The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-17
Continued from yesterday.

Jonathan had dismissed that
peerless triumph with a mere
chuckle; just saying Jennie was
pretty smart and that was why
he married her. But she wanted
TO- talk hours about it. Z
There We're other things, too,
that Jennie wanted to discuss.
She had longed and longed to
know, but that time six months
ago she had been afraid to ask.
One morning as Chickie brushed
up all those stray. wispy locks
with a small brush dipped in
bandoline, Jennie said: Are. you
happy, Chickie dear?"
OIL suppose ! am ="
Are you pining for anything?"
Chickie's throat frightened: mo
no, I'm not"
Then softly: "Chickie, did that
boy ever offer to come and marry
your"
1t was eloquent Of their faith
N her that they never doubted
who the man might be. The day
after the inquest Jonathan had
said only thiS-and she had shiy-
cred at the ominous. steely quiet
OF his tone-he had said: 'Iwant
Y you to answer me the truth.
Chickie girl-do you want to
marry that lad?'
She answered, not raising her
eyes: "No-oh, no; I don't"
Thank God for that! wouldn,t
want to give my girl I'd such a
one! But If you want him-if
that will make it easier, he'll come
out here. Be sure of that!
she didn't say to Jonathan that
ne was even then in the city.
Nor did she ever say that he was
married.
Now-putting a. pin, slowly in
Jennie's meager twist of hair she
said, trying to speak lightly: II
didn't want him. mother"
But did he go away and leave
you, knowing of it," II ~,
"No-he didn't know"
And didn't you ever let him
know-dldn't you ever ask him to
come back
Chickie, shut her eyes. After a
moment she repeated: l didn't
want him, mother" -
This was more than Jennie
would ever understand. Yet, at
the last, it was the truth. Jen-
ME said: 81 thought you were
waiting down here to give him a
chance. And you would come
back to US then with it all
Ho-righted! Such old.fash-
Toned book ideas as Jennie had.
Hide behind a name-truckle to
the world like that! They would
0ay 1t was all right then, would
they? They would pat her on
the back?
No man would right this wrong!
Indeed not! She had gone down
alone. If she came back-it would
also be alone.
She said that to Jennie, smil-
ing, but her heart quick and
smarting.
Jennie's face turned red. She
looked at her worn hands: "Why
don't you come then, Chickie,
dear? Mary keeps wondering all
the time if you're coming. She's
longing to have you back"
The way she said it Chickie
knew that it was Jennie who
wondered and longed.
II can't come yeti can't"
do you mean that you aren't
coming at all, Chickie? You don't
want to be with us?"
"Oh, it's not that, mother. It's
50 many things" =. -.
On two or three mornings after
this Jonathan went sneaking off
after breakfast and didn't return
till noon. The fourth morning
he took the two of them with
him, a grave Importance in his
look. He kept saying: "Perk up
now, Miss Jennie!' But he
wouldn't tell where they were
going.
They drove out and out till the
houses became scarce and only
here and there was a rose climb
ing over a porch. They seemed
flying to the very heart of the
distant blue hills.
Chickie whispered: HE wants
you to see where all the million
aires live and white stone houses
with gardens marching straight
back to the mountains.
Jennie smiled. But she kept
her eyes before her, and she
wasn't Hurried or excited at all
today. She kept pressing ner-
vOusly at her lips with her fin
gers.
They took a turn to the right,
away from the foothills, away
from the lofty homes. They went
down block neat with small
bungalows. They passed this and