Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-06

CHAPTER XXXVII
Chatty crept home. fairly crushed.
She entered the apartment slowly.
dropped her bag In a chair, and sank
into another YEARLY. her soul as
tired as her body.
Why. daughter! You look tired
outl" cried Mrs. Chatterton, putting
down her sewing to come to her.
Has anything happened?"
Chatty had not intended to say
J anything about her experience at
home. But az the sympathy In her
mothers voice. and the anxiety IN
tired face. Chatty opened her heart
and told her mother what David had
said.
Unfortunately. she didn't tell 1t the
way II really was, but the way she
wanted TO think 1t occurred.
"And / hadn't done q thing-rel-
", mother. I hadn't He just talked
to me terribly. terribly" Chatty's
voice was a wall. And II just hate
him hate himl But I'll get even with
him-you1l see"
Mrs. Chatterton was quite sure
that the real trouble with Chatty
was liking David Jordan too well.
not in hating him. But she. herself.
was tried and worn; the sewing was
eye straining. and paid very little.
Pud was a continual anxiety, and
Chatty's late hours. non-committal
explanations Of where she had been.
and certain circles under the girls
eyes. not altogether explained by too
little rest. all took their toll from
the hard working mother.
So lust now she was not verv wise.
Its your tongue. Chatty-the UNI
ruly member as the Scriptures put
it-that you can't controll It's talked
YOU into trouble time after timel
WHY can't YOU learn to keep 1t be-
meath your teeth?'
"Oh. YOU tool" cried Chatty. "Ev-
eryone is against mel" And in q p1s-
sion Of tears. Chatty flung herself
into her own room and shut and
locked the door.
she did not come out for supper.
In her heart began a wiStful little
wonder as to whether her mother
might be RIGHT. Billie said the same
thing. and Winnie had said IL. and
Mr.. Van Nuys told her SO. and David
.Jordan-the girls who had not open-
" condemned her looked sympathet-
ic with Winnie
II do not gossipl" Cattv assured
herself. It's Just nv hard luckl And
that sneaklng David Jordan to listen
TO me talking to the girlsl'
Chattv didn't stnD TO think that
what David had done openly she
had done secretly. when she listened
into his telephone conversation with
the girl whose sticky mouth ne
had said he liked to kiss.
At half past nine that evening she
IsipDed out Of her room. went 70 the
corner grocery and telephoned Bry-
ant DunninG. !.
For re love of Mike. come and
ret met I need you'll" she cried into
the phone. Don't come 10 the house
meet me on the cornerl'
she shrank a little al his exclama-
ton Of delight.
But I won't no 10 his rooms
acainl" she assured herself. I'll
iust-irst have another automooiie
lessonl"
BIT her automobile lesson that
night consisted largely IN parking
in a lonely road, resting In Bryants
open and welcoming arms and being
kissed. Chatty was openly "necking
with him now. 1t was not until elev-
en- al night that she had remember
ed that Winnie had asked her 70
bring Bryant to her apartment.
"LetI gol" she exclaimed. as she
told him. We'll have q drink and q
dance and another drink"
Don't you like this-petting?"
asked Bryant. Lets stay here!'
"Oh. Bryant. I'm all kissed outl'
answered Chatty. The day was too
much for me-" !.
Il should think it might be-
Chatty did not catch the dry note
IN Bryant's voice. did Mr.. Van get
that daughter stuff over to you?'
You know betterl" Chatty laugh
ed. Daughter. indeed But what
flapper did he have?'
"You tell EN- kid. I s%tutterl' Prv-
ant ended his ancient slang with q
kiss. Come on. II we've got to 60
Chatty did not lave a good time at
Winnie's until she had absorbed
some drinks. Dawes reproachful. an
gry. level eyes looked into hers I'M
til they became misty with the alco-
hol. But with the light h~eartedness
that followed the fourth cocktail
and the somewhat vapid but appar-
emily funny jokes OF the Famous
Four regret gave way TO a harder
feeling. Anger came back. Dave Jor-
dan couldn't bawl her out and gel
away with II. like thatl
She said SO. appropos OF nothing
suddenly.
"TTl saw ne canl" winnie's share
OF cocktails had made her complete
" forget how she had "bawled out
Chatty herself. "Chat. you ought e
get even with him, easy With al
that telephoning he does!'
I'm going tol" cried Chatty. I'm
oh, the floor IS going up and down
like a seal Funny floor. you got
Winniel Give us another-another-
you kn0w-er-cocktail!"
Every one laughed. 1t was too fun
ny. not knowing that a cocktail was
a cocktail And thinking a floor wa'
a seal Chattv chuckled. She felt
happy. She didn't mind the HARD
day or the harder words nowl But
she was going to get even with Mr.
Jordan He'd seeI
Chatty awoke with a headache
and cross. She always did after q
wild party" with Winnie. when the