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

Twelfth InstaIIment
what have / done? "A woman
like me- Oh, you-you-" She
began TO sob, seeing his face
through a blur of tears.
He laughed dryly.
you're defending your virtue
nova woman a always do that,
even when its gone wrong. But,
my dear Linda, 10 not miSuLder-
stand me. Ill admit that you have
been nure-exemplary. But per-
haps that Is my fault. T made IL
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. 1t
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 are still bigoted enough TO
call the woman virtuous who has
never given herself to q man. 7
would be the last to 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 Is upheld
and no n offended" He paused.
But even INSTRUMENTATION is
a code 10 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.
II told the lie you wanted me
TO tell-the thing you wanted to be-
lieve-" He shrugged. In the be
ginning you no doubt credu-
lous. But, my dear young lady,
you were seventeen then and ig-
norance is charming at that age.
You r 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 q 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 eyes 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 q long, steady look
from which passion had evaporated.
Then he said:
You are more selfish than most
women. Linda. How did you learn
ID? You were a sweet child-once.
But ! don't suppose that you real
ize what breaking with me means
yet. What are you going to dog"
She shook her head. Il don't
know"
She was not thinking OF conse-
quences. She was driven by an IT.
resistible force 10 destroy one by
one those ties of which he had
spoken. She had TO be free Of him
at any cost. IL was like climbing
a black %tortuous mountains 10 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 az 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 a lit
tie longer.
You viii not let the boy marry
the right woman. then" he said.
"You are determined 70 interfere.
Wei, he's frightfully poor, YOU
know. He can't afford to play
around with women like you, and
you've got to be careful If you want
him to get on You'd ruin him In
n Week-s