San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-02
CHAPTER LxXXI
Widening Vista

told him be must send her 81 and
quick. For she was TO open 8
founding asylum where every child
would be Gods blessed child no mat.
ter who it was ner that it had but
stolen passports
In a whimsical bitterness she
wrote this - that night she felt so
certain love and sweetness were not
for her, so she mast have a mission
IN her life. That was the time David
went to Laredo and she dreaded
so what he would hear; the time
Jake was coming back to say that
che must marry him - thing she
could not do.
1t was quite in jest she wrote and
TO hide her panic at the vision Of
long, empty years -.
But now the honey would be in
.her hands. She was bewildered with
a sense of its responsibility.
Wilde brought her sticks, for be
wanted notice. She threw the sticks
so listlessly he paved and gave
~sharp. inquiring yaps as though to
say: Wake up, will you! Make 1t
worth my while to fetch them"
But he was an understanding fell
low and resigned 10 a pretty lady's
moods. So finally he stretched him
-self forth at her feet reaching up
now and then to lick her hand, or
rub his moist sleek nose along her
arm.
A lot Jake would care what she
did with the money! Why. be would
be the very one TO say: Take your
self to town, my desr, and deck your
self in pearls and lacesi Z" He didn't
like old ruins wrapped With the flow
ers of May. The sweets Of life were
for the young and for the beautiful
and il is suicide to kill the joy that
should be ours. That was Jake's
creed.
He Knocked when she said 90 fer
vently that she was done with ask |
: ing gifts of life; her turn had come
: to serve. Ho-she meant to climb q
martyreis pyre and thought that he
!. would bring the torch to light il?
/. Not muchi He loved life far too
. well 10 see beauty in denial.
: She unused in a vagrant way on
this and how her life had shifted |
!. the very fiber Of her nature altered. !
. Five years ago-three years ago she
: would not long have pondered where |
! and how to spend fortune. Then |
il was enough to see herself all color
in q dress of shimmery green; 10
know herself 50 sweet with perfume
at her ears.
How far away that airy, hippant
shadow seemed. Half with a touch
~of cynicism she regarded il, won
dering why all this change had
come, and if, after all, as Janina said |
we should not care what tools life |
uses nor through what flaming fur
mace she is pleased to send us so
that we come out fine and strong
in the end.
She got up. Wilde stretched with
long, sensuous yawns. At their feet,
the city wearing her thousand ropes
II glowing amber jewels slept on a
purple couch beneath the hills.
Nothing decided. Oh - well-time
yet. Still few months before she
was 25-then a year before this new
wealth would be completely in her
hands. l.
But II was nearing the end Of her
training. Soon Ene would be fin
ished, then she would start out
for herself - then she would be a
person, alone.
She thought a great deal Of this.
IT brought a winged sadness TO her
eyes; depth tsat was appealing
10 the young, pale mouth.
David noticed it. Her loneliness
affected him in a desolate way. L
She was very gentle, very eager in
all her work, but she would not 20
out with him. She kept this up until
he. wondered il she had loved Jake
and, even on that fated night, was
awaiting his coming. Was that the
reason she cancelled all her dates with
him?
He remembered wildly the pain
and sweetness Oh her face when
she kissed Jake; remembered, too,
-thet twice in those nights when he /
Brought her a cup Of coffee, aching
10 see her so white, so troubled, she .
bad taken it without seeming % .
notice him. BE was well aware .
perhaps her heart was lost with .
y axe.
: This explanation piqUed him; made .
him restless and unhappy. For be |
was young and she had turned eyes |
-dewy and tender 70 his. She had 4
said @You're glorious 2" And he liked /
that. Then. once she had been glad |
40 have his arms about her. Trifles, |
-but they thrilled warmly all along !
his nerves.
Then there was the picture Of her
in. the garden, tears on her lasbes |
agben she read that book Of young
and flaming love. Would she cry
50 II she were in love with Jake? |
Would she have let him hold her
hands as she did-and as he now
remembered
{ Not pleased him better to be-
lieYe that he was dismissed because
~ that old thing in her life rather
than because Of tragic love for
jake.
80 he persisted. The more sloot
xhe was, the more impatient be be-
came. And the more IL seemed cruel
AID pathetic that she should hold
II this idea Of punishment; that,
with such a quiet pride she should
close out the Rladness from her life. |
One night as he was leaving the
hospital be saw her walking down
The block. He followed slowly. At
corner she stopped and looked out
at the waters.
He drove close behind her and said
Lonesome, Girl! Like TO take a
fidei~
She turned with a sharp indig-
nnnt glance. lie laughed and with
4 deep bow pulled off bis hat.
-Nou frightened me-"
~Is that tie way you lock when |
.aNaa II