The Washington times., 1924-02-09
Continued from Yesterday.
CHAPTER LII.
COrneFeed. /.

OOEUGkCUs
Erect and tall, brown shirt open
at his throat, and all the sixteen
year-olds smiling at him. Barry
stood in the long line before the
postoffice window. He gave
Chickie an expectant wink: Get
the big word today"
Charley, grouchy and slow,
pushed letters under the grating.
Their turn now. He glanced at
the writing, stuffed them in his
pocket, and taking Chickie's arm
all but ran her to the railroad
tracks.
They walked swiftly. Before
them the river winding like a
bright snake between the willows.
Enormous striped parasols stuck
up nj the sands: mothers open
ing packages Of cookies. handing
them about to their, children.
Shouts broke through the heated
MONDAY silence. A boy, his body
cleaning like bronze, leaped from
the diving board into the water.
Both Of them were breathleas.
From Tufts" he said tearing the
envelope. She pressed against
him, looking over his arm.
He said: "Well!' his face
blanching. He doubled the paper
in his hand.
Chickis reached for 1t, saw at
the end Of the short page this
sentence: Moore doesn't men,
tion your appointment. They've
evidently dismissed the plan-for
the present. at any rate"
She folded the sheet carefully.
Not glancing at him, she whis-
pered. "Barry-it won't mat
ter" She found 1t hard to
breathe.
They plunged on reckless. The
veins In his neck swelled. The
heat made her limp. They sat
down under q tree.
He said, grim and spent: "That
settles 1t. We can cookr'
She threw of her hat and
leaned against the tree. He stared
at her white forehead, her hair
bright against the redwood bark.
He took her hand, saying rough.
ly: "But doesn't this seem in.
sanity to your"
"What?"
'rhis-this here! They can con.
troll US! Tell us when to go and
when to come. It's slavish--"
She closed her eyes, letting her
head rest on his shoulder. After
a while she murmured, smiling:
But we love each other any.
ways! No one can stop that"
He answered, troubled: "I don't
know what we should do"
All afternoon he watched her
with eager doubtful eyes. As
they lay on the beach on a little
slope away from the crowds, yet
80 near that voices and the
splashing Of water came to them
sharply, he took her hand. He
pressed 1t IN the sand and pressed
his mouth in its hollow-held her
Ike that a long while.
Sne 1elt tremendous pity and
longing. She wanted to creep
close to him, put her cheek on
his-run her hand over his hair.
She said: "Barry--there may be
other words tomorrow"
"No--no, here won't"
That night they padded down
the river. Other boats passing
them In the narrow channel flung
out laughter and snatches Of
song that in the darkness echoed
with q deep, mysterious sadness.
he said suddenly: Lets walk"
They went up the sandy bank
into a deep planting Of prune
trees--an orchard just along the
waters edge. He put his arm
about her, feeling for her hand,
They walked like this in silence,
The night above them sat
warm, quiet, wearing the moon
IKE a soft. weIlow topaz on its
breast. The river murmured
gently. All about them, a rhyth.
mio and infinite peace. It stole
with q melting sweetness into
Ch1clie's thought. She reached
her free hand to his neck. When
ne kissed her, she whispered.
laughing: "Barry-anyway. it's
beautiful. Life is beautiful"
He answered with a short
rough breath: ''No-life is hard !"
why do you say that?"
1T H." And he was still search
ing her eyes. bending down to her
-he drew her to him, his heart
~@kAAAG' - AuOChSQ 6&alnGC
her. It's hard. Chickie! love
you. Lordee! I love you."
The pallor Of his drawn face. 40
near to hers held motionless.
AS much as that, Barry? Do you
really?''
"Chickie-oh, Lord!'
She put her hands--both of
them, hard against that furious
pulsinG. She gave a little aston.
ished cry. He wound his arms
about her, holding her rigid. She
said breathless: "No-don't,"
But he moved his lips over her
face. He said harshly: "Chirkie-
what are we to do! Tell me.
Lordee. Chickie, what are we
waiting for?"
She sank from him; sank ia
the sands, burying her face in her
arms. A terrible weakness that
throbbed and half tainted passed
about her.
He let her cry. After a while
l