San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-26

ing Hamon's voice at her shoulder
How queenlike and arrogant wher
she turned to him with a taunting
L like being loved / wish to be
adored ~
How careless and blithely it start
cd. She cringed under the scourge
Of her memory.
Her whole life was blunder-
every day of it. If she had only
been brave for one single hour. Ii
she had only once courageously
measured up. Then she would never
have married Murillo; she would
never have brought a child so I'M
happily to the world: never have
turned with such pathetic despera.
ton to Ramon
stop" she now whispered softly.
You might as well stop this. :" She
pressed her hands over her face,
shutting out the image of Douglas.
Il don't deserve him. she told her
self coldly. Hell be happier q
thousand times with Judith
For brief, wild moment she wish
ed that Ramon were near. Then she
would go to him and give herself up.
She deserved to be punished; de-
served to be sacrificed. 1t would
serve her right
| She took out her vanity case, care
fully wiped away tears. They gath
cred quickly. Don't cry for your
SELF she said smiling, and she had
sudden revealing intuition that she
must go away-she must 90 away
quietly-return to the city, say to
Douglas, 1T cam, be; don't grieve
for me-" and very simply raise her
face upward, smile and kiss him as
though no heart could break.
Yes, she would do this.
She reached the old back gate. The
grapeyines had a wintry. dismsntled
look. The old white cat came purring
against Sandy's shoe. She lifted it,
buried her face in the soft fur. She
said numbly, "Goodby, cat-goodby,
old cat.-
She walked a few steps-halted.
Give Douglas up? She must give
Douglas up. She began TO tremble.
She steadied herself against the
fence, whispering bewilderingly,
Why. 1 can't do this Lord
can't,
Her heart beat dizzily. As though
she were half blind. she went STUN
bling to the kitchen.
1t was late. Angus and Alice were
sitting at the table. Her fathers
face had a set, ironed out look. He
got up stiffly. moved his chair.
When she was seated she found
the large green eyes blazing at hers.
Have you decided to drop your suit?
| had a visit from your husband an
rhodr ago. 1T would be the price of
you if your uncle-my only brother
became a murderer. The price OF
you."
That night Bob Mcneil called. He
put his arm about Sandy's shoulder.
And she recalled with a stabbing pain
that he had done this once before
that night he warned her against mar
rying Murillo.
She said family: You're awfully
good to me, Bob. Why aren't you an
CRY? Why aren't you disgusted:"
Poor, game little kid. 1 wish ]
could help you"
NO. Well, guess you can't"
we can do nothing with the beast.
IL hdo DtutT
1T doesn't matter
"Oh, don't give up, Sandy. Some
thing may happen. You're only
twenty-three-"
Sandy locked the door Of her room.
Alice tapped. Alice whispered /;
open it,"
She answered distractedly: II can't.
oh, Ally. please"
Douglas was at the depot to meet
her. She met his eyes once and turn
ed hers away.
"Gee-bad as that, Sandy?r
She followed him mutely to the car.
Worse than that
They drove along Market street
throngs crowded at the movie
houses; n, chimes honked: hurry
ing pedestrian dashed an inch from
their wheels. But all this seemed
ghostly and unreal to her.
They STOPPED at the Marina. A
wind whipped across the straits
bleak and forbidding-no longer
beauty on the earth
At last Douglas said: Couldn't
~ NNhg ~ t'esihg
"No.' A soft. bitter laugh. ale
has too much. We better face it.
She sank agains. his shoulder, let
ting her cold hard touch on his
face: You'll be bitter off without
me-much better off"
A dark, panied fl1sh stole to the
young forehead-a half guilty flush:
Don't say that, Sandy, We're
young enOugh-we car wait"
NO, I'm not going to wait, I've
done all the harm | mean 10 do"
Suddenly both hands caught his face.
pulled il near TO hers. 81 should
have waited for you Lord. love
you j love you-I want you. This
is the last time-Oh, Douglas, the
last time"
His arms sweeping about her; his
mouth laughing on hers: "The last
time till the next time Talk like
this And talk of goiag-Sandy-
Sandy"
Her eyes closed with ,nguish and
joy feeling the young ligh Of his.
But We must-we mus" she said
uDeasily an hour later when they
stood at the door.
"And we WON'T he whispered.
I'VE WON'T"
She dropped on her knees at her
bed. She prayed. She packed her
suitcase, telling herself that she was
going away. She prayed: God give
me strengthen God, strengthen
me-"