Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-17
CHAPTER 46

OnAE AEh 40
Chatty had some encouragement
in her effort to keep her promise
and reorganize her nature; to make
herself over from a born talking
machine into a real business wom-
an. who doesn't talk any more than
she expects to be talked about.
Her mother noticed the differ
ence almost at once.
II declare. Chatty.' she began.
after Chatty had been at work a
week or so. Il don't know what's
come oveT youl You used to come
home and tell me everything about
the office. and now you never say
q thiDg!"
I'm trying not to gossip" ex-
planned Chatty. Il don't mean TO
be uncommunicative, mother, dear.
but if 1 talk to you about office
gossip I'm apt to talk elsewhere.
And / said / wouldn't"
We'll. that's finel I didn't know
that was at the bottom Of it'll" Her
mother sighed in relief. Il always
told you you talked too much"
Chatty was up in arms on the in
slant. It's one thing to tell your
self that you must keep a promise.
and quite another to be blamed for
talking too much by your motherl"
Il never did" Chatty assured
her. That was just your magma
ton. But things happened in the
office which made it seem as If 1
did. ! am back on a promise that
/ won't even give anyone a to
think / talk-even II / never didlr
II was a pretty lame defense. but
the best Chatty could think Of at
the moment.
Her mother smiled wisely and
said nothing. being a wise mother.
Billie and Winnie both noted
that Chatty was not living I'D To
her nickname. Billie said little
about II. But a pat on the arm. a
wise smile. a friendly gesture.
meant much from Billie. Chatty
still felt uncomfortable when she
remembered that she knew things
about George which Billie didn't
know: that girls talked about Bill
lie, and Billie didn't know it.
She felt uncomfortable. always.
when keeping anything to herself.
But she stuck to her plan TO be ST.
lent. even if 1t was hard
Winnie laughed az her. II de-
clare. you ri getting SO oyster
mouthe6 it's hard to get a yes or
a no out Of you. But maybe you'll
answer this: If 1 asked you to come
tonight to meet Bryant and jim,
will you Gomez"
Chatty smiled. In spite OF herself.
The dull ache in her heart needed
easing. Bryant-well. Bryant was
sweet. v en If he was dangerous.
And long repression of talk mad
made Chatty dull.
yes, Ill comet" she answered.
IL was a happy party. Pud wasn't
called IN to bring alcohol. Bryant
brought It with him. The apartment
was provided with plenty Of Or
anges. lemons. ginger ale. settler.
that the raw taste of the cooked"
spirits be disguised IN as many
ways rs possible. As usual there
was nothing to eat.
And as usual. there was a lot of
very frank necking. Jim and Win
ME kissed as unconsciously of OBJ
servation as If alone. Bryant was a
lowering bee. with Chatty's lips or
cheek or neck as the flower.
1t was late in the evening before
Bryant made the suggestion for
which Chatty had been hoping.
Let's all take a ride and cool Off,
"Eats?" suggested Winnie.
Why eat? You drink 10 kill care,
then you eat to kill the booze. and
then you 90 to sleep to forget the
eatsl Silly!" answered Bryant. and
they all laughed as if he had said
something really FUNNY
Jim had his v car-which
Chatty knew In advance. otherwise
she wouldn't have wanted to ride
SO she was alone with Bryant. II
was some time since she had ridden
with him, and to her amazement