Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-25

Mo- agreed Mabel, coming out Of
her sulk.
"well, then, you'd better 20 back
home and start 70 be- a clinging vine
right away" advised Aunt En- with
a quick nod Of her head. YOU'D bet
ter quit your JOB today, and spend
the whole day making your flat clean
and comfortable. and washing your
head and painting up your face.
Land knows / don't believe in paint
for most folks, but you need IL today,
Mabel"
Mabel did. Her little face was
pale-gray from loss Of sleep and long
hours OF crying. Her mouth was
colorless. and ii dropped. Mabel was
a perfect picture Of the reason hus-
bands leave home.
what do you think, Sally? 7" she
asked. turning to her pretty sister
in-law.
Il think Aunt En- is right an
swered Sally, promptly.
But while she spoke she was
thinking that Mrs. Jerome had al
ways been a clinging vine, and that
Beau's father had not taken care OF
her very well. In this way, he had
been more neglectful than Beau.
After Mabel was gone, taking q
large basket filled with cold fried
chicken and grape-jam turnovers
with her, she spoke to Aunt Emily
about il.
"My mother did just the thing
you're advising Mabel TO do" she
said uncertainty. "She clung-and
my father left her. Suppose Beau
leaves Mabel7"
Aunt EN- gave a bark Of laughter
that was not real laughter at ALL
He WON'T" she said with spirit.
"He's crazy about Mabel. and she's
smarter than he'll ever be. If she
only uses her head she can keep
Beau all her life-tied 10 her like o
life preserver!"
The next morning a very cheerful
Mabel drove up in the red car once
more She left the baby, rolled up in
blankets on the seat, and ran into the
house for a minute.
1T worked" she cried triumphant
" to Aunt En-. Beau and / ate all
the lovely food you ave Us for sup
per-and then we took the baby to
a picture show. II slept straight
through And I'm not going TO let
Beau touch the car any more unless
I'm with him. / told him / needed
il 10 give the baby its airing every
dayi" She smiled so broadly that
the liquid powder on her skin
seemed TO crack.
"And, BY the way, Sally. I've quit
my job in John Nye's office" she
adedd. coming back when she was
halfway down the porch steps. $50
IL you want q good job"
II don'ti" Sally sang out instantly.
"And | wouldn't take a job with him,
Mabsy, II IL were the last job in the
merry old town. and ! was living on
cruSts in q garrett"
~ don't see why you're SO bitter
against him. observed Mabel. Gle
always speaks 50 well OF your work"
NY work. yes" pondered Sally.
when she was alone in the dining
room that no longer was a dining
room. but an antique shop. "But
what ~ thinks Of my work and what
he thinks of me are two very differ
blue vase of Bristol glass and tried
"a forget him.
Bot IN she could think Of was the
night when he had shaken her by
rer shoulders and told her how
shameless she was 70 display herself
20 m rnadhouse crowd In a Savannah
stomp dance that vas more Of a
"Ehimmy" than q stomp.
She was glad when Aunt En-
called from upstairs 20 ask her 20
come up and look at G~reat-grand-
mother Jeromc's yellow Venitian
mirror. Glad or her aunt's harsh
voiced chatter, as they worked tor
gether side By side all day long.
II took her mind away from her
self and John Nye.
On a rainy November day two
weeks later, Sally came downstairs
At twilight TO put the kettle ON for
tea.
Aunt En- had decided that Il would
he nice 70 serve tea "a any customers
who dropped In 70 buy antiques. So
FAR there had been no customers, al
though the shop had been open for
business for 4 week.
But this afternoon, an Sally
reached the bottom OF the well-car-
neted stafrz. she head q mans voice
in the big. skaeowy con where the
heirlccms Of the Jerome family were
set out 10 be sold.
That's a fine old place" the voice
saying. and u was the voice
that had been echoing In Saily's ears
for many. many months. II was John
voice.
without 4 sound, Sally crept down
into the ball ard peeped into the
from behind the crimson velvet
curtains that hung across the door
John was EtandinE IN a Par corner.
at Sreat-grandmother Je-
old spinning wheel, and Aunt
Err was looking Up nr him with a
moekira LIGHT In her eyes
"Now. what on earth wonid you a.
with . spinning wheel 4 b1eheior
like you" che asked him snappliy.I
while Sally listened.
johns deep voice murmnrnd soma
hing thaf Sally rnnid net catch. ard
Err laughed again.
Well, Ill tell sally that yeu wsfsi