Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-06
Twelfth lnstallment

"What have / done? "A woman
like mer Oh. yol-you-" She
began to sob, seeing his face
through a blur Of tears.
He laughed dryly.
you're defending your virtue
nova woman can always do that,
even when it's gone wrong. But
my dear Linda, do not misunder-
stand me I'll admit that you have
been pure-exemplary. But per-
haps that Is my fault. l made 1t
easy for you. / have paved the
way with-Stevens' checks" He
had been smoking one cigarette
after another-a puff, then flung
away. The ashes and stubs Uttered
the carpet around where he sat II
was absurd to see the tiny paper
rolls In his mouth. lost between
his pendulous cheeks. At a glance
he seemed TO be burning up inside.
I'VE r still bigoted enough TO
call the woman virtuous who has
never given herself to a man. 1
would be the last 10 rob you OF
that claim TO superiority, my dear
girl. We will say that you have
accepted a casket-from me-to
keep your virtue safely In. BY
this ambiguity the truth l. upheld
and no one offended" He paused.
But even by-borrowers-there is
a code to be considered"
She answered with effort: do
not dare to say that. You told me
you lied" Her voice was lost.
There was nothing she could say
when he looked at her like that.
Her face dropped upon her clasped
hands.
Il told the lie you wanted me
TO tell-the thing you wanted to be-
lieve." He shrugged. I'm the be-
ginning you were no doubt credu-
lous. But my dear young lady,
you were seventeen then and t.
norance is charming at that age.
You are now-twenty-four-twenty-
five? A lady who has travelled far.
You must have learned from all
this adventure" His calmness took
all the rebellion out Of her, and
when he went on after one Of those
devastating pauses she listened
with a muted face. The personal
note was vanishing from between
them and his words, flashing as
they were, failed to sting her soul
with the shame his naked ewes had
put upon her. He struck another
match TO his intermitable cigarette.
"You must have learned" he
went on slowly. that everything
has its price-it's give and take.
You must have known that the
years have formed a tie not TO be
broken easily"
1T Is broken now"
He gave her a long, steady look
from which passion had evaporated.
Then he said:
You are more selfish than most
women, Linda How did you learn
il? You we're a sweet child-once.
But ! don't suppose that you real
lie what breaking with me means
yet. What are you going to do?"
She shook her head II don't
know"
She was not thinking or conse-
quences. She was driven by an ir-
reSistible force to destroy one by
one those ties Of which he had
spoken. She had TO be free or him
ct any cost. II was like climbing
a black tortuous mountains to meet
a summit lighted by a marvellous
secret glow. Once this was over
there would be something for her
reward for loneliness-for the cold.
ness OF her night.
He looked at her again and
smiled. He could bide his time.
She was a little mad just now as
women are when they fancy a
man. He would have to wait n lit
tie longer.
You will not let the boy marry
the right woman, them" he said.
"You are determined to interfere,
Wei. he's f~rightfully poor, you
know. He can't afford to piay
around with women like you, and
you've got to be careful II you want
him to get on You'd ruin him IN
q week