Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-12-03

both hands outstretched. Her voice
was soft and vibrant.
Bob she said simply ard unaf-
fectedly, I'm 20 glad you are here.
He took her hands because he did
not know what else TO do, and AZ the
contact strange. forgotten fires
thrilled him and hot blood raced
through veins which mad forgotten
the woman touch. The color flooded
his cheeks-and he dropped her
hands as though they burned.
Thank you" he murmurcd.
There was pity IN the gaze she be-
slowed upon him as she led him 70
the divan and seated herself beside
him. He sank deep into the unac-
customed luxury or the upholstery
and sat rigid. staring off across the
room. She glanced az his profile:
all softness had gone. II was u stern,
grim profile granite hard. He
seemed more her fathers age than
her own. And he seemed 20 have
forgotten how TO talk. Her own task
was immensely difficult.
you found everything all right in
your room ~
Yes, ma'am."
"And thc ~clothes!"
Yes, ma'am.
The tears wcl!ed into her eyes and
she covered his hands with hers In
tan impulsive gesture Of infinite soT-
row. "Ohl B~ob-doa'ttg
Don't say 'ma'am to me. Please
Can't YOU call me Lois, as you used
70 do? Can't We take up our friend
ship where we left OFF,"
"fpS mlfrm-l rprkpu EnN
The grinLing countenance Of Croc-
sus was ~insinuated through the door.
Dinners ready. Miss Lois"
She rose and waited for him. They
moved together toward the dining
room: she young and 1.-THE and filled
with the eager, untrammeled vitality
OF healthy youth: he moving with
tread as measured and regular MI
the BEAT OF q funeral march: head
down. eyes focused on the floor; lips
set IN a stern. straight line. At tine
door Peter Borden joined them. The
eyes of father and daughter met
briefly and the glacen which flashed
between them established the COM
munity Of their sorrow and pro
claimed their alliance to make up 70
this man for the evil which had been
done.
Peter Borden sat mt the head Of
the table. his daughter opposite. Be
tween them was Bob Terry. lie was
dazzled by the napcry, the gleImiH-
silver, the softness and quietness.
There came 10 him vivid. soaring
memory Of the past three years:
the thrice-daily feeding: a marching
into n tremendous dining room
where agate plates were already
piled high with npurishinE hut UNI
palztable food; where NEE sat or
lard little stools and were denied
the privilege or conversation. Three
times a day for three years he had
been fed. along with the rest of tn
pack-fed and dismissed. Meals had
been horrible things. not because
the food was not good and plentiful,
but because il had been the most an
imaI-like phase ~ the silent world.
There was little conversation dur
ing the meal. Habit was difficult 20
shake off, and Bob had learned not
TO talk. Borden and his daughter
were awkward and III nc ease.
The situation amazed Bob Terry.
Even in the old days he had never
aspired 70 such luxury rs this. occa-
sionally he had been n guest az the
house because OF his friendship with
Lois and also because Borden had
made great display Of personal IN.
terest in the lad. But his manner 81
living had ben modest. a. befittcd
a young man who held a clerkship
and hope for the future. Now
Coffee was served. Cigars and
~ciearets were handed TO Bob. He Sc
lected n cigaret md NJ Bcrden's suF-
gestion they adjourned to the soft
glow Of the living room and Croesus
brought their coffee.
They smoked IN silence. Lois was