The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-07
Continued from Yesterday.
" -
CHAPTER XCI
DESPERATION.


white thing of death in her
hands, 1t was a. letter. The
word Married" grew large,
charred on the paper. She
stared at it dumbly, bent forward
and read it-then held the sheet
upright and read it again. A
wild sobbing laugh tore from
her throat.
She stood up, swaying-driv-
ing her hands against the weight
of anguish that was now her
heart
Steps went down the hall,
paused at her door. The knob
twisted-Jennie calling. After a
moment Chickie said: Coming
+ just second"
y She went into the closet-hid-
ing-winding herself In an old
dress than hung in the far cor
ner. 1t was blue dress he
liked. He said it made her eyes
such glowing stars. of joy. Let
him look in her pretty eyes. AS
long as he looked. he'd love.
She had chung to bonny things
like that-believed Handicapped
on her knees worshiping the
glory of his uplifted face.
But she wasn't thinking now
Pulses beat-grew loud like
humping hearts, grew wild with
In her. She tried to hide from
them. -. ~.
Suddenly she put her finger on
her lips-on the spot where his
had touched. She pressed it
against her teeth-hard. ".
Then she stole across the room,
picked up the letter, spread 1t
out on the bed and with dry,
fevered eyes drank anew it's
distillate of pain.
He was so sure it hadn't mat
tered much to her: never dreamed
that at the end, she cared. Why,
she hadn't called him hack!
Hadn't even answered his letter!
And this thing that had hap
pened was frightful to. him. She
could see that. 1t was CHASTITY.
Yes-he remembered things--too
many. They were crucffixion.
FEt could never escape them.
Tn a muddled, rambling way
never mentioning q name, hut
leaving her to guess-he told that
he and Tia Moore became engaged
at the end of the tour. a month
ago. 1t might seem hasty to her
but they'd known each other
many years-they had been deep
friends.
And so much happened on the
trip-so crowded was their life
that the past seemed many years
removed. :.
Their marriage had been plan
ned for the following spring
But on the homeward tourney her
mother became ILL., Her mother
was now dying. So they went at
once to Tarrytown on the Hud-
son and We're married there quiet
ly. because the mother wished it.
Did Chickie suppose he had
the faintest idea of the tragedy
that had overtaken her? Did she
suppose he ever counted or fear
ed such an outcome? Now that
1t was so, did she fancy that
he was going free! That he
wouldn't suffer? Oh-he would
But Chickie, listen-don't let
us make it any worse-don't make
the blunder more awful. 1t has
to be met-we can only do this il
we look at it coolly. We've
got to-! I'll be waiting at s
o'clock for you. Then wen ar
range it all-Chickie, the worst
is really Over-in a way it is
1t will be easier now-it can he
made easy for you-"
She came to that and smiled in
terror. The worst was really
over! No-but it would be. She
knew that-knew it now. Her
pulse, thudding like hearts gone
wild, whispered it: Numbered to
her thought the thing that she
must do. Like little girl,
frightened of the awful dark. she
shrank from it.
She said to herself slowly and
with drawn misunderstanding. to
die" She looked about the room
as though she had never seen it
before. The heavy thump-thump
at her throat made her breath
heave. She said again but more
family: DIE"
And she kneeled at the bureau.
took the bridal set from it's It's
sues-from the pads of lavender,
Jennie had made. She touched
the soft fabric; touched. the tiny
pink and blue flowers. She shut
her eyes.
A voice reminded: "We'n ar
range it all. The worst is really
over. Come at eighth i
But her arms were limp. She
kneeled a long while-her eyes
closed.
Then, sitting on chair because
she had not strength to stand, she
changed her clothes; put on the
beautiful silken things. She pressed
the palms Of her hands together.
They were moist and cold; they