing he was TO shift the |
responsibility TO Inc. We said good |
bye and j hung up the telephone re.
ceiver, opened the window and leaned
out calling gently:
"Arlette! Arlctte,-
At once little green clad figure
discntanglcd itself from the bushes
and crcpt shyly and almost without
motion to the window. And then in
a voice of clfin sweetness, like fairy
bells ringing soft and clear, she said
Hush, please / wait for May
TO go. She shall be cross again il she |
see me. This morning she was SO
cross. She do not like my Mr.. Per
ry. She do not like for me to 60 to
the big city. So do not like shall
hurt her. wait until she have gone"
Arlette melted back into the shrub.
berry. But ] marched out to the kitch-
On determined 10 face May Vallenu
and tell her a few facts.
For i felt that the greatest menace
10 Arlette is Mays constant fear that
harm must come TO the girl IL she. is
not kept behind bars. / felt that the
child might have wings and that May
might be goading her TO spread them
Tor distant flight.