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

could not suspect fits own return.
But Linda smiled a faint rejec-
ton. she had not come to borrow.
From her black handbag she took
a sheaf OF stir papers. and before
they were Unfnlded nv caught the
familiar CLINT " rold leaf and pur-
plea hint OF flaming scarlet.
MY father left no money" eha
said slowly. but there r a great
many or these certificates. III you
will tell me how 10 sell them"
The senator was not m humorous
man, but he almost smiled at that
Sell theml But he put out his
cushioned paw and took the papers,
managing 10 touch her fingertips.
"Of course. my child" he wheeEed.
pretty little girls must have
money"
Then he asked her what she was
going to 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. blushing hatefully as
she said IN.
"Ah,r exclaimed the senator de-
l~iEhredlv. rolling his tongue. Mar
ry. That shouldn't be difficult. my
dear, with your attractions" he
vas on familiar ground now. and
edged his great chair closer TO 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 ~ 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 tvfnge
OF conscience and q spasmodic de-
sire n 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 of life. Something would be
sold; something would pay ar IN.
fnitesimal dividend. and LINDA
would have enough to pay her
dressmakers 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 it up against her account, he
promised with a fat laugh. she
got w some OF her repulsinn. but
that was because he was wary. Hn
knew that any female thing would
be appalled, by him until its wings
were. broken.
Cousin Amy spoke to her husband
about the senator. He ~ enor-
mously rich. He has never been
married, and II Is very strange that
he should manage so well with all
that worthless paper poor Jim left
He agreed. He was darn glad he
hadn't been expected TO handle the
stuff. but IL was too bad taste "a
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 10 used to be,
but he didn't like California either,
he told Linda. ten minutes after
they met. There was nothing 10
California but pavement, N vulgar
climate. and pictured postcard
scenery.
Her attention was claimed.
what is a vulgar cllmate'!7 she
asked. laughing.
Weather that has no reserves
ne answered instantly. Perpetual
" smiling skies are like a 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 so to her OF her
own sex. She was both piqued and
interested.
You mean you like 20 20 about
with r~aincoats and rugs7r
He nodded. Possibly. But I
like uncertainty. l like to see the
sun cloud over and the end OF a
rainy day"
Then YOU like caprlcious WON
en-" said Linda thoughtfuIly.
IL be did he had ample opportu.
nifty to prove 1t In the whirlwind
month that followed, for Linda
never knew until the day after she
married him whether she cared or
not.