The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-17
The Dramatic Story Of
Chickie's Attempt
to Come Back
Continued frOm Yesterday.

her with an imperiOus: Come,
now-do you marry the man or
nor"
She couldn't imagine seyering
the ties between herself and Jake.
From tho night she first met him
and he whispered, with a hum.
ming exuberance, Now for fun
and frolicw she had been wildly
stimulated; proud of his notice.
Yet there had been always a sense
Of freedom, a jaunty Irresponsible
ity. No one must take seriously
Jake's warmest look; no one must
think beyond the glow Of the
living and present hour. That
only had being for him.
He would speak of love--none
more dreamily, none more hotly
and none more lightly. He would
not bother one with talk of mar
riage and futures and problems.
So there had been sparkling din
ners and joyous hours at dinner
and opera.
Being 30 young she had de-
lighted In this. Because Jake was
Jake and because he was years
older than herself-some fifteen or
sixteen-she had felt impudently
safe. Oh-he liked her-of course;
liked the pretty. eager youth Of
her and her princess airs and
her flippant, conceited indiffec-
ence. But he would never dream
of marriage.
That was not to his mold-nor
could be.
Even when he had come so
nobly In the end she had taken II
as she took the greatness Of iona
than. Men-big fellows-do such
things.
She thought he would continue
like this as long as could be--
But now that Jake was gone
and another in his place. No
more dallying. Did she want him
or not? Out with it
The fear of his persistence
weighed on her enormously. Oh.
he would come laughing and seek
to carry her out of the life she
had chosen and into his own. Its
pleasures would become her pleas
ures-a heated, radiant life.
And all this contact with the
big. raw. vital things; the thriving
and suffering; the aching and
hoping, would be lost. OF course.
For they would go to the petaled
ways of flowers and Of perfume.
Never mind what lies beneath.
AS he said to her once: THE
wine Of life has sparkled-drink
the wine and leave the dregs."
Some may do this, She was one
who couldn't. For life had forced
the full of the cup even to the
last drop on her.
She was finished with 1t. For
her. at least. 1t was proven better
to give than to take. She want.
ed now to do this-wanted to be
like the self-less. heroic ones
STOPPING to help another along.
Oh-that was a, finer way!
Thinking these things she found
the face OF David before her
and blushed. Why should she
think Of him? His way was more
various by far than even her
way and Jake's.
Yet David embodied an ideal for
her. Something splendid and up
standing like that line from the
Transcript: Great Hercules, who
stood with life upon his hand out
stretched for any man to taker"
Glorious to give SO unthinkingly;
to come in the middle Of the
night serving others. He did that
many times. And she loved to
see his face, thin and finely
drawn with fatigue. It was then
ak4 %A~1fAA that GAAWA 1RepINt ~ fhA
spirit in his winning eyes. 1t
was then that she longed to
stand at his side, asking that she
might work and work with him.
Sunday there came a wire from
Jake: Gained two days, Helena,
dear; be with you Tuesday, around
five; dinner together; how's that?
I've much to tell you-all Of it
good; have a warm ear ready.
Jake"
Tuesday-that soon? But he
would not ask an answer then
they would have a few days.
Tuesday-much would be faced
by then! David would be back
he would give her cold look and
walk on.
She tried to put these thoughts
away with a knocking scorn Of
herself. Why think of him or his
looks? What were they to her?
But she kept seeing his face
as he said boyishly. well. good
by, Miss. There's q concert the
night return. You mere nurse.
you. we go!" He gave her hand
a quick squeeze and laughed. He
had even, white teeth. When he
laughed they made his whole ex-
preston light, and very vivid.
He would probably be homo
early Monday morning.
him--nor Monday night, nor then
Tuesday. Well-he had come.
He was avoiding her.
All morning she was on fire
with a feverish uneasiness. She
wished that she had to be on
duty early in the evening. Then
she would put Jake off. She
dreaded hunting him re-
coiled against a cold dismissal,
for he was very dear to her.
Yet the thought Of marriage
WhC uISoAAJ AOStAO W Ola IlST III
clinations.
BY noontime she could no
longer endure her own company
and went downtown to have
lunch with Janina.
Janina gave her all the news.
ChiclSie kept saying: what did
you say" and "Oh, what was
thatr' until Janina drawled 80
so and again so! How may
dear angel David be? White and
shiny?"
Aren't you intuitive, Janina!
So penetrating! A patient OF mine
died last night when was on
duty. A nice, sweet young boy
He fought terribly against it. It's
got my goat-please don't wish
men or love on mer'
why blame me, dear child,
for the doings of life? Chickie