The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-25
CHAPTER Lxxv.

IEuCos
Chickie waited. She glanced
about the restaurant as though
hers was the happiest heart in
the world. She nodded to men
and girls. But her eyes were on
the door. Each time 1t swung,
her breath caught holly.
And now II was q quarter to /.
And the waitress who had served
them both q hundred times said:
"Wiu you wait longer?p
Chickie pretended .frown Of
impatience, saying lightly. well
us working girls, you know,
haven't year for lunch" She
ordered q sandwich and coffee.
She broke the sandwich, left IL
untasted on her plate; swallowed
the coffee, keeping her eyes low
cred over the cup. She thought:
"Oh-writing that letter! Begging
him! But he wants It ended:
wanted an excuse"
The bitterness Of this suspicion
lit flames in her heart. They fed
on the hope of the morning, con-
sumed 1t. She went back to
work, shaken, convinced now. He
would never come again.
This conviction strengthened
and with 1t a terror--a wildness.
No-he dared not-after all these
months-all they had meant-end
1t now? And 1t seemed to her
that she would rush after him,
wind her hands about him-de-
Observation-Disclosures
Her emotions exhausted her
left her finally stilled, without
impulse to think or to act. Let
him go--let him do as he wished
Just before the phone rang.
It was he. He said: "The cars
parked in the alley. Will you go
down there? Wait for me? I'll
be right along"
A tense, unnatural quiet in his
tone. It laid q fear on her
thought-made her unwilling to
confront him.
dragged. He might censure her;
might allude to that night and
say again: STOPPED to that,
Chickie! I didn't think you could.
Tufts saw"
She would run away from that
wouldn't listen
And she crept along 90 slowly
that he was already in the car,
the engine started. He got out
and without facing her, helped
her in.
He said abruptly: at got your
letter, Chickie. Shall we 20
somewhere and eat now?"
mo. I'm not hungry"
Drive then7"
"Yes-if you want"
Strained, unhappy like that.
They wedged through the traffic
and were finally in the park.
The silence was a tearing thing
like a hook pulling on the cords
Of ones heart.
She closed her eyes. They
passed the beds where the
rhododendrons were gorgeous in
purple and white and rose. He
haven't they? Never saw them
SO fine"
She answered: Barry, did you
come only because l wrote the
letter."
He evaded. at don't want you
to think hold 1t against you. Or
that I'm remembering it"
"Oh-but l know you are"
"No-only it shows"
She watched him in an anguish,
noted that his mouth, full-cut and
boyish, was now pale, even
drawn. She whispered with pain:
What does it show, Barry?"
What l should have seen In
the beginning IL wasn't blind: IL
I wasn't 80 completely-oh, well
what's the use now?"
"Oh-say it-you have To-"
well, the whole thing has got
beyond US. We're flying at each
other. And it's too hard for you.
You can't endure 1t. You think
it's wrong. You've thought that
from the beginning and it makes
you frantic"
She clasped and unclasped her
hands.
He went on bitterly, his eyes
glued to the road: IF you hadn't
looked at 1t 80, you wouldn't have
doubted me. None of these things
would have come between US.
You could have been happy. But
you never were. And lately it's
just been one scene after
another"
''No-Oh. most Of the time
you know, now"
What did you say the other
night, Chicl1ie? You said that q
year ago you couldn't have done
that thing but that now you
could because you were brought
to it! You mean that I've brought
you to it! I've lowered you!
That's what you mean. You've
made me feel like an outcast--