The Washington times., 1924-02-16
THE STORY OF CFIICKIE7
By ELENORE MEHERIN

At home, this easy assurance
left her. She didn't wish to be
alone with Jonathan. She hid
from the tenderness Of his eyes.
Once when he ran his palm under
her chin saying with chuckle?
Pretty as an angel, isn't she
mother?" she ran out Of the room,
completely unnerved.
Yet she turned to Jennie. She
was all at once concerned be-
cause there were wrinkles on the
bland forehead. She was curious
about her mother. Sometimes she
wished to say: Jennie. darling
-listen-if you loved-oh, the
way you did-well--" But even In
her thought she dared not put
that question to Jennie.
One night her mother was
mending her stocking as she often
did Chickie said: "rhat finish
ed-don't bother with It. I
wouldn't wear a thing all runs
like that"
But Jennie answered, "Well,
you may get turn out Of 1t on
a rainy day."
"No-throw it out!''
The next evening she helped
with the dishes, lowering about
the mild Jennie. She watched
the hair falling in thin strands
from the amber comb. She saw
little beads of perspiration on
her mothers neck. 1t made her
sad.
Then Jennie stopped and mop
ped some water from the floor.
AS she did this Chickie saw the
silk stockings she had ordered
thrown out. Jennie was wearing
them.
A pang shot through her.
Jennie wearing her discarded
finery. Jennie, too, must like
the feel of silk next to her skin.
She felt a sudden, overpowering
tenderness for her mother.
They were alike-loyed the
same things-had the same weak.
ness. She had never thought Of
this before-never worried much
about Jennie's lodgings.
Noon the next day she bought
a gift-two pairs of gray and two
of black. Jennie stammered and
didn't at all want to take them.
When Chickie insisted she blush
ed like a girl. why, whatever
made you think Of this, Chicke
dear? And for an old women like
me?" Yet she was so touched
tears ran into her eyes.
Chickie said gaily: Jennie,
darling, why l never thought
you'd like them so. Why didn't
you say something about it7
Why, after this l shall buy sweet
Jennie a lipstick, and she shall
go awaiting with met"
Jennie cried.
Doing little things like this was
a kind of absolution Chickie gave
herself. It freed her as the clasp
of his arms or as his laughter.
She loved him most when he
was happiest; when he grew dar-
ing and said: "Chickie, let the
world go hang! We should worry!
Only thee and me!'
It was like that one Sunday
when she had left the house in a
state Of nervous unrest because
Jonathan said: "Chickie, l don
like this-it's not fair to the Lad
or to yourself. You see too much
of each other"
The slightest thing distressed
her. She said: "Barry-if Jona-
than should know"
But he shrugged and whistled.
Then he pulled her down and
ratified in her ear the childhood
song from Coleridge: "Chickie,
Do you know what the birds sayH
The sparrow, the dove,
The linnet and thrush say. Il love
In winter they're silent-the wind ID
so strong;
What it says 1 don't know. but 1t
sings a loud song.
But green leaves and blossoms, and
sunny warm weather,
And singing. and loving. all come
And the lark is SO brimful Of glad
The green fields below him, the blue
sky above,
That he sings and he sings. and for
ever sings he
I love my. love and my love loves
mer'
She laughed and forgot. In
these moods he dominated her.
Oh-he had only to glance-only
to speak, she would follow wher-
ever he led. She would give and
give. Her spirit was no longer
her own.
They were plunged into these
endearments-more than half help
LESLIE as we'll as she. A kind
Of wild love-young, unreckoning,
All they did drew the bond be-
tween them tighter. more relent-
less.
(TO Be Continued MOnday.)
Copyright. 1924. by King Features
Syndicate. InC.)