The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-29

establishment: HE wants me
really does"
And that made her eyes close
because of a thankfuIness--m
her mind glow with the image of
him.
She sat down on the window
sill, waiting for this melting tide
Of feeling to ebb-waiting till her
thoughts were calm.
1t was spring now-two years
and more since that January when
Chickie's child was born; nearly
three years since that May when
Barry Dunno had left her. She
had gone long road.
She looked back at 1t now in this
arousing Lnoment--She could raise
her deadlock quietly at noun.
tain tops and stars. She had a
right to do this-a right to the
proudness in her thoughts.
She was no longer conquered by
a blasting and a coward shame.
She measured ner spirit with
others and knew it was as sound;
knew it was as pure.
Yet she could accept with reso.
Lutte quiet a different path than
other girls her age would take.
She could feel q yearning for a
tenderness and a great beauty of
love. But she could also close
her eyes swiftly with a fright.
ened: "No-not for me!''
She wanted Jake's friendship;
loved the glad hours they spent
together. Even her thought
would venture no further.
Withal in the days that fol-
lowed, his image was forever con-
fronting her. Now she heard him
say with a gallant tenderness: II
ask you most politely, will you
take away my chains? You can
make the man finer nor silk"
Then she half wondered IL she
had a right to consider only her
self, or If perhaps, with him want
ing her so, she should take him
Whenever this phase came up.
permost she grew hot and faint.
In her Utmost vision she felt
that to marry Jake now would be
surrender. 1t would be accepting
his wealth, his position, his big.
ness and allowing these to do for
her what she had determined to
do for herself.
He could make the world ac-
cept her. She had dreamy pic.
lures of herself on a steamer
bound for Europe and Jake bend
ing over her. Ah-his was a
proud fearless love. Much he
cared for the whisperings. the
shabby gossip, the hurt to his
prestige. She would be his wife.
He would make them bow!
He wanted to bring her all the
beauties Of life. He said he would
make her way his way.
But she knew that. as Jake's
wife, she would be the beloved
and the pampered one. Gifts
would be laid at her feet: her
days would he filled with the
thought of herself-Chickie and
her wants.
Could she go back now to this
pretty, shallow way? This bright
road of Disqualification? She had
walked it once with what peril?
And noyv, here in the hospital.
she saw another way. She saw
those who forgot that it was time
TO sleep. time to eat, time to
grow weary. She saw one COM
ing in the middle of the night
and working silent hours to ease
another's pain-this other even a
stranger
She wanted to fling her life out
gloriously like that-do her part:
have that brilliant. exalted light
about her face. She wanted to
go a bigger and higher road.
She couldn't quit now-no one
should ask it.
Afterwards, when she had won
when she had climbed up and
up-why. il Jake wanted her then
If perhaps his love endured
why. then, he could ask again.
Something like this she told him
a few nights before he left.
He said to her: did 1 come too
soon. Chickie, and that's the rea-
SOM"
''No-iRs not that, Jake"
He had his arm resting behind
her and he said, softly: Tell me
all you've thought. Come now
I'll have a few threads Of hope"
rs it selfish, Jake, because I
want to finish? This is the big.