Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-18
YYENIIr

CHAPTER XKANlll
The next morning. the steady Pat
ter of rain against the windows,
like fairies fingers, woke Byrd from
a restless sleep. Her dark. velvety
eyes fluttered open like butterflies
sprading their wings.
Then instantly she remembered.
She had bought a house. And the
terror and fear that had expressed
itself IN her subconscious mind all
night long, gave way 20 the saner
telling of happy anticipation and Joy
Of possession. In spite Of the gloom
~ the early morning. q keen sense
Of delight swept over her.
Hadn't she wanted a house ever
since she'd been married? And what
a perfect house IL wasl A tiny
replica Of IL floated like an rides
cent bubble through her mind.
Byrd glanced over at the other
bed where Pat was still sleeping. Pat
had Just had her hair cut short SO
that now. with the dew Of slumher
curling IL tightly. her head looked
like a perfectly round curly-haired
sun.
Byrd's golden hair dipped in wide
waves a. her temples end was braid
ed demurely into two long ropes
that hung down her back. r. was
strange that no one had really en-
coursged her TO have it cut, and she
knew her father was 50 opposed to
II. Everyone said III vas her type"
and let II 20 AZ that. JAS long as she
could remember she had worn IL
braided into q coronet around her
head.
Byrd hoped out ~ bed. slipping
her small feet into the bedroom Slip
pers partly hidden under the bed.
and trotted over t. Pat.
i had the effect a bringing her
quickly to a sitting position.
"Sz-. Dizzy-Izzy.' said Byrd.
laughing az the ccmical look that
cam into Pats sves in TIE first ha-v
realization Of waking. I've got an
idea
Pat reached up and touched Byrd's
forehead, experimsntally.
Aged in the wood?' she asked.
yawning. 50 that her little pink
tongue and small teeth, shining like
lights from within, formed the bet
ter part az her face for a minute.
Then she stretched over the bed and
looked out Of the window.
Telephone Noah ard tell him "a
get cut of the ark. II looks like
another flood" she sighed, and drop
ped back under the covers.
Listen. Drizzle. III drive you
down town this morning for I'm 20
ing into every draperv department
in town for ideas" said Byrd.
That's a slight inducemeut 70
getting up" said Pat, lsnFuidly, "and
holding my job"
When Byrd returned 70 the apart
ment at noon. she had = hundred
new ideas buzzing IN her head. Chint-
yes, colorfrl scrims and reproduc-
lions Of Colonial furniture danced
through her head. But she must
wait until Larry had seen the house.
Then the telephone summoned her,
~stridently. II seemed to her always
70 have q more urgent shrek when
II was Larry, and that was the way
It screamed ST her now.
90 boss is back" Larrv's cheerful
voice came over the wire. What's
the news
Byrd was biting her thumb nail
to keep from hurting IL out.
She mustn't spoil her beautiful
surprise by telling IL over the phone.
"Come home early, darling" she
said. e%xcitedly, her eyes shining Ike
drenched stars in a very blue heaven
SCOT a wonderful surprise for youi'
AS soon as | s~traighten out my
accounts and 20 over my MALL he
promised.
The day had become very murgv.
The air seemed grogEv with TIE
moisture It he'd been swallowing all
day. The tiny kitchen. with Its
sticky enamel and hot walls, seemed
like a tiny furnace.
Byrd decided to have a cold sun.
per, cold meats from the dolicates.
sen, a salad Of shredded cabbage
pimentoes and chopped celery in
aspic. a fevorite with Larry. and ICED
tea and a dessert made with rips
peaches End whipped cream.
Pat telephoned that she aud India
were taking their dancing lesson.
that night and would be home after
u movie.
They could have the evening al
70 themselves Things wsre srrAr :.
inz Themselves perfectly, thouEh'
Byrd. as she slipped into her flower.
ed orgsndy.
| As she sat in the living room,