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

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 10 her.
Has anything happened?"
Chatty had not intended to say
J anything about her experience at
home. But at 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 it really was. but the way she
wanted to think 1t occurred.
"And I hadn't done a 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 himI But Ill 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 HIN. But she. herself.
was tried and worn; the sewing was
eve 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 very wise.
TITS your tongue. Chatty-the un-
rr'v member as the Scriptures nut
it-that you can't controll It's talked
YOU into trouble time after timel
Why can't YOU learn to keep it be-
meath your teeth?"
"Oh. YOU tool" cried Chatty. "Ev-
eryone IS against mel" And in a pls-
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 It. and
Mr.. Van Nuys told her SO. and David
Jordan-the girls who had not open-
" condemned her looked sympathet-
ic with Winnie
"I do not gossiDi" Cattv assured
herself. IT'S lust INV hard iuckl And
that sneaking David Jordan to listen
A. - -TFGmm~ - &1n rfwNcfV
Chattv didn't stoD 10 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
lsipDed out Of her room. went to the
corner grocery and telephoned Bry-
ant Dunning.
For ire love OF Mike. come and
ret mel I need youl" she cried into
the phone. Don't come 70 the house
meet me on the cornerl"
she shrank a little at his exclama-
ton Of delight.
but / won't 70 70 his rooms
againl" she assured herself. III
iust-irst have another automobile
lesS0nl" -.
but her automobile lesson that
night consisted largely IN parking
in A lonely road. resting in Bryant's
open and welcoming arms n pelng
kissed. Chatty was openly "necKng
with him now. 1t was not until elev-
en- at night that she had remember
ed that Winnie had asked her 70
bring Bryant to her apartment.
"Ieti gol" she exclaimed. as she
told him. We'll have q drink and q
dance and another drink"
Don't you like this-petting2"
asked Bryant. Lets stay here!"
"Oh. Bryant. I'm all kissed out!'
answered Chatty. The day was too
much for me"
Il should think 1t might be-"
Chatty did not catch the dry note
in Bryant's voice. did Mr.. Van get
that daughter stuff over to your"
You know betterl" Chatty laugh
ed. Daughter. indeed! But what
flapper did he have?'
"You tell 'em kid. I stutterl" Rrv-
ant ended his ancient slang with a
kiss. Come on. If we've got to 60"
Chatty did not lave a good time at
Winnie's until she had absorbed
some drinks. Dawes reproachful. an
CRY. level eyes looked into hers I'M
til they became misty with the alco-
hol. But with the light heartedness
that followed the fourth cocktail.
and the somewhat vapid but appar-
emily funny jokes or the famous
Four" regret gave way to q harder
feeling. Anger IT back. Dave Jor-
dan couldn't bawl her out and get
away with 1t. like thatl
She said SO. appropos OF nothing.
suddenly.
Ell saw he cant" Winnie's share
Of cocktails had made her complete
ly forget how she had "bawled out"
Chatty herself. "Chat. you ought to
get even with him, easyl With all
that telephoning he doesi"
I'm going tol" cried Chatty. I'm
oh, the floor is going up and down
like a sea! Funny floor, you got,
Winniei Give us another-another-
you know-er-cOcktail!"
Every one laughed. It was too fun
ny. not knowing that a cocktail was
q cocktail And thinking a floor was
a seal Chattv chuckled. She felt
happy. She didn't mind the hard
day or the harder words nowi But
she was going to get even with Mr..
Jordan. He'd seei