San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-14

admire Nicholas Perry for juggling
w0rds, | hope"
What do you want me to do?"
81 don't know" / confessed "But
/ don't like TO find myself in situa-
tons where Lucie can give me digs
such as that one. l hate having q
woman OF her type insinuate that I'm
sneaking off TO tea with another man
and that I'm under the unfortunate
necessity of going home to you. It
belittles us both"
Not unless you let it," Jim said
drily.
stared at him in amazement. try
ing to estimate his mental process.
Don't google your eyes" Jim cried
without losing his twinkle. "Surely
you realize that having Lucie insinuate
that you're flirting with Perry doesn't
make it So
Don't you hate having her insinu-
ate things:" / urged.
Shes not important enough to con.
slider"
Shes an individual. She talks.
She starts rumors. She does her bit
to form public opinion | said cate
gorically.
Jim shook his head and a specula-
| tive look came into his eyes. as he
explained himself with more pains to
make his ideas clear than he gener
ally shows.
'Lucie herself is a lightweight. The
folks she can influence are nit-wits.
| Some guy once said. BE sure YOU re
| ri oh nd oh 4 e..
that TO BE sure you're not wrong and
then go ahead Perry's our only i'm
portant neighbor He's our only
friendly neighbor. He's useful to me-
He's harmless TO you. | can ou5-
guess him and so can you. And the
poor devil got messed up fluttering
around Jeanne, who's as ungrateful as
ungrateful as they come. It's only
decent our standing by him and the
cars pleasant to have. We've more
to lose by worrying over Lucie's a.
titude than ignoring it. And her
sort quits fuSsi1g when you show her
you're above her. So why worry?"
Il don't" | protested, feeling sud
denly very small.
'That's one of your faults, Anne"
jim said gravely. You care too dara
much what folks are saying. And
you're too much inclined to take fell
lows like Perry and Tom Mason SER
iusly"-
You see it, too" 1 gasped. "Soe
what?'
How alike they are! Tom and
| Nicholas Perry. | mean"
Sure they're alike. Sensualists,
with Il way Of getting part of this
ove-of-beauty stuff out of their sys-
tesms through art. And for the rest
they go around like sleek Tables
poulcing on the little mice. Let
Perry worry over you a bit. That
leaves Arlette free. The child needs
time to turn around without FEELING
vines creeping over her and weaving
her in"-
Jim stopped short and sent me an
unfathomable look. Then he laughed
nervously as he said:
I'm getting in deep. Some little
psychologist-eh?"
LET me get this straight" l said
severely. "YOu are willing folks
should gossip about me if they want
to. You don't mind they way people
may misunderstood when they see me
driving Nicholas Perry around after
moons. You don't think that matters.
But for Arlette 10 be bothered by hls
peculiar. cynical attentions
Hold your horses!" Jim admon-
ished. Don't compare yourself with
that child. She's a mental in Perry's
house. She amuses. She has no way
of estimating him-nor yet of pro-
tecting herself against the odd fascl-
nation his kind often has for wo-
mel"-
Then | broke in with an angry.
But j can take my chances. No!
as Jim was about to interrupt.
won't have you explaining. Maybe
I am a decade older that Arlette.
But I'm a woman. too-and i have
normal feelings-and if this Perry rs
so dangerously fascinating, why let
you wife be endangered"
"Can the bunk" Jim said hoarsely
and with rising emotion. You don
think / liken you to an undeveloped
little creature like Arlette. nor We;
to an unstable woman like Jeanne
You're sane and fine and keen. You're
my wife. love you. You aren
starving for career or understanding
or something you fancy Tom Mason
or a Stub Perry can give. You're
mi1e."
jim came across he room and
seized me in his arms. i forgot my
doubts then; forgot my unanswered
questions; forgot even that | WAS
yielding my convictions for a kiss.
was happy. That was enough.
closed my eyes and shut out the world.
Jim's arms seemed the full circum-
ference OF my world.
But some day ] shall have to know
why Jim wants me TO keep Nicholas
Perry occupied so Arlette Valleau esp
be free from Nick's alterations.