The Washington times., 1924-01-10

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where love has anything to do
with it,"
"Oh, you don't!
well, everyone that loves
doesn't"
Mary gave her a quick ap-
praisement. "Awfully wise. aren't
you2"
.'What about yourself, Mary"
They lowered their voices.
speaking eagerly. now and then
blushing and laughing. They did
q great deal Of this hushed talk
ing; this mysterious speculation.
They wondered bitingly about
life, about love, about their own
mothers and fathers and about
these older Blake girls.
They were always talking about
Lucy-poOr LucyI
Lucy was only twenty-eight--
the oldest of the Blake family
she was married five years and
already had four children. They
pitied her.
Lucy returned, her arms loaded
with bundles; her brown hair fly
ing. As she approached, all the
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once, Lucy dropped her bundles.
seeming to have q dozen arms
gathering them to her and cooing
happily. "Hush, now, mothers
littla precious; hush now"
She tuO,ed to the two girls,
giving them little box Of choc-
olate peppermints, saying with
deep gratitude: You're just an
gels!' / don't know whatever in
the world I'd do without you.
By'm bye, when your turn comes,
I'll be around and give you a
hand"
They looked at each other,
their faces crimson and then be-
gan to litter.
did you get that?" Mary whis-
pered after they bade Lucy good
bye and were walking down the
block. when our turn comes!
Well, none of that for mine! /
can thank my sisters for opening
my eyes,"
"Oh, everyone doesn't have
hard time like Lucy does."
Chickie interrupted.
mo, that's what Lucy thought
five years ago and suppose
mother didn't think that too,
when she was young. Look what
they got!'
Chickie closed her ears. What
a grating way Mary had of pok-
ing these unpleasant things right
in your nose! Chickie preferred
to waive aside such solid realities
as children with grubby faces.
She wanted love to be as she
dreamed 1t, an undefinable sweet.
ness that folded about her, lead
ing her along with music in her
ears.
She could never couple love
with peeling potatoes: with put
ting fresh papers on the kitchen
shelves; with rusning down tIWII
on dollar day to buy rompers for
fat little legs. Lucy Adams might
do this and call it love. Matha
Blake, Mary's mother, might do
IL.
Chickie had other fancies. She
often saw herself walking IN
some mountain top, a magnifi-
cent, laughing fellow at her side.
his arm about her. They would
watch the sun set or the moon
rise. They would kiss. At this
touching moment the picture be-
came immortal; Chickie's thought
went no further.
Now, all her dreams were con-
centrated on one tall, brown hair
ed lad of nineteen. What, was he
doing today? Was he tremulous-
ly searching the streets for a
chance meeting with her? Was
he remembering, like the scent If
flowers, the touch of her lips on
his? She forgot Mary and drew
a sigh from the very inside of
her heart.
"Well," Mary said, gasping,
breathe in the whole earth, why
don't you?"
Chickie laughed and stammered:
"Oh, isn't it a perfectly gorgeous
day?"
Mary mocked. Gee! Chickie. i
didn't think you'd fall so hard"'
Chickie flounced about. I'm
sure 1 don't know what you're
talking about?'
"Oh, you don't hey? Well, there
ne is, standing right on the cor
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don't start in to giggle."
Chickie felt all hot; all shaking
from head to foot; she didn't dare
glance in the direction of Mary's
eyes, but she waited, her breath
swelling SO she felt that 1t was
tearing her in two.
''Is he coming over, Mary?"
"Is who coming over?" Mary
"I thought you didn't
know what I was talking about"
Chickie manager to look up.
Young Arthur calmly swept off his
hat, but gave not the slightest
evidence of rushing to her feet.
They passed on. Chickie trem-
bled as though she had walked
flame. She was unbeliev-
ably Inundated; afraid Of Mary's
thoughts. Until presently Mary
the tension with an ex.
citing: "Oh, didn't, he get red.
though? Gee! Chiclie, he's crazy
about you."
Chickie could have thrown her
arms about Mary's neck. She
whispered softly. do you think
so, Mary?"
"well, do II"
Chickie drifted back into the
warm glow Of her dream.
He cared for her. From the
heights Of sweet ecstasy, she
sighed wistfully.