The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-16
ISSyy

holidays. Thanksgiving and
Christmas last year they were
alone
Coming into the house, Mrs.
Janis met her. She said In q
flushed way. "A gentleman IN
the parlor."
the door: "Who?" and then in q
hushed whisper: "Say that I'm
gone for the day"
Then a step; then Wilde CIV
ing thunderous bark, then q
: sweeping of giant arms and iona
than's old face pressed down on
hers; Jonathan's deep voice
chuckling-saying tender foolish
things:
Your old dad, Chiclxie, girl"
What-crying-come nowY' and
raising her chin in his palms, look.
ing long, long while in her brim.
ming eyes. Till finally she drew
his rough head down and cried
with all her heart against his neck.
And couldn't look at him at all.
darling darling Jonathan-Oh, he
couldn't stand it any longer? Oh,
it was hard--was it-ah--- She felt
thousand melting tears rush
through her veins. They made
her heart so full-7so bursting
fliIl-
All this time, quivering- dabbing
at her eyes, Jennie sat in the par
lor. What-Jennie, too? Come all
this way? Why, of course! Didn't
they have a car? Nice little honey
moon for Jennie, Jonathan was
the boy to show her the sights.
Indeed, nowi
Jennie only reached Chickie's
neck. The soft, gentle hands
wound about her. Jennie's lips
moved, but she couldn't say a
single word. She just kissed
Chickie again and again. She
just kept patting Chickie's face.
Chickie felt a strange, golden
warmth, as though Life were rush.
ing again radiantly through every
pulse, as though there were a
heart and glad spirit uppermost
again. She tried to say this to
Jonathan, but the words got mix
ed with tears. He laughed at her
and at the mother: You two
silly girls! Why, Jennie up and
cried the whole way down"
Chickie said: "Oh. it's lovely
here. I'll show you every blessed
thing. You'll stay and stay-oh, a
long, long timer"
She saw Jennie's hand go swift.
ly up and hide her face. She saw
that hand tremble. Jonathan said.
swinging his shoulders: Now
mother-motherw
And in a flash Chickie knew
chat her testing had come.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Sacrifice.
They came to her, those two.
because she was the only thing
they had, and they could no longer
let her go this lone, blind way.
They wanted her back in the cot
tage; they wanted her voice in
their ears.
They never said a word Of this,
but it was in their full, warm
looks and in the catch so often at
their Threats. They had no
thought to weight the cross she
carried. But this was what they
did.
All the time she knew 1t, yet all
the while she laughed. For 1t was
merry, the three of them jaunt-
ing here and there and just think,
F, six months since they'd even seen
each other. She walked along,
holding fast to Jonathan's arm,
touched, yet glad, because he
strutted soA-proud old fellow.
Jennie said to her timidIy.
You're just as pretty. Chickie,
dear
But Jennie seemed hitler than
ever. Her face had thin, white
look, though now it was forever
flushed because of her great ex.
citement. Little Jennie, who had
never stepped into the Palace,
who would have been frightened
to the heart entering the. Fair.
mont, must now go here and
there, sit in Hobbies, ride up noun
tatns, eat in restaurants-she who
had cooked every meal she had
tasted in well nigh thirty years.
She was more Hurried than a girl
Once for dinner Jonathan or.
dered steak, specially prepared.
1t came on with mashed potatoes
running like white ribbon around
the edge and bananas fried in the
gravy. Why-Jennie couldn't be-
lteve TIA steak cooked like that.
She touched the walters sleeve,
almost eoquettish in her eager
ness-"Now, could he get her the
recipe for that?'
Another time they had lunch
at the Alexandra. for Jonathan
meant to blow them to the skies
and boasted of it. Jennie's eyes
were everywhere. She gave
Chickie gentle tap with her foot
under the table, saying in a
shocked awe: IT see men with
rouge on their lips" When
Chickie told her they were movie
actors who had probably Just fin
tshed scene, Jennie's eyes got
round and bulgy. She sat up
stiffly and beamed: ''Real movie
people! And to see them face 20
face! Watch them eat; hear
them laughing and talking-well
now"
They took the room in the board.
Ing house that Chickie had wanted
for Ellen Castenada. In the morn
ings Chickie combed her mothers
nSlr as she used to do on Sun
DAYS. Then Jennie talked, She
seemed just starved for this init
mate, small gossip that is such a
relish to a woman's soul and so
meaningless to a mans.
For instance, there was the wolfe
Waist-such bargain. Jennie
was standing in line at 8 O'Clock
Friday morning-dollar day. YOU
know. She was the first one
there, and think of it, the sales.
girl was SO sweet, she picked her
out the very prettiest. And in a
whisper told that 1t had been