Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-26
CHAPTER Xiv
Byrd ate her breakfast alone.

Byrd ate her breakfast alone.
Mrs. Hamilton refused to speak to
her, and Pat was lying in bed, i'll.
Byrd was grateful for the presence
Of Mandy. She helped a little to
cover her feeling Of terrible depres-
sion. II seemed 10 Byrd that all her
efsJrts since her marriage had been
In vain. She felt that everything
was doomed, her marriage, her home,
her whole life. Everythingl
A SILVER trickled every now and
then up and down her spine, as she
recalled the awful scene Of the night
before.
She would remember to her dying
day the look on Pats face as Hen
r~ietta's tall, lank figure, resembling,
in her high-necked, long-sleeved, cot
ton nightdress, M OF Dante's
avenging angels straight from purga-
tory, glowered in the doorway.
Mrs. Hamilton had wormed every
thing out Of them. She had learned
that Pat wasn't in business college.
She had learned that she was spend
ing the allowance her father had
given her Sy put her through school,
chasing around. she had learned
that she was working in n depart
ment store. And, horror of horrors,
she knew that Pat was under the
influence Of
"To think I'd live 20 see the day
when one OF my girls should coIne
to this!r she mosned. I'D rather
see her deadl"
She had collapsed into the little
rocker and sat with her head bur-
led in her hands, her whole gaunt
frame shaking with terrific sobs.
Byrd was terribly sorry for her.
Mons, dear said Byrd. diffident-
~, putting her arms around her
mothers shoulders, tits not as bad
as that. You're just letting yourself
think the worst about things. Pat
hasn't been chasing around. This
just happened to happen!"
RMS. Hamilton flung off Byrd's
arms as il they were vipers.
And you try 10 protect her and
excuse her" she famed up again.
"You're no better than your sister,
young lady. | thought you'd have to
set her a good example and that
vsJuld straighten you out, TO. You
probably led her 10 this,'
Byrd decided not TO roll up fur
Their waters already turbid.
} They had talked on and on for
hours, getting nowhere, Pat and
Byrd taking turns trying to APP
pease their mother and 10 convince
her that Pat wasn't the kind Of per-
son that her mother seemed TO en-
JOY thinking she a
"Well, Young woman" said Mrs.
Hamilton, finally. cycling Pat as If
she were a leper that nigh. contain
inate the world, "you're going back
TO jacksonville with me tomorrow
night"
Poor Pat! Byrd's heart ached for
her. She wished she could prevent
her going back home. but Byrd knew
that her mother was adamant when
once her mind "a made UP.
She nibbled at a little piece Of
toast and dipped into her ..-E Her
appetite was completely gone.
"Wa'sa matter, honey?" asked
Mandy, dolefully. "You amt ct
enough to keep this ere little bird
alive"
Byrd tried TO smile into Msndy's
face.
did you ever read Aristotle :"
asked Byrd, suddenly. "His philoso-
ply was that ever amidst chaos. one
could find happiness. I dor't be-
lieve it,"
Mandy looked startled.
"G'vsn, Mis- Browning. I heard
this Aristotle preach las Sunday an
he says"
you're fooling,' laughed Byrd.
"Amanda-Amands-you never told
me your last name, Amanda"
ats my last husban's last name.
ms'am," said Mandy. any las
names Ammonia. Mandy Ammonia"
When. she was talking 70 Mandy,
tho telephone rang. Ii was Progress
Polk, asking her to stop down at the
bank some time during the morn
ing.
Byrd was glad r. have IN excuse to
get out Of the hougs
She ran up TO see Pet before she
left. but Pat was sleeping.
She looked like a pink petal curl