Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-08
Thirteenth instailment
wNT Service

The door was not locked.
Through the mirror that she still
faced she saw 1t slowly open and
saw a man standing on the thresh-
old OF her room. He was a short
ftocky mar without age and with
out memorable features. You pass
twenty like him any afternoon
without seeing q Of them. Yet
there was a look OF strength. OF re-
sistance about him that made itself
felt through his unremarkable per-
sonality. As he advanced. closing
the door behind him. she retreated-
Her arm touched the mass OF gar
denias and the contact released a
burden Of heavy perfume. she
heard her name spoken and muir
INJURED:
Yes. 7 am Linda Roth"
Brian was waiting for her at the
entrance of the ball room as she
knew he would be. He looked at
her a~nxiously as IL aware Of some
vague alteration in her features.
This was not external for her
cheeks were delicately colored and
her eyes softer and more brilliant
than ever. She smiled but there a
GOODNESS in her smile that repealed
the warm eagerness of his greet
ing.
He had waited a long time and
neither men nor lovers like 10
wait.
"You are late, Linda"
Her white shoulder moved with
an ~imperceptible shrug. Il found
that / was tired Of dancing. | was
in half a mind not to come down"
The ~puzzlement Of his eyes deep
ened. That afternoon she had
promised 10 meet him here; ii was
arranged as II they had passed
hours In the planning, and now
this. With that faint. inc0mpre-
hensible smile she walked with him
through the length Of the room 10
the group where the presumable
hostess was TO be found
II was q OF those odd gather
ings where anyone who asks prop
erly for an invitation may fad 4
welcome. The lady whose name
appeared on the card was q shy.
bewlldered person In a frock that
had seemed very fine nj home but
was quite lost and effaced among
the frocks Of guests whose names
and faces were equally strange 10
her. People kept coming and going
while she smiled mechanically. She
did not know who Mrs Roth was,
or how she came to be there. but
she welcomed her with the rest.
Linda saw a dozen faces that
she knew and smiled at each Of
them in turn-a smile as icy and
impersonal as the hospitality they
shared. Then from the blur Of
moving figures she saw Converse.
his face distinct IN its purple out
line over the enormous white ex-
panse OF linen spread upon his
breast like a shield. AS their eyes
met his own sent a shaft OF malice
10 meet her impenetrable calm.
She smiled disdainfully. He should
not know even now that she was
afraid.
Then the music caught them and
she was moving away In Brian's
arms. for the last time. she thought
dreamily, threading through the
crowd Of unhappy, bored. unexcited
couples who made their way joy
lessly about the perfect floor to the
rhythm OF a perfect orchestra.
Brian's arm held her like steel.
She had remembered 1t so well F;
longed for IL again!
what have / done?' he asked.
But she withdrew herself ever SO
slightly.
He stopped abruptly. They were
near a palm-lined ante Don and
he drew her inside with an unex-
pected determination that on
trolled her studied defiance.
This was a new Brian. She
waited In silence wondering how
she would do what she had tc do.
is 1t necessary to be rude1' she
murmured.