Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-08
xxx

a @A aANk
Byrd had been asleep several hours
when Pat burst in.
She did some dance steps, initial
Ing those she had evidently seen on
the stage, pirouetting around the
bedroom.
Good picture ?" asked Byrd, sleep
lily. her head against her bare arm.
which glimmered under the coronet
of gold like dull satin.
"fou bet! And the dancing was a
Knockout" Pat sat on the floor like
n little girl, taking off her shoes and
stockings. India and | are going
to take Russian ballet lessons with
an interesting Russian teacher she
knows about" she bubbled, throwing
her clothes all over the bedroom
floor. We're going to see him to-
morrow. I'm going to meet her for
lunch"
did you forget. Foolish. that you
start to school tomorrow" asked
Byrd, evenly.
mo, Unconscious, / didn't forget
TO remember! l just decided l wasn't
going to that old business colIege!"
Pat looked up for a fleeing moment
to see the effect Of this ultimatum
on Byrd, and then hurried on: Lar
rvs not so keen about my going.
Not right away. YOU heard what he
said about seeing something of the
big town first before / 60 into har-
ness"
Byrd vas plainly flabbergasted. A
flash Of anger spread like a dull red
curtain owe her features. A furious
anger against India for weaving this
spidery web about Pat - anger
against Larry, for aiding and abet-
ting Pats easy Sinking.
Byrd didn't trust herself to discuss
the matter right then and there.
Pat got home right after lunch
the next day, announcing that she
and India had signed for a course Of
dancing lessons and had taken their
first lesson.
PAY for it," asked Byrd. noncom-
mittally.
"Why, of course" asserted Pat,
"and i paid for India's too. She
didn't have that much with her. /
gave him a check"
Glow much? >" asked Byrd.
Fifty dollars apiece for twenty
four lessons" answered Pat. "A lit
tie steep, isn't it? At Jacksonville
you can get any kind Of a dancing
lesson for fifty cents
She laughed gayly.
At two o'clock Pat and Byrd drove
cut to Margy's. Byrd had hoped 70
20 alone, but she couldn't avoid ask
ing Pat 10 80 with her.
In spite Of Byrd's feeling of an
noyance over the vanity case. she
felt a little sigh Of relief and con-
tentment in just being out Of doors
n driving along the maple-lined
road leading TO the suburb where
the Duncans lived.
They left the hot, whiting, smoky
air of the city far behind them.
Here the little breezeS had a chance
TO hop, skip and jump.
Marcy answered the door.
One glance told Byrd that she
looked her worst.
Marcy seemed never TO have re-
covered her color after Peters ILL
ness. She looked grey and dispirited.
Even her hair had taken on a moldy
pallor. The little wisps Of IL that
struggled down her neck looked like
the edge Of a shroud. An untrimmed
bob, Byrd decided. could look more
frumpish than a tight little knob on
the nape OF the neck.
Since Peters illness, Marcy had
continued the habit Of holding him.
and Joan. soiled and dripping from
an all-day sucker, was hanging on TO
Margy's skirts.
II used to think of Marcy as such
a good housekeeper," Byrd said 70
herself, dismayed at the sight of all
this topsy-turviness.
The house was upside-down. crumbs
all over the living room floor, last