San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-30

could easily: oh, why do 1 say such
things, but I'll go anywhere with you
Id do anything for you
He now hurried. Shed be waiting
wondering if ne was just as eager.
You bet he was, Good thing they
hadn't long to wait. Couldn't stanI
much of this suspense. Act quickly.
Get done with it. Everything would
smooth out.
The light from his room vanished.
Judiths heart bounded. Going now
perhaps going to make their plans.
She stole into the living room. Hap
PLY her mother was away, visiting Il
sister in Sebastopol, and Maud was
at the theater. Judith had the house
to herself.
She peeked from a corner of the
shade. IF he doesn't come to see me,
I'll run down the block after him.
III pretend to be mailing letter. |
WILL stop him"
He came down the stcps-rushing.
But at the bottom he looked up TO
Judith's windows and hesitated.
Make him-oh make him come"
She closed her eyes, almost unable to
breathe.
He was coming.
She dashed to the door. pulled ii
open. She caught his hands. looked in
his face her eyes all misted, but she
didn't care.
"Oh. Doug, ] was afraid YOU were
going without saying goodby. L don t
know what would have happened :"
al Ill I.,Ia - hI,ghtn0 thrnur-
ing his hat on the hall chest. How d
you know
EN- told me you were going away
He yanked his neck as though his
collar were a bit tight. Pretty good,
isn't it? i guess I'm a lucky dog.
"Will you be gone long, DougC
"Perhaps-wheres the family"
"All Out-so we can have gorge
Gus farewell"
They we're now standing in The liv-
ing room. But Judith was finding 1t
hard TO talk. She stood at a little
table. picking at the leather binding
of book.
when did you lind out you were
to 20, Doug? Isn't it strange that a
great thing like this comes into your
life and l hardly know of it till the
last minute!'
Il only found out yesterday, Jude.
What's the matter? You're awiully
white. Are you angry with me. jude!
"Oh. angry with you. How could
be angry with you :.
And suddenly she ran up to him
and put her hands on his arms, all
her soul yearning in her deep, brim-
ming eyes.
douglas, 1 know what you're going
to do"
He grew pale. Then the blood smear
ed over the clean, sparkling skin.
What are you talking about, Jude:'
IL know that you and Sandy are
running away. Oh. you won't do this
to her, Douglas. This is the cruelest
thing you could ever do"
Where did you get this wild, idea,
Jude?"
Il went to see Sandy this afternoon,
She told me she was leaving. And
then you're leaving. too. And Sandy
was beside herself. Douglas. you won't
do this to her or to yourself!"
He stood moment with head low
cred. "Yes, this is what we're going
to do, Jude. We can't help it. This
is what we're going to do"
And have you thought how weak
it is for you TO take this way, Doug
las? Not because of the hurt you give
to your mother-and she's not had SO
much yet, but she counts so much on
you but because it's an awfully
cruel way to treat Sandy. She's had
so much to bear already. And now you
come along and you'll beat her down
That's the only thing you can do. . y
You don't know, Jude. There are
things you don't know about. | would
not be cruel to her for anything. But
this is what we see to do-the only
thing We see to do. Sandy wants me
to go with her. I'm going to take care
OF her-to help her."
Judith gave a soft. aching cry. "Ohi
that's like you. Douglas. You think
that's what you can do. But YOU
can't. You cant help Sandy by max
ing her weaker" She looked up then
and smiled through these binding
tcilrs-forccd her lips to smile.
Couldn't do something. Doug