Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-10-23

until father knows Tod and admits
he was wrong. I mean about say
ing that I mustn't see him. !
wouldn't for the world let Tod sus-
pect father didn't like himl"
"Of course not. Wise little girl
There III altogether too many
other pretty girls and women ready
10 come at the crook OF Tod ror-
dams little finger. Sometimes when
I see this fond sutton approach I'm
almost jealous Of you myself. dear
"Oh, Evelyn!" Celia laughed
you're 50 good and kind and
sweet 1 can't imagine you being
jealous. Why. that's funnyl"
Mrs. Parsons acknowledged the
compliment with a smile.
Well. don't be too sure OF your
young mani" she tainted. "II
leave him alone. but there are
others I wouldn't trust"
The younger girl broke q muf-
fin and buttered ID: There's one
thing that worries me. You see
Barney-remember. ! told you
about him? Well. he isn't going
with any other girls. It doesn'i
seem quite right for me 70 let Tod
come TO see me when / know how
hard Barney IS working and never
having any fun"
How are you SO sure OF that?'
Why. he told me 70. And any.
how, he never goes with othe,
grls!"
Evelyn Parsons laughter was
Scornful trill.
My darling" she said patroniz-
ingly, when you've lived as Ions
as l have youll never believe pref
" speeches like that from men
Oh, / won't say that they don'i
NEAR them-at the timel Never
mind about your Barneyt Hell.
take care Of himself. The thinf
for you 10 do Is enjoy yourself and
IL young men want to show YOU
attentions. thank your stars!"
i suppose you're right" Celia
agreed hesitantly. She did not tel
Evelyn that what really worried
her was the fact she had received
only one letter from Barney
Shields. There we're times when
Tod Jordan. for all his fascination
paled in Importance 10 the youth
In Baltimore.
That afternoon she went to hel
room. wrote a long letter to Bar
ney and walked 10 the postbox al
the corner OF the drive and mailed
il.
The days at hardwood passed
pleasantly. Celia wandered about
the garden pretending TO help Der
with his work. She listened TO his
stories for hours, learned the kind
OF soil in which deep-fringed blue
asters thrive best. and how TO war
on pests that attack rose bushes.
Often she and Mrs. Parsons drove
TO the country club for tea. or later
in the evening Evelyn enjoyed her
bridge and Celia danced or amused
herself with the younger crowd.
List Duncan came for her or
two separate afternoons and they
drove to the beach. Celia summed
herself lazily on the sand while
Lisi swan and played in the break
ers. Wherever Lisi went there was
always a group gathered around
her. Lisi accepted Celia as one OF
her playmates. and others followed
unquestioningly.
Celia's father adopted the habit
Of driving to hardwood two or
three evenings each week. Occa-
sionally he arrived in time fol
dinner. sometimes later. He seemed
drawn by the home-like atmos-
phere of the place. On these eve-
nings Evelyn Parsons always spent
a little more time at her dressing
table. She affected sheer black
and white or pale green Costume:
which brought out the gold or her
hair. She wore perfume with the
faintest touch OF heady, exotic
sweetness.
Wnen 2 three OF them were TO-
gether Evelyn found frequent op-
portunities for showing her affec-
ton for Celia. She praised the
girl constantly. At such times
John Mitchell looked pleased.
Tod Jordan called often. Some
times he drove down in the after
noon. II did not seem strange Il
Celia that Jordan eve was ham
pered by business ties. IN thi.
new world men and women botr
lived ~leisurely. No one she knew
seemed TO work except her father
Once or twice she had heard Jor-
dan speak vaguely Of invest
ments." Celia supposed that re
lieved him OF labor.
As the days slipped by she be-
gan 10 take a new interest In Jor-
dan. No answer had arrived from
her letter TO Barney. When Celia