The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-06

had known. She Ioitered an In.
slant, as though she would have
sweetened end purified the men,
DRY of heneelf that she was leaving
here. She gathered up her credits
with q haety Thank yoN Tor
these, Miss Gimonds."
She left. and going out looked
straight before her, holding her
head up, keeping Il up, rigid and
high, her heart swelling until It
seemed to BURST She was aware
Of passing people, two girls at the
entrance; aware OF smiling, and
thinking "Who are they2"
AS she went down the steps
she was conscious In a dazed way
Of their astonished glances. She
defended herself cody, II don't
know them. Why are they star.
ing7"
She opened her bag and put
the letters and credits within.
Read them! See what they said!
Wait moment
She went on as one rushing
through a blaze. At the end OF
three or four blocks, she paused
for a breath. She said to her
self, smiling: why should
rur.-welI-"
The ordeal was over. Easier
than she had imagined. Why had
Miss Simonds changed7 We're
her ideas different now?
There was a vacant lot here
with a low fence, half torn down.
ChicIIie stood here a moment, a
reaction of quiet settling in her
thoughts. She took out the re-
ports. All high. all pleasant az
though Helena Bryce were the
finest student nurse in all the
world.
She began to read the letter,
and felt a touch Of thanks for
its warmth. Her work was good:
her manner attractive, her dress
neat-her conduct during twenty
months above reproach-
These statements were strong.
ly and clearly made.
Suddenly Chickie's eye paused
suddenly her heart was knocking.
She saw two words: II regret
and knew what followed.
It was all there-unmarried-a
mother-an Inquest
For a long time she stood mo-
tionless, unable to read further.
Then she wiped her face, feeling
gray and weak.
This was the paragraph: "I re-
greet exceedingly the necessity Of
stating the reasons why Miss Brice
Is leaving us. regret this the
more because Of her excellent rec
ord here. The facts are there.
Fellow students brought charges
to my notice. These CHARGES.
which Miss Bryce admits to be
true, are, briefly, that in Janu.
airy, two years ago, Miss Bryce,
then and since unmarried, became
the mother of q child, which died
as the mother was secretly taking
1t from the ranch house where It
was born. A subsequent inquest,
however, exonerated Miss Bryce
OF any blame and laid the infants
death to natural causes.
THE revelation of these facts.
which Miss Bryce concealed at the
time of her entrance here, makes
the continuance of her training in
this institution difficult. see,
however. no reason why these
facts should prevent her from
concluding, under more favorable
conditions, work which sho has
performed with a most commend
able spirit"
And this she was to offer to
that friend of David Ramm's.
And. offering this. she was to
ask that they accept her! That
they make her member Of their
school!
She folded the papers quietly
she let them remain in her clasped
hands. She was unaware Of the
moments passing.
Someone said: Are you i'll?
Shall l help your" It was a
stout. red-faced woman with an
overly small. black hat
Chickie said: why, mo- was
just looking around" She stead.
led herself. She very deliberately
Strengthened her hat. She walked
on resolutely.
Nearly IL now. He was to
phone. Find o9t how she Jared.
She felt suddnely a. cold fury
against him, Did he know Of
this paragraph? Did he send
her down there to get that?
And now did he suppose she
would carry a thing like this to
that Mrs. Ellis? Why she would
as readily strip her soul and