Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-22
CHAPTER XXXY

hilCAeN
She had carried ali Of Miles
fancy, frilly things out Of the room
that once had belonged TO Beau, and
slowed them away in the room that
she and Mile had shared for So
many years.
There was clean linen on the bed
where her father was to sleep, and
a matchbox and ash-tray on the
table beside il.
Thus, in her own small way, Sally
had prepared a welcome for him.
Mrs. Jerome, too. had made prepa-
rations for his coming. She had
waved her plentiful hair and put on
her best dress Of gray silk.
"It's five years old. but your
father has never seen it, she twit-
tered, while Sally hooked her into il.
Dear me, ! hope he won't find me
too changed. . . But, so far as that
goes. HE'LL be nine years older, him
self"
Sally could remember her father
only dimly. Her most vivid reeol-
lection OF him was Of an afternoon
when he had taken her to the circus.
She had been only z years old at
AAE AAUAGs bAL 6nG NtAAA GOlAQ IGLuEH
Der how she had clung TO him with
her hot, damp little hand, in terror,
when the lion had roared-and how
he had bought her peanuts and pop
corn and the most beautiful pink
shiny yellow straw in il.
And she could remember that he
had worn a blue suit and a straw
hat with a colored band around il,
and had laughed a great deal and
held her high on his shoulder as ne
pushed his way through the crowd
after the circus.
II was that memory Of him that
she had held and loved for Is years,
and she still expected him to be
young and gay and strong.
Il can hardly wait to see him.
she said when she and her mother
sat waiting for him in the sitting
Wouldn't IL be nice If he
decided to stay with Us and never
20 away again."
Mrs. Jerome, still pink and flutter-
ing, did not answer.
THAT reminds me-" Sally went on
carrying the begonia from the din
ing room 10 the enter OF the library
table against the back wall Of the
sitting room, Beau and Mabel want
to come home TO live. They say they
just can't keep up a place OF their
own, and Mabel doesn't know how 10
cook and she's too tired after n day
in the office TO look after a home
Tired? What makes her tired, ia
like 70 knowl" cried Mrs. Jerome, in
difnantly. "What does she do but
sit az a typewriter and move her fin
gers all day? That's not work.
That's play"
Mrs. Jerome had never touched a
typewriter in her life, but she was
quite sure that 10 run one was
child's play-and she often said so.
1T would be nice to have Beau al
home again. though" she added
wistfully. I'D almost put up with
Mabel just TO have him around
again." She adored Beau as 9
mother always adores her only son.
In her eyes he was perfeet-s
knight, q gentleman, and a young
god. He could do no wrong.
~ don't know how il viii work
out" Sally told her. They're going
to mean a lot of extra work"
VIZ llG MOLh Will NAAG care o.
itself" replied Mrs. Jerome, easily
She had always let work do that very
thing. Work had been the least 81
her troubles.
They'll have TO pay their board
tool" Sally declared firmly. SAND
right on the dot, too, every Saturday
night. Otherwise we may just a:
well pack up and move right into th,
poor house now!"
Mrs. Jerome looked reproachfully
n her with large, round. blinking
eyes. sally, you talk as if yoJ
didn't want your brother here a
home she said sadly. you talk a!
if he weren't welcome here"
Then she started up from her arm
chair and looked out Of the window
Here they are!" she cried. and thu
sound Of a ehugging motor cam,
family up from the street.
There were slow footsteps on the
stairs outside. and Sally's fathei
came walking back into her life.
He was not AZ al like the father
she remembered. There was nothins
to even suggest that father.
There was nothing gay and stroni
ard young about him now. He wal
dressed in a gray suit, and his eye
and hair were gray, too. He was no.
rearly so tall as Beau, who towereC
behind him. And he was quiet-al
most timid-in his manner.
"ClarR Margaretta, he said softly
and actually held out his hand I,
the woman who had been his wife fol
almost q quarter OF n century. Their
was no affection-and no lingering
resentment-in his manner to Der
He was. as the sharp-tongued Mabe
remarked later, as polite as a floor
walker.
She winked now AZ Sally, ans
shifted her tongue from one cheel
TO the other. She was enjoying al
this, hugely.
"Yes, Papa" answered Mrs. Je.
rome, who had colcred up like a girl
but had never moved from her plate
by the window. II was plain that She
did not know how 70 greet this gray
m~iddle-aged man who had been 4
forceful young husband when he hac
banged the door of that very fla
violently behind him nine years be
fore.
~ was GAilEy VINO saved n LAY
She ran across the room and threw
her arms around her fathers shoul
ders and kissed his dry, wrinkleC
cheeks. She tried to keep remember
ing the day he had taken her to thu
circus.
Were SO glad you camel" sh,
cried. "And there's some coffee fol
youl Where's you- bag? Put II II
Miles room, Beau. Your old room
you know"
Taking and laughing. she got then
all into the dining room and arount
the table. She poured coffee ant
passed food and did her best TO ge1
things going To break the ice.
But 3 pail seemed TO have settiet
down over the house. Even Mabel
light laughter sounded mirthless, ans
Beau looked from his silent father :,
his silent mother with puzzled, cues
tioning eyes, and hardly spoke.
AT half past eleven he and Mabe
went home in their amneramrrtn