San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-24
CHAPTER vi.

in the ballroom came to
them like the lazy humming of
insect life in summertime. Swete
turned to survey her tall, digni-
fled form; there was a deep note
of earnestness in his voice as he
said:
''In this gallery there are por-
traits of the most beautiful women
of their day. There is none more
beautiful than you"
Only man in Swete's position
$50 she argued with herself) would
have dared to be so clumsy. Wealth
might do that for one who lacked
the finer instincts of breeding: he
would assume that wealth meant
privilege: perhaps, too, the fawn-
ing of the sycophants had taught
him to believe that any woman had
a market value. Still hers was not
the position in which she could af-
ford to take umbrage.
If she was to succeed in her
mission her aim, it might be es-
sential to come down to his level,
W tIiCOul dSC Ill llHl Tie IlOllOn
that she was like so many other
women of the day hardened
against the immodesty of the men
and ready to affect amusement at
his cOarseness.
81 don't care what you may
think of me for having said that"
said Swete, a moment later. at
had to come out-impulse, | sup
pose. Sometimes impulse is only
truth asserting itself. Am l for
given?"
''Forgiven?" she laughed. ct
accepted it as a compliment"
"That's a lie," said Swete Ito
himself). "Her eyes called me a
cad, but was absolutely sincere"
They strolled through the Ard
ingly gallery; he kept very close
to her side, a perplexed expression
on his face. They sat down for
few minutes in an alcove in the
gallery; he inquired after her faith
er, her brother, her studies, if she
INDUCED any; he talked with some
embarrassment in his mien, such
as she might have associated with
a youngster fresh from his last
term at a preparatory college.
When there came hiatus, more
awkward than any that had gone
before, she found herself holding
her breath in nervous apprehen-
sion. If he were to propose now
she would not be capable of dis
Stimulating: she would be compelled
to heap scorn and contumely on
him.
81 suppose we ought to go back
to the crowd" he said and sighed.
"Perhaps they expect that of
you" she replied, taking a deep
breath in relief.
mot them," he said, frowning.
"They don't worry themselves
about etiquette nowadays; the war
changed all that. ] thought they
might be conjuring up some reason
for our being away; they feed on
gossip like gulls on sprats."
She studied the smooth face that
almost whispered of cosmetics and
powder, the pomaded hair so care
fully dressed, the thin hands so
perfectly manicured. Little, af-
fected snob!
"You have very poor opinion
of your friends, Mr.. Swete," she
ventured.
envy friendsw he echoed. 81
have only two friends whom | can
trust-three, in fact. Brasher, my
valet is one, the other isn't present
tonight; the third and possibly the
staunchest-my money"
elbow you insist on the potency
of money!
Suffering" he said, quietly,
"has made me a cynic, ] fear"
And the mood changed swiftly.
"Do you like the country, Miss
Anscombe?" he asked, suddenly
and eagerly.
adore it," said Stella.
"Hunting, riding, dogs, wet
fields and dripping gorse?" He
was a boy now, asking questions
with boyish enthusiasm.
GAN this (the ballroom beneath)
means nothing by comparison"
81 wonder if-if you would care
to come down"-wistfully, fear
fully, as though he had no right
to hope for so great pleasure
"down to Plumpton," he said, in
reply to her glance of inquiry.
Delightful old place. Bit print
tive, but if you love animals and
that sort of thing"
care you inviting me, Mr..
Swete?"
"Why not?" The blue eyes
were gazing steadily at hers. "You
don't belong to the narrow-minded
mob who make modern life a pur-
gatory with their simulated igno-
rance and prurient conjecturing.
/ should say that you would be the
last in the world to be swayed by
what they might think if, in your
heart, you knew"
"I'm afraid don't quite grasp
all you mean," said Stella. 81 sup
pose you have many guests down
therel Many friends?"
"My dogs" he said. "And
there's the old housekeeper who
looks after the staff. She's a
treasure. OF course if you feel
that-that it's scarcely decorous,
you might bring a friend, say your
brother; / promise you I'd give