Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-05-26

could not suspect its Wi return.
But Linda smiled a faint re1ec-
ton. She had not come TO borrow.
From her black handbag she took
a sheaf OF sti6 papers, and before
they were unfolded he caught the
familiar CLINT or gold leaf and pur-
plea hint OF flaming scarlet.
my father left no money" she
said slowly. but there are a great
many OF these certificates. II you
will tell me how 10 sell them
The senator was not a humorous
man. but he almost smiled at that
Sell themt But he put out his
cushioned paw and took the papers,
managing 10 touch her fngertipS.
"Of course. my child."h he wheezed.
'-rretty little girls must have
money"
Then he asked her what she was
going 10 do. and Linda for the first
time looked childish and bewil-
dered. Do? She stammered out
that she supposed she would live
with Cousin Amy and some day
would marry. bIushing hatefully as
she said IL.
"Ah," exclaimed the senator de-
lightedlv. rolling his tongue. Mar
rvi That shouldn't be difficult. my
dear, with your attractions" de
was on familiar ground now. and
edged his great chair closer 10 hers.
Linda rot up quickly. please
sell the stock for me-" she pleaded
and suddenly her poise dropped
away and she was a child. young
and afraid.
The senator was touched. TOO
young 10 have planned anything"
he thought. There isn't any man
yet-just silly talk. She can have
all the money she wants-for q
year or two"
The first week Of the following Sep
TENDER did not find Linda In the
city again. At that uncomfortable
period of the year she would be
with the Ralstons at their Long
island place or with some other
distant relative who had "a tw1nge
OF conscience and a spasmodic de-
sire "a do something for the family
orphan.
she was not unhappy. because
she was not penniless. The stocks
owned BY poor Jim occasionally
surprised every one by exhibiting
"A stir or life. Something would be
sold: something would pay an IN.
fnitesimal dividend. and LINDA
would have enough TO pay her
dressmaker's bill or the expenses
az a cabin across. She saw Con-
verse occasionally. and he always
urged her 10 have a good time and
spend what she wanted; he would
chalk il up against her account, he
promised with q fat laugh. She
got over some OF her repulsion. but
that was because he was wary. He
knew that any female thing would
be appalled, by him until its wings
were, broken.
Cousin Amy spoke 10 her husband
about the senator. He t. enor-
mousIv rich. He has never been
married. and it ~ very strange that
he should manage so well with all
that worthless paper poor Jim eft.S
He agreed. He was darn glad he
hadn't been expected to handle tho
stuff. but IL was too bad taste to
discuss. even for them, and the sub
Ject was quickly taboo.
Linda met Courtney Roth at Cor.
onado. He had run out there to see
what il was like, he said, for Eu-
rope wasn't what III used 10 h.,
but he didn't like California either,
he told Linda, ten minutes after
they met. There was nothing 70
California but pavement, a vulgar
climate, and pictured postcard
scenery.
Her attention was claimed.
"What Is IN vulgar climate'Yr she
asked. laughing
Weather that has nc reserves"
he answered instantly. Perpetual
ly smiling skies are like n woman
who laughs because she has no
sense
She did not like the way he said
that. There was something cold
and bitter in his voice. Men did
not usually speak 50 10 her of her
own sex She was both pIqued and
interested.
You mean you like to 70 about
with raincoats and rugsg"
He nodded. Possibly. But ]
like uncertainty. / like TO see the
sun cloud over and the end or u
rainy day"
Then you like capricI0us won
en-" said Linda thoughtfully.
II he did he had ample opportu.
nifty to prove it in the whirlwind
month that followed, for Linda
never knew until the day after she
married him whether she cared Nv
not.
60 BE coSTNuEDo