San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-16

|
Anna Karenina ~
A flush swept into Margaret
cheeks. why would you do this
Nora Lee? And leave your mother
desolate? Besides, it was a train
Anna ran under; train that rolled
on very high wheels. She was care
full not to have her face marred, don;
you remember"
You can't make fun Of me- Ny
heart is just breaking. But you don't
care. l think you hate me. You wish
you never had a child. Oh, l know
you do"
Margaret sped across the room. She
put her arms about Nora Lee. And
hers was the heart that broke. "Hate
you? Ny darling girl, why / would
die a thousand deaths to save you
pain. You know that. Tell me,
don't you?"
A long shuddering sob: "But the
way you look at me. Oh, / don't
know what to do. I lie awake ell
night. i do. Oh, hate Connie Paul
1 hate school. You had no right to
send me. / never meant for Andrew
| to 20 away like he did. Now he's
never coming again and it's my fault.
1 wish Id die!"
ANDREW has been away. Don't
worry about that, DEAR"
You sent him away. / know what
you did. i didn't want that at all.
/ don't know why / got so excited. j
Just didn't want Connie to stay
For a moment Margaret hesitated.
She knew why Nora Lee grew ex-
cited that day. She knew that An
drew and she were judged. In a
flash she saw the torment in the young
girls soul. She met il.
"Yes, Nora Lee-don't hide it. You
know well why you were disturbed
and 1 also know. You have judged
me-"
~Oh, MOTHER
"And you have harbored bitter
thoughts. l should have saved you
these. So the wrong is mine. Only
you have judged TOO quickly. Many
things. my Nora Lee, cannot be I'M
derstOed by the mind alone. What
is merely a crude fact viewed in the
light Of reason is yearning and beauty
and sacrifice when viewed by the
flame-touched heart"
"Oh, marmee-you don't know how
/ ache about it. Won't you tell An
drew to come again-please-"
Margaret smiled. knowing too well
the irrevocable thing was done. she
said softly: You could never think
I have not loved you, Nora Left
you could see nll Think of what l
have said and in years that come, re-
member twill your
Then Margaret laughed and said
they were making mountains of mole
hills, and of course everything in the
glad world was happy.
But Nora Lee was old enough to
sense her sublime and tragic resig-
nation. When another Saturday
passed and there was no Andrew she
wrote a letter.
Dear Andrew - Why don't you
come TO see US? Mother says you've
been away, but ] haven't noticed any
letters you've written. Oh, Andrew,
my mother is the saddest person in
the world. She pretends to laugh.
But my heart is just broken, and j
could die on account of everything.
You had no right to go away as you
me a lifelong punishment Just be-
cause / have a mean, quick temper.
] think you ought TO come next week.
Oh, Andrew, darling. won't you
please? / don't know what III do if
things 90 on as they are. Your aw-
fully afflicted friend,
MORA LEE"
Saturday afternoon she took a walk,
not stopping till she came to a bald
hill that rolled out blocks and blocks.
Sometimes in the evening she and
Margaret walked there. Nora Lee
thought it was like the dark heath
where the tragic and beautiful Eus-
tacia wye was prisOned.
Now she picked a yellow lpin and
pulled the buds to pieces, saying.
mechanically, "Oh, he's coming
he'll have to come" Yet she was
afraid 10 return TO the house.
ANDREW WELCOMED.
But By 5 o'clock it would be set
tied. She would have to bear. She
went tearing down hill.
At the house was Andrews car.
She could see into the living room
from the walk. must have just
come, for he and Margaret faced
each other. He had her hands in
his. Margaret's head was lowered.
Then he put his arm gently across
her shoulder and there was look
in his eyes that went piercing like
dagger into Nora Lees heart. Or,
Andrew was glorious. He was She
didn't care what he did.
She ran into the house crying. "Oh,
you darling Andrew - and flung her
self into his arms.
When she saw this kind, handsome
face, not one bit Of anger, not one
hurt look, she wanted TO cry. She
held his hand tight. You're so good
to me, Andrew. I don't know why"
lie laughed: ~ little old afflicted
friend like you, Nora Lee
"Oh, 1 wish you'd kiss me, An
drew"
When he put his head down she
wound her arms about him, as she
often did when she was little. You
won't stay away any more. will you.
Andrew? We almost died without
you
Nora Lee was the happiest Of the
three that night. She had emptied
her heart Of pain, as youth can. So
all was as before.
She no longer felt resentment 70
her mother aud Andrew. She iden-
titled them with all the sad, beloved
/ people Of fiction Anna and NrOn.
sky; the dear, appealing Isolde and
| Tristan, but especially with Jane
| Eyre and Rochester.
| Nnra L On rns 10 She Lnh init