Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-10-12

1t had a SHINY fitting waist. then
a bouffant skirt. Wearing Il, Celia
could almost have passed for a girl
Of 40 years ago.
She inspected herself doubtfully
in the mirror. Cela he'd no idea
the ld-fashioned effect was be-
coming. She thought OF Kate Dun
cans g~littering necklaces. After q
minute Celia opened her travelling
bag and drew out q small black
box. Inside was the little gold lock-
ct her mother had given her:
Celia fastened the chain about
her neck, decided the locket was an
improvement. Then she went down.
stairs.
No one was in sight In the living
room. Then she saw her father
standing before the window Of a
small room beyond.
AS she entered the doorway he
turned. It was the hour before sun
set. There were long shadows on
the lawn outside and fading light
within. Fon an instant the girl
seemed an apparition.
"Celial" the man said, you start
led me-"
II didn't mean to-
She came over beside Mitchell.
There was something strange In
his eyes. almost as though he had
never seen her before.
DO you Ike it?' she asked. smil-
ing.
Like what?"
The new dress. It's n Of those
Mrs. Parsons helped me buy. J
think II makes me look older. That's
why I wanted it,"
John Mitchell gazed down at his
daughter.
The dress IS very pretty he
said. Blue. isn't it?" He paused
and then added: Your mother used
to wear blue"
Celia nodded. II used TO try to
get her 10 have a blue dress. Only,
Of course. now she always wears
She has to wear that az the
store. and she says it's more prac-
Mitchell was looking out the win
dow again. For several moments
they did not speak.
Been having a good time down
he asked.
Yes"
"You seem doubtful. What's the
trouble?"
Celia hesitated. 'E~veryone's been
awfully nice to me-" she said, Its
oh. / guess it's my own fault. but
you see. I'm not used TO doing the
things these people do. ! hardly
know how to talk TO them. ! guess
it's because I've always just been at
horne.
The girls eyes were appealing.
Her father put an arm around her
shoulder-the first sign OF fatherly
affection Mitchell had ever shown.
II guess we're alike" he said slow
". "I've never taken time enough
fer play. either. That's all over
now. Over for both OF us"
The little gold locket caught his
eye.
Celia, where did you get that?"
Mitchell spoke sharply.
You mean the locket? oh, mo-
tner gave IL to me. It's an old one
shes had ever since I can remem-
Der. You see. I don't have her pic
ture. It-well. IL sort of makes me
feel rs though she weren't 50 far
away"
The man did not seem to be lis
tening. He had opened the tiny
gold case and was looking at the
picture OF Celia as a baby. The
other side OF the locket was bare.
"Fatherl Is anything the mat
ter?"
Nothing" he said. Nothing
Then John Mitchell really star
tied his daughter. He slipped both
arms around her and held her
close. They were standing thus
when Evelyn Parsons saw them.
Evelyn's sharp exclamation was
stifled. She turned away. The
tight line of her IL; distorted her
face and her eyes were like flames.
To be thwarted by such q little chit
Hatred for Celia Mitchell. hatred
that was blind and unreasoning-
overcane the woman.
She hurried from the room. At
dinner half an hour LATER Mrs.
Parsons smiled and presided at her