Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-09-19


that Margaret Rogers climbed the
two flights Z stairs leading to the
third floor rear rooms which she
and her daughter occupied. She
climbed slowly. stopping on she
second floor landing TO rest before
starting up the last flight.
The stairway was dark. It vas
hotter than the street had been.
and the ~airsreeked OF a dozen fetid
doors. Margaret Rogers took nc
notice of the unpleasant smell. II
was all so familiar. She and Celia
had lived in these third floor quar-
tiers for six years.
Before that there had been 9TH
er dreary rooms. high up in equal
iy dilap.dated houses converted"
for housekeeping purposes. Tucked
away in her memory Celia Rogers
still retained the vision Of a diff
ferent sort Of home. cheerful with
SUNLIGHT ard flowers and bright
furniture. Celia had been such 2
little girl ther--not vet five. The
cheerful home had gone srTn after
the night Daddy Bob failed % come
home.
They neve did bring Bob ROGERS
home. The street car which strrc
him left TIE body terrifically dis
firu-ad ard unrecognizable.
After that had come a succession
C rconing houses and then "furn-
isttf rooms" Bob Rogers had
PLAYED his violin in a theater or
chestra. Practical considerations
such as insurance and savings ac-
counts never had interested him Sc
much as his lovely melodies.
SO Margaret ROGERS had left her
five-year-old dauohter az the school
house each morning and gone on
10 a dav OF sewing. Later she had
obtained the position in the shop
fitting and stitching gowns. 1t was
pleasanter. better paw. and n had
provided the money for Celia's
schooling.
The girl mad fretted as she grey
older. noting her mothers drawn
face and tired res Celia had talk
cd impetlouslv Of leaving school tO
work and ease the burden. Mrs
Roqers always replied firmly. Celia
she insisted. was TO lea~r a better
way TO earn a livlnr. Celia was tr
have training. The hiph school cor
mercial course seemed to offer thc
best oDDortunitv. Together they had
acN'eved this goal.
Morninr. Noon and night nvarv
thing that Nargaref ParerS did AMI
thorght was for Celia. The girl
was her pride. She bal c~on'river
fro-ks for har. mode If 'ha Cheap
est materials. hitt alwavs attractive
a~I h~a~0rrino. hv S~evi~o e-a~i~r~
She had maraoal household fasre
to rive Celia ti~ra fo- rar Sf1-'ns
More than that. Ma~~arat has
m~~a~ed ~ i-,h'-a 4Na frrl1al ha~,r
rrEta = d'o-itv which e~~~-s-= ha-
Se''~H4n- N accent poverty without
e~-'~i ~ssfvrna
Wv r-a had soma - ~ e. ~aIi~
~~'-i.A not have nv~faf~o7 Tani-
100 -~~-r ----n F--~'-hnl --fah ba~e
--r~-esFs~- Th~i- ~r-~-,,~-- u-a~o
80 sirria~4 INT Gotta ,,~dars44@S
49, ~~~4--- ---r mt iii-e 4ra In-td-
vr'~@f Nv ~~rno~S acr0es ~
hall. nor ~ r~-,~Tafrirg Nr-e
Eacn-. who s0~~e1 ~ ~4~1 e-a-v
ora who Da~~oI 49, -o-~~1 @~~-
doorway ~ ~-a1-to $50 1a~4 -
relation. Mr- ro~~e-S r-as ~ i'i--
arvcre else who dwelt in the build
lnv.
IT rers> has heo, ors-- a -
have n~cr-rrI 70 ho- tnat mover
once hai she r~arG ha~ mother
sneak Of ha- ~i-lh0aI. Naifhe- had
she ever head ha- r7otr-ar s~eak
of relatives. Surely there were Sc
cretS behind that r-eS c1-rn+ar~roa
which no one who saw her daily
guessed.
The girl ~'ood wai+irp for her
mother 90 TIE head Of the stairs.
Tired, aren't you. hcney?" she
said.
Mrs. Rogers nodded. but her face
lighted as she answered:
Il had TO STAY on to finish an
order SO II could 90 ont t0rirht.
Yes. I'm tired. My, what a day it's
heeri"
There vas no marked resemb-
lance between mother and daueh-
ter. Celia was taller-five feet
four-and slim. Mrs. Rogers was
two inches shorter. Her hair was
dark brown instead of the bright.
lustrous shade of Celia's almost
chestnut locks. None OF their fea-