Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-07-13
THE GIRL WITH YELLOW HAIR.

The first morning that Mora Ter
Iraghty came into that Bond street
tea room all the girls stared. Her
hair was yellow. startingly yellow,
reminding one Of sunshine, Of fields
of corn. OF marigolds, blinking at the
sun, and of golden daffodils. Miss
Bates, the managress said this: but
Miss Bates was of a poetical turn
of mind.
Later on, Oscar Henderson boasted
that it was he who had discovered
her. The Bond Street tea room was a
favorite haunt OF several Of the ac-
ademy students. OF whom he was one
a little coterie of them gathering in
one corner. where they talked an art
jargon untelligiblc 70 the ordinary
listener. until one afternoon Mora
CHANGED to serve them, and after
that they talked Of nothing but her
wonderful yellow hair.
That night Henderson burst in up
on his friend. Jack Mayne. who was
smoking and painting, his eyes dane
ing.
Old man. he cried, i've found
her. I've discovered the poster girl
at last.
Jack Mayne went on painting and
shrugged his shoulders.
You've said that before he said
calmly. Remember the little Irish
girl. You said .she d do. her hair
was red"
But the next day when he saw
Moira ~Gerraghty, he was quite as en-
thusiastic as his friend, and as eager
to discover whether or not she would
consent to sit to him for a picture
he wished to paint. Her soft accent as
she answered him told him of her
nationality and he asked her at once
if she were Irish.
My father was Irish" she an
swered. My mother is English. She
is an invalid and | am her only child,
so | do not like to be away from her
a moment longer th@n | need. But 4
you will come around and see her.
she added seeing the look of dis
appointment on his face, we can see
what she says about the sittings.
You see,", she said with a smile, II
am free only on Sundays and every
alternate Saturday afternoon; but if
you will come around and see what
mother says, we might be able to ar
range something"
The following Sunday he went
round at her invitation, and found,
as he expected. that the mother was
a lady, a g%entlc-faced woman whose
white hair showed signs of having
once been like her daughters.
Then began a series Of very plea
SAINT Sunday afternoons. Bit by bit
Jack Mayne learned something of
their past life. Mrs. G%erraghty spoke
but little Of her own people, but he
gathered that she had been well
born, and that her parents had new
er forgiven the match with the pen
niless author who had fallen in love
with her face, and since her mar
riage she had no communication
whatever with her own kin.
1t was when the picture was almost
finished that Jack Mayne spoke Of
showing it. and wondered to see the
sudden look of fear which leaped
into Mrs. G~erraghty's eyes.
Must you put it in an exhibit
tion?" she asked. Must it be
shown"
He explained to her how much de-
pended upon exhibitions. and Mora
sat with quiet face, listening: but
after hat Mrs. ~Gerraghty said moth
ing. Only when Mora had gone from
the room to prepare tea. she turned
with a slightly flushed face to the
young man.
You are obliged to sell your pic
lures. Is it not so?" she asked and
he nodded.
How much do you expect to get
for-for Moira's portrait?" she ask
cd.
He named a sum, and she was ST
len for a ONE or two! then,
looking direct at the young man. she
asked him if he would do her a ia
vor.
Certainly. If ii is anything can
do | am yours to command" he as
sured her; and she gave HIM a tiny
key which she drew from a box on
the table by her side.
DO you mind going to that G.
inet?" She said. pointing to a small
oak vabinet which he had always
admired. and which stood il one cor
nor of the rom This kpv will nm