San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-03

drove him to it,"
As Sandy read this she saw the
curls falling on her mothers plump
warm neck. How often she had kissed
these. How she had loved teasing
and kissing Isabel. But Isabel turn.
ing against herl Sitting with com
pressed ips-stern and cold in judg.
ment.
Il don't care.T she said quickly
flinging her head back.
But she did care. She let the dog
strain at the leash, let him race her
along. the wind and salt in hel
mouth, the hair flying about her
face. "It's the spray" she told her
self angrily when her eyes were
wet and singing. She tugged at
the dog. pulling him to her side with
resentful: Quit yanking! Can't
you walk along like decent dog?"
He shifted at her feet, looked up
inquiringly and began glibly and
generously licking her hand. Tears
rushed down her cheeks.
She came TO the dunes-white,
ripping hills hidden by the mur-
muring trees. Quiet here-so quiet
that ones step sank noiseless, leav-
ing no footprint. She let her feet
go down ankle-deep. imagined her
self disappearing in the cleaning,
quiet sands. Isabel would cast her
off-would take Murillo's part.
thinking it right that Sandy's life
should be ironed out, blanched and
joyless.
"Ironed out. That's your tate,- a
voice whispered. Lucky to stay on
here lonely prisoner all the days of
your life. Bound to him. You had
your chance. You think you'll get an
other? That a great, beautiful love
is waiting for you? It's not! You're
finished"
She considered this, blazing and
mutinous. Her mothers words as
saulted her. They would take Muir
Hos part-stand against her.
She could no longer work. 20 furi-
Gus was her resentment. She now
went about with a feeling of beating
against closing walls She was
in a pit-the cliffs drawing together,
meeting over her head.
When she looked at the ocean she
whispered: Il can't get away. III
never be free" And she sat hours
watching the waves billowing so far
out there, coming in immense, rolling
contours TO the shore-water, unlim-
tied, except for the jutting Of Point
Lobos, and there, at Pebble Beach,
like an etching. a tree. in wistful
grace against the turquoise sky. She
fancied herself lost on a raft on the
measureless sea. No one would care.
Her mothers reputation was crush
ing and incredible. 1t obliteraeed all
the old, dear ties.
She would never 20 back. No
stay here-what did they care-throw
her to Murillo. She caught the dogs
neck. whispering. "God, it's lonely
here -
When she returned 10 the house and
found provisions waiting she thought
Of Ramon with a storm Of gratitude.
The only friend in the wide world!
She had a wish 10 dash away. lose
herself in crowds, flirt, dance. drink,
20 roaring wild. Why not:
She came to dread the darkness
the long quiet evenings with the room
throwing echoes at herewith the
silence whispering. You'll never get
free Swallow it," The tapping of
the tree att he window set her walk
ing nervously. She said words out
oud in the sheer longing to hear a
'oice. When another week passed and
hen another, with Ramon writing, st
vii be five days more at least before
can leave hee." she grew frantic
lecause Of the quiet and the waves
iashing so relentlessly against the
'ocks-the boom and the roar and the
Tast. ceaseless monotony.
Then the weather changed. For
lays the sky was overcast. the waters
ray. A wind howled through the
rees.
Sandy lay awake at night, listening
0 that tree tapping and tapping; TO
he wind hurting pebbles against the
Ioor. All night the wind wandered |
bout the house. The dog took 70
with his nose along the
round. She put her hands over her
yes and cried softly. an leave in
he morning. / won't stay here
mother night" The dog erouched at
be door. giving unesrthly. protesting
loans when the windows ratified.
Lord, isn't this awful" Sandy
whispered. awful" She lay there
flaming wild. brilliant revenge against
he wind-the tapping tree. Murillo.
She awakened feverish, ready 70
~ with alarm at the slightest sound.
II 10 O'Clock she put on her sweater.
she was running down the walk.
Ramon came.