Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-27

CHAPTER XIV
Byrd's hands were trembling like
small. delicate leaves WY She handed
the note 10 her mother.
Mr.. Ham lton took il gingerly.
holding Ut q minute before She
opened il.
She was always cool under the
most trying circumstances, but Byrd
knew that IL took a mighty effort 90
mai that deadly composure Of
hers.
Byrd suspected that same fear that
was creeping around her " heart
had given her mother that strange
lock about the eyes. but she had
"A chin like Mary Queen Of Scots that
contradicted her tell-taie eyes.
That fifth sense that we sometimes
develop in times OF great crises
seemed 10 reveal the letter to both
or them before IL was opened.
well, | guess this means Just one
thing Mrs. Hamilton said, bringing
her lirs shgt like q trap.
"Rcad it,' said BYRD, in a trem-
bling Voice.
"Dsar Mrs. Hamilton" Chef had
written, "fo ard are going 20 get
married. Don't worry aougt U.s., Tor
It's the best thing that could happen
10 either of Us. Save q family
blessing for us. VIII writ soon.
Chct."
BYRD looked 1t her mother blanhly,
ana her mother stared back 1T Byrd,
each lost in her own thoughts over
the strange %c.cpcmcat.
Let me see IT," said Byrd, reach
Ink out for the letter and reading II
carefully.
~ wonder what your father will
gly.' said AIRS. Hamilton, In = voice
con .dcrahiy shaken. I'VE could
tavc given them such a nice wed
ding. And IA started Pats trous-
scau just after you were married.
II seems wicked To go off and get
married without a minister or her
own father and mother-and-in her
old clothes. Z should think Fat
would have been ashamed" And
she cupped her Ins like a flabby
flower:
when you're really in love those
things don't matter said Byrd.
softly.
"But she hadn't even a decent
nirhtrown.' mu4ncd Mrs. Hamilton.
Byrd seemed 10 sec her mother. as
she lifted orc corner Of her apron,
and f~urtivcly wiped her eyes. ~ a
comnlete stranger. She suddenly
became detached from this scene and
carried back over the f1onths t0 the
night o. her own wedding.
she had had a r%corgctte night
VA " - w-LHA-~ NwA -
had drenched Il with tears on her
wedding NIGHT.
when Mandy announced lunch,
Bvr1 decided 20 tell her ahou. Pat.
"Wtat ~ vou think. Mandy" she
announced, "Pat and Cact slipped
awav this morning 70 ret married
"shut your face" exclaimed
MANDY. in amazement. 1t was IN
expression Mandy used when she
was IN n state ~ complete ssupefac-
rri when no words adequate ~
her -hewildcrment were IL hand.
"To' de lawd's sake," she said, re-
covering her breath and her vo-
raH-iarv. ~ sure was f~labberEasted
and hefuddled when YOU tot ma.
done surprise vs.. they sho did"
Bvrd and her mother sat down 70
the table. but neither OF them could
eat n mouthful.
How IN the world can they get a
license with Pat only seventeen years
0ld.n asked Mrs. Hamilton. "They'd
have 10 lie about i. And their mar
riare 7 doomed II they gct morricd
en- y lic."
"Weil. 7 wouldn't worry about
that said Byrd. soothinGly. "All i
can say ~ that I'm glad it's Chef
and not that harum-scarum Eddie
"Weli. 7 suppose III could have
been worse pimlttcd Mrs. Hamil-
ton. crudgingly.
"Chet and dad win get along Ike
two peas IN a pod -c- in n bank
-mil-d r. III. "ft'8 terrible the way
these bankers stick esther
Byrd was thinking q the help Mr.
Polk had been that day.
Mrs. Hamilton Rad to POSTPONE her
until tho next day. She went
~ bed thrt afternoon with r sick
icndr Re.
Bird pulled down 'hn sfHine I'M
her mothers room and placed a glass
Of ~0ff --te- 49, A~tft~ - nsririr
on tho lit..1 zt.1 INC led