Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-29
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And I have come to undo, as far as
I can. the harm / did"
Mrs. Van Mugs sat silent a mo-
ment, then began to ask questions.
Very gently she probed; it seemed
hard for her to believe. There was
no animus in her questions, no an
ger, only q hurt, wondering fear.
AT last she ceased questioning, to
sit very silent, thinking, thinking,
for full five minutes.
II knew Mr.. Van Mugs was not
not what he seemed to you TO be-"
she said at last. But even good
mel sometimes Stray-after strange
and younger faces. Now I know
that he didn't do even that. It's
a great, great relief" she sighed
again.
Chatty nodded. It was a relief
to her, too.
Some day. my dear. you will
marry q good mani" Mrs. Van Mugs
went ON. An icy hand clutched at
Chatty's heart. No, no, mol That
was not for her ..."And you Will
be Jealous Of his love for you. and
it will all but kill you II you think
he locks at another woman. We w0-
men are like that. But you wiz for
give him, because you love him. And
then" the elder woman gave q
little sob-"if you find out you had
nothing to forgive-why then-wh'
then"
Can you ever forgive Me? asked
Chatty, humbly. II do not deserve
ii. I don't expect it-but On. 7 do
Mrs. Van Nuys smiled. why. Of
counsel" she said. What good
would 1t do, not tor"
And that's that" exulted Chat
ty, as she walked away from her
last martyrdom- To her mother,
then, she told what she had done
told her she had made full confess
sion to all three people she had
so deeply wronged; told her she
had spared herself not at all
But, my dearI Why didn't you
tell me you were going to? ! could
have helped you, comforted you,
strengthened you-it must have
been frightfully hardl"
1T wasl" grinned Chatty. Hard
Is not the right word. Tough. rough,
skiddy going. I tell you'll I didn't
ask help from you. Mother, because
I did all the dirty work-it was UP
To me to eat my words by myself.
But I feel-oh, I know ! can't undo
the suffering, but ! feel clean
cleanl"
And Billie's coming home to-
morrowI" Her mother changed the
subject deity. Mothers are very
wise, sometimes; they know when
daughters hearts are filled to the
brim; sometimes they know when
they are breaking, too, and why
but wise mothers don't tell every
thing they know.
Chatty cast herself wildly into
Billie's arms when she and George
returned. She kissed her as II she
could not let her 60
Here, herel" acclaimed George.
Leave a couple for mel"
~You subsidel" answered Billie.
why Chatty, dear. how much bet
ter you look What has happened?
There's a light in your eyes" She
drew Chatty off into another room
"Chatty C~hattertonl Have you
made up with Dave?"
Chatty shook her head. mo, dear.
Hell never look at me again. +
know that. But I'm happier than
I have been for a long, long time"
Then Chatty told why.
The steak set made q great hit.
George was strong for steak. it ap-
peared, and steak never tasted good
unless cut with a proper knife.
Chatty was made free OF the apart
ment where George and Billie
would stay for a week or SO, until
they could set a larger ne. She
fitted in and out. almost happy. al
thought the sight or Billie with her
man was sometimes a little too
heart-rending to sustain.
SO she might have been. with her
man, married, In an apartment, get