The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-30

WO, LC1U CeSGAA OLuST NXtDpSHI
considerably at the present time"
"Oh--do your"
''Yes-well-" he switched the
subject abruptly to d discussion
of an operation David Ramm had
performed that morning. He
watched Chickie's face as he
spoke. She became interested and
forgot her stiff formality.
When they reached Mission
street, Harmon said: "What day
is this? Thursday Bean soup
and pot roast"
: mo, sirl Fat lamb stew and
sage pudding. That's why I'm
on my way home"
Lucky you. Let's go along
here and eat"
"Ah, no. My friend Jennie will
have T-bone steak for her darling
child"
ANY chance Of friend Jennie
having two T-bones?"
"Well-I don't know about
that"
He kept on walking with her.
She wished with increasing an
noyance that he would leave.
Finally they reached the cottage.
Jennie was in the garden. She
had her apron filled with early
roses.
Seeing Chickie, her soft, faded
eyes lighted. She blushed when
Harmon swept off his hat. Then
: she said quantity. will the
young man stay to dinner?"
Harmon laughed: 1.-THE young
man will!'
1t took Chickie off guard. She
colored painfully, saying: ''Oh,
really, DR.. Harmon" but added
swiftly. Then let us co.
Chickie's home conaings were
events. Flowers on the table;
Jennie's bits Of silver and all the
pretty dishes gathered through
many years. And Jennie was ar
artist in, the cooking line. Even
the bread and butter, after the
routine. Of the hospital, had an
exquisite flavor.
When Jonathan saw company,
his eyes warmed-genial old fell
low, loving the mellow things Of
life. He brought out all his COM
pany talk-oil stocks; early days
in the city, his recent trip to Los
Angeles. Then he told his flat
company jokes, enjoying them
hugely. He said naively: "Well,
doctor, and what do you think of
my girl? Will she make a good
nurse?"
Chickie burst out laughing.
Harmon's blond face grew red:
II think a great deal of her and
also Of your wife and of your
dinner and Of this most excellent
pier
Jennie's ceaseless effort was re.
warded. it was a honey, simple
hour but all through it Chickie
was disturbed. She kept seeing
Irene standing at Harmon's chair,
an accusing, venomous look on
her face.
When he asked her to go to a
lecture, she refused abruptly and
to his apparent establishment. II
thought you'd be interested. Miss
Bryce" then he added swiftly:
by the way, did you refuse TO
go to the theater last Tuesday
after promising that you would?''
II didn't know anything about
1t, DR.. Harmon, if you must
know! No invitation was extend.
ed to me. But 1t is such a trifle. -
He showed his hair from his
forehead in a measured way, say,
ing: "Of course, / understood that
Miss Bryce" But he was sud
denly impatient and in a hurry to
leave.
When he was gone Chickie
went into the sun room. The air
was dreamy with the breath of
hyacinths. She sat in the dark,
feeling herself .mpersonal, re.
mote from life as a shadow.
What a pitifu1 thing it is that
one person wishes to possess an.
other! That one should want this
absolute claim on another
spirit! But thoughts can never
be chained. They exist only when
free. Men and women have com.
PEELED physical loyalty, but no one
OF them has ever stayed the wing.
Ing Of a thought nor bound for
long q mind that sought to go.
Chickie knew it well. Suddenly
she remembered a noontime when
one with gold hair and blue eyes
drove UP in an automobile and he
tnat then seemed god-like to her
came from the building and sat
at Has side. She remembered
another time when the poem fell
from his pocket. A pity for Irene
Underwood gave her pause.
But when Irene followed her
down the hall and into her room
a few evenings later; when Irene
gave her a sharp, whitening look
and said: II shouldn't think
you'd be starting things around
here, Brycer' When Irene said
that Chickie's anger leaped white
hot.
II wonder what you mean?'
Just that! I don't butt in on
your affairs. I let you have the
best Of it in surgery. Now you
keep your face out Of miner!
If you're alluding DR.. Har.