Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-19
LET'S LIVE! n ~! q! ? :: LAM! |. ).
WB IN HX M " 80 Ons CENTRAL PRESS Assn &C
CHAPTER xxx

The September sun was busily
painting the walls of the bedroom
with running gold when Byrd awoke
with the realization that it must be
very late.
She looked quickly AZ the other
bed where Larry wzs still sleeping
before the events OF the evening be-
anne clear in her mind. She re-
membered now. Everything
The bright sun that poured into
her eyes couldn't palliate the situa-
tion. She couldn't, and she wouldn't.
90 on living like this. her mind con
tinually lacerated by Larry's acts.
her soul constantly torn by his self
ish brutalitles.
Never again would she make OK
cuses for Larry. Never again would
she tolerate the things that he did.
Never againl
Thank goodness, she could face
the truth AZ lasti
Larry would continue 10
spend his income faster than he
earned il.
He'd pursue his idea Of n
good time 10 the accompaniment of "a
tinkling glass, jazz and gay parties.
He'd be his own sweetly ten
persmental self until he was ruined.
Certainly il was time for her 70
take q hand in the situation.
Her tired brain whirled like q
dynamo until she felt that ut last
she had q plan as far-reaching as
the Treaty of Versailles" The
peace Of the world wasn't as impor-
tsnt rs the peace IN the Browning
home.
Byrd hurried into the living room
10 find Pat gone.
She snatched q cup az coffee and
then rushed 10 the garage and with
a tiny feeling of misgiving, she drove
the car out Of the garage. Way
should she always leave the car for
Larry
Byrd went directly u Progress
Folks office and paid a second thou
sand on the house. That second
payment. she felt. clinched the bar
gain.
The house was theirs!
Feeling like the rock az Gibraltar,
she hurried back 70 the apartment
10 face Larry. "A scared little smile
cvaporated almost instantly from her
white face as she realized that he
was going to have the shock of his
life.
The punrent aroma Of strong cof-
&c was in the air a. she walked
into the apartment. Larry was IN
the kitchen. moving around awk-
wardly. getting his breakfast. lie
caught Byrd in his arms before she
had . chsnce to say a word.
she pushed him away with a
frown and a gesture, which said
plainly that she would never again
have 4 thing to do with HIM But
Larry held her all the more closely.
1T won't DO YOU a bit Of good,
she said, a. she held herself rigid IN
his arms. t.;.s,s,u..
sorry about last night Larry leaned
his cheek Against hers, and there
was contrition in every syllable.
Byrd was still like "A stone in his
arms.
"While you're eating your break
fast, we can discuss things she
said. evenly.
His arms dropped to his side with
a sudden hopeless gesture.
Byrd quickly recovered from the
sensation that pricked through her
~ ~
heart. Larry could AXE things 80
pathetically,
She coddled the eggs an dbuttered
the toast, as she had done for him
for six months. hut her small Tea
lures were chiselled out of white
cold marble. -,
Then she told Larry that she had
decided they couldn't live together
any longer. She couldn't endure
their ouarrelt. She couldn't endure
DAYS Of luxury, followed by days OF
poverty. She couldn't endure the
worry of unpaid bills, of constant
loans. Of uncertain and questionable
business ventures. She couldn't en-
dure gin parties and Indis, she
couldn't endure married life-any
Of IL!
Then Il was that Byrd got the
shock Of her life. For, instead Of
bridlinz with fury under the insults
that she had poured over his head.
Larry's face sobered instantly and
whitened a little. He looked down
nc the fork which lie held II his
hand. making strange markings cn
the tanleclcth.
Something seemed to catch in his
throst.
Il know I'm no good" he said.