Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-10-23

until father knows Tod and admits
he was wrong. 7 mean about say
ing that l mustn't see him. !
wouldn't for the world Leu Tod sus-
pect father didn't like him!"
OF course not. Wise little girl
There are altogether too many
other pretty girls and women ready
70 come a. the crook Of Tod Jor-
dams little finger. Sometimes when
1 see this fond sutton approach I'm
almost jealous Of you myself, dear"
oh. Evelyni" Celia laughed.
you're so good and kind and
sweet I can't imagine you being
jealous. Why, that's funnyi"
Mrs. Parsons acknowledged the
compliment with a smile.
Well. don't be too sure OF your
young mani she tainted. "Il
leave him alone. but there are
others I wouldn't trust"
The younger girl broke a muf-
fin and buttered ID: There's one
thing that worries me. You see,
Barney-remember, I told you
about him? Well. he isn't going
with any other girls. II doesn't
seem quite right for me to let Tod
come to see me when I know how
hard Barney is working and never
having any fun"
How are you SO sure OF that?"
Why. he told me so. And any,
how. he never goes with other
grls!"
Evelyn Parsons laughter was a
scornful trill.
My darling" she said patroniz-
ingiy. when you've lived a. long
as I have you'll never believe pref
~ speeches like that from men.
On. I won't say that they don't
mean them-at the timel Never
mind about your Barney He'll
ta.so care OF himself. The thing
for YOU 10 do is enjoy yourself and
IF young men want to show you
attentions, thank your starsl"
4 suppose you're right" Celia
agreed h~esitartly. She did not tell
Evelyn that what really worried
her was the fact she had received
only one letter from Barney
Shields. There were times when
Tod Jordan. for all his fascination
paled In Importance to the youth
IN Baltimore.
That afternoon she went to her
room. wrote a long letter 10 Bar
ney and walked 10 the postbox at
the corner OF the drive and mailed
II.
The days az hardwood passed
pleasantly. Celia wandered about
the garden pretending TO help Ben
with his work. She listened to his
stories for hours, learned the kind
Of soil in which deep-fringed blue
asters thrive best. and how TO war
on pests that attack rose bushes.
Often she and Mrs. Parsons drove
TO the country club for tea. or later
III the evening Evelyn enjoyed her
bridge and Celia danced or amused
herself with the younger crowd.
Lisi Duncan came for her on
two separate afternoons and they
drove to the beach. Celia summed
herself lazily on the sand while
L!si swan and played in the break
erS. Wherever Lisi went there was
always a group gathered around
her. Lisi accepted Celia al OF
her playmates. and others followed
unquestioningly.
Celia's father adopted the habit
Of driving to hardwood two or
three evenings each week. Occa-
sionally he arrived in time for
dinner, sometimes later. He seemed
drawn by the home-like atmos-
phere OF the place. On these eve
nings Evelyn Parsons always spent
a little more time at her dressing
table. She affected sheer black
and white or pale green Costumes
which brought out the gold Of her
hair. She wore perfume with the
faintest touch Of heady, exotic
sweetness.
When the three or them were to-
gether Evelyn found frequent OPP
portunities for showing her affec-
ton for Celia. She praised the
girl constantly. At such times
JNliA AAAIIAAtAA 4OOACG P4CA0-G
Tod Jordan called often. Some
times he drove down In the after
noon. III did not seem strange r.
Celia that Jordan never was ham
pered by business ties. IN this
new world men and women botr
lived leisurely. No one she knew
seemed to work except her father
Once or twice she had heard Jor-
dan speak vaguely OF invest
ments." Celia supposed that re-
lieved him OF labor.
AS the days slipped by she be-
gan TO take a new interest In Jor-
dan. No answer had arrived from
her letter TO Barney. When Celia