The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-27

brother. His lips were COM
pressed.
We're terribly disappointed,
Miss Bryce" she said hastily,
nut you'll come some other time.
! guess wen have, to wait, Lee"
Willmans eyes dwelt moodily
on Chickie's face. He said slow
": II wish you could have come,
Miss Bryce. This is the lOveliest
time OF the year. You should
come" ra
chiclsie answered, uncomfort.
ably: I'm very sorry"
That night she stayed down.
town and ate her dinner in O.
cafeteria. She was unneryed and
had q hard time keeping her
chin steady. She could feel VIII.
mans eyes: the quick pressure Of
his hand. She was weighted with
foreboding.
She wanted no man to look at
her: there was nothing in her that
could be stirred. She thought:
what shall do? They may
ask me again. It will seem ride.
ulous to keep on refusing. But
they don't know me. II they
oh-if Lee whitman knew. he
wouldn't have brought his sister
to meet her. He wouldn't be
wishing that she might drive
through the blossoms with him,
this loveliest time of the year.
Nor would he have said In that
young. awed voice: You're very
beautiful"
A. she went on with these
thoughts she became oppressed
and faint. She went walking
down Broadway, where a balmy.
holiday Tilt drifted in the air:
long lines Of men and women
stood before the movie houses
waiting for entrance, and girls in
bright, summer dresses walked
chummily as on Mission street.
Chickie glanced at them and then
in the shop windows. She kept
thinking: wonder what
shall do?''
Late that night she wrote to
Janina:
II wonder IL I have a right to
go on as / am. Is the past my
own affair only? or have others
a right to know that they may
not offer me friendship unawares?
Don't curl your lip, Janina, and
say. 'Bunk-you're good enough
for any one because others don't
believe as you do. Others would
not notice me they might not
even give me job if 1 were to
tell them. Am I cheat because
conceal all these things?
Sometimes I'm sorry I didn't
stay home. But l don't think
could ever have borne 1t. It
seems terrible things that are
some are never done. don't feel
a bit different than 1 used to,
long ago.
Write soon, Janina. I love to
see letters stuck in the rack on
the wall You'd laugh IL you
knew that I read them over and
over. l have 90 much time
The next afternoon Whitman
$1,000 at her chair. glancing down
at her face. why did Won re-.
fuse to come, Miss Bryce?"
WHY told you. had the
day promised"
was just wondering II that
was the reason; IL you really have
other plans-have your"
Yes"
"Well-that's too bad. II you're
not intending to stay here long,
you're missing a chance to see the
country at its best. In a few
weeks the flowers will thin. But
you'll probably come South
again"
He spoke very casually, Chickia
was relieved. yet surprised. For
a week Lee Whitman didn't come
to the office.
She laughed a little sarcastic.
ally at herself. Why-imaginjnp
the man serious because he offer.
ed a kindness-offered It very
caFelessly. Perhaps he believed in
throwing a bit Of sunshine in a
strangers way. The other girls
said he was queer.
She didn't need to worry. She
wasn't so wonderful that men
would block her path with their
attentions. Why, she had worked
four years already, and not so
many had Succumped to her lures.
And then she was fIirfo <|0r~