San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-03
Sandy Threatens to Leave
Ben If Her Friends
Are Snubbed.
CHAPTER IS

SIl<AI EN- 10
DO you mean that you
didn't send those invita-
tions?"
He got control of his
momentary agitation. II
thought a long while, Sandy,
and I believe I'm acting for
the best. There really was
no reason for including those
Names"
"You mean to say there was no
reason for including my friends?'
"There were some on that list i
don't consider your friends, Sandy.
It's my duty to protect you from
them" stt
Jimmy? Oh. you mean Timmy|
A dark flush spread over his sal
low face. He leaned back in his
chair, blew the smoke from his cigar
ette, watched it curl. II think we
cen let. our friend Jimmy fade out Of
the picture. think it will be the
best move for all concerned"
She stood looking at him, white and
still as marble, her hair a flame
against her blanched cheeks and
smoldering eyes. She said, icily: "You
think it best for all parties concerned.
do you? Well, 1 don'tw and walked
out q the room.
Sandy went upstairs. She sat at
little table pushed near her window.
Sea gulls--a whole flock Of them
were bobbing on the water. They look
ed like tiny yachts with white sails
cleaning in the sun. She let her eyes
wander far across the bay TO the dark,
still file of mountain islands.
She thought of that girl lost out
there in San Nicolas. the Indian girl
abandoned with her baby in the wind
swept isle Of skulls-forgotten for
eighteen years. Old people in Santa
Barbara remembered the time she was
q. rescued and not living soul, not a
man or woman on all the earth, could
understand word she said.
Sandy imagined herself walking on
the forlorn, rocky waste. She could
imagine isolation more desolate - a
spiritual aloneness far more terrible
than the Indian girl had known. She
said, grimly, "Hers would be easy
EASY
Suddenly she snapped open her box
of correspondence cards. She wrote
hastily-eager personal notes to the
friends Murillo had snubbed. She said
she couldn't account for the loss Of
their invitations and it would be a
mighty chilly housewarming IL they
didn't come. She expected them.
She was shaking with cold, faint.
ing desperation. She didn't care what
consequences might attend this act
She put the invitations in her bag.
Immediately after dinner she came
out quietly, intending to mail them.
Murillo was in front of the house
talking with a neighbor. He said,
in loud, pleasant tone: I've been
waiting to take you for ride"
Her cold, still manner repudiated
him. But he smiled down at her in
the loverlike way he adopted in the
presence Of strangers. He helped her
into the car.
1t was nearing the middle of No
vember-alresdy dark. The rich pur-
pie shadows fell like garments over
the nude, quiet hills. They took the
road along the water and finding a
point hedged with trees, Murillo
stopped. The CLEAN Of the moonlit
water wavered through the branches.
do you like this, Sandy?'
She smiled family. Does that mat
ter? Is that of the slightest conse-
ouence?"
He put his arm about her, but she
reached up very deliberately and
moved it from her.
He sat upright, eyes flashing. Then
almost Immediately he was looking at
her with amused tolerance.
Feeling a little sulky, darling!
Don't you really think l acted for
the best? I may know there was no
harm in that affair. Others don't.
Why should You and i, in view of