Evening star., 1919-12-21


ly at her door. once, twice, thrice, and
between each rap her heart beat with
twice its tempo against her breast.
Then her stealthy hand turned the
white china knob and released it so
that it sprang backward with click
who's that?'
ME, Dee Dee"
Her voice was swathed in whisper
She could hear the plong of the
bedsprng, the patter of bare feet
across the floor; feel the slight aper-
ture of the opening door. She oozed
through the slit.
"All right. Dee Dee"
God! IL must have been sound
asleep. What time is it?
1T isn't late, Dee Dee
Light the gas"
IL can undress in the dark"
Light the gas"
Light it, I say"
ITS lit. Dee Dee"
The figure in the center of the
room, in her high-necked, long
sleeved nightdress, her sparse hair
drawn with unpleasant tension from
her brow. her pale eyes wide, moved
forward step, one bare foot, call
loused even across the instep, ex-
tended.
'Lit?'
Dee Dee, what's the natter"
"Gimme-my glasses"
She took them from Miss Barnets
trembling fingers and curved them
about her ears
Quit your nonsense now and LIGHT
the gas. I amt in no humor for
foolin'. Quit waving that little spark
in front of me. Light the gas.
amt going to look at the clock. I'm
done worrying about your CARVINGS
on. I'm done. Light the gas, Sadie,
there's good girl. Light the gas" ..,
Dee Dee! My God! Dee Dee. L
l tell you it's lit--big".
There's good girl, Sadie. Don't
fool your old aunt"
See, ,dearie, / amt fooling. See.
the gas-jet here beside the dresser
Look-1 can't turn it no higher. Hear
IL sing and splutter. You amt awake
good yet,-Dee Dee"
Snence-the ear-splittine silence
that all in its brief moment is cram
med with years and years upon years.
cold gray wash seemed suddenly to
now over Miss Worries face.
Put your finger next to the gas
lame. iou--you're lying to me to
to fool your old aunt Lemme feel
my finger get burnt"
Thew nOVAd ithaca tuz
moor, their blanched faces straiuing
ahead. With the sudden sting of heat
finally across her palm, reddening 1t.
MISS Worte flung wide her arms and
her head backward, and her voice
tore out without restraint.
God: God! God." And she fell,
to trembling so that her knees gave
way under her and she crouched on
the moor with her face barred to the
ceiling, rocking herself back and
forth, beating her fists against her
fat breasts.
God! God. God.
Dee Dee, darling, it amt nothing.
A little too much strain. that's all
'Shh-h-h! Lemme bathe them.
'Shhh-h-h. my darling. oh. my God.
darling! 'Shh.h-h"
"Lemme 60! Lemme go. He told
me today it would come like this.
only he didn't say how soon. Not
fow soon. I'm done for. l tell you.
I'm done: Kill me. Sadie; ii. you love
me, kill me! He told me and
wouldn't believe it! Kill me. girl, and
put me out of 1t! ! can't breathe in
the dark. I can't. ] can't! l cant
live in the dark with my eyes open.
XIII me. girl. and put me out of it
kin me. Kill me-" 8
Dee Dee. my darling. amt right
Lers with you? Didn't you always
say. darling, when 1t came you--
you'd face it?"
Like 81. Cecilia. who could not die.
size crouched. and the curve OF her
acx rose and fell.
20 God! OH"
DAG Dee darling, try not TO holler
out SO! Maybe 1t amt for---for good.
Aw. darling. keep your head down
here next to me! Feel how close am.
Dee Dee, right here next to you
'Shh-h-h! o Cod Dee Dee darling,
youH khl yourself going on like That.