Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1944-06-09
CHAPTER XIX


70 Anne a combination study and
office, filled with cabinets and dark
heavy furniture. She waited a lit
tie breathlessly for him to speak,
His eyes were kindly. wise and in
fnitely understanding
I'm going to talk very frankly
and perhaps very cruelty to you, my
child" he said slowly. Because |
think you are very intelligent and
clear sighted. l cannot speak to my
son. because he is deeply in love
and no. clear-sighted. Women are
realists. men romanticists.
II suppose that's true. really
Anne said.
II don't want you TO marry my
son, Anne. Or him to marry you.
] love him very deeply, and ! have
q very warm and genuine feeling
for you. That's why I'm speaking
TO you. l don't want either Of you
to be unhappy. l am saying to you
what l believe your father would
say II he were here"
She looked at him silently. The
idea that she wasn't acceptable as
q daughter-in-law came as shock,
In spite Of everything she knew.
There are many reasons. Before
met you and talked to you. II my
son had told me he was going to
marry an American girl would
have forbidden II with all the au-
thority have. Knowing you has
made II difficult. because l have
lived Z long time and known many
women. and ! know would have
fallen In love with you had I been
Miguel. should even like to have
you for a daughter, il it could al
ways be as 1t is this moment. say
that very sincerely. Anne"
Cant it always stay like
this?" she said.
mo" Don Alvaro shook his head.
''Miguels life Is not your life. His
people are not your people. II he
could live in your country, with your
people, he would be happier than
you would be here with us"
He raised his hand toward the
chattering party outside.
These are our people. The one
you naturally gravitated toward was
foreign like yourself. Your friends
are not our friends. 1t isn't that
we don't like them, or that they
don't like us. It's that we are diff
ferent breeds, always foreign and
distinct from each other. Our wom-
en- are different. As man, our whole
concept of the duty and conduct Of
women Is opposed to yours. We
may be wrong, or you may be, 1t
isn't a matter of right or wrong,
here--it Is a matter of fact. The
things you do shock us, as the
things we do astonish you. Both
are right--each in its own tongue. ;"
She was silent a long time.
TITS Graciela you want him to
marry" she asked slowly.
Don Alvaro shook his head.
"At one time I did. Not now He
wouldn't be happy with Graciela
want him to marry one Of our own
girls who has been educated, as he
has been, In the States, who Is alert
and keen and understands in her
mind and heart the problems the
new generation of people on the Is
land is facing"
He came closer to her.
She got up slowly.
why didn't you say all this d.
before? l mean. why did you wait
till now You must have known what
was happening"
Sharp hot tears prieked her eye.
lids.
Eyes, I know" Don Alvaro said
gently. II knew the morning I saw
you standing beside him at the rail
Of the ship. ! think | wanted you
both to know that you loved
each other, II only for a little while
II only to make both Of your lives
richer"
He came over to her and put his
hands gently on her shoulders
Look at me, Anne"
She looked up, her eyes wide and
sparkling with tears.
You're very beautiful" he said
There were tears in his eyes, too
II don't want to see your wings
clipped and your spirit dulled, We
wouldn't mean to do it. You wouldn'
mean TO hurt US. It's circumstance
Go back to your own people and youi
own life. This Is not it. You coulc
not understand our needs and oui
habits. We could not understand
yours. None OF US would be happy
don't want you to answer me now
want you to think about Il, II yoJ
decide to stay, we viii love you, anc
be as kind to you as we can. Goo
bless you, my child"
Anne chung to Miguel holding hei
tightly in his arms, kissing her tear
stained face.
"Oh, darling. / can't let you 60
I can't, | can'tl" she cried.
'T'll never let you 60. Anne" ht
whispered desperately. Never, my
sweet, never. love you, dearest
] love you"
They were In his car on the beach
across the bay at Palo Secco. The