The Washington times., 1924-02-20

petuously into dozen themes.
He recounted whimsical scraps Of
information he had gathered in
an old law book laws about
witches; dogs brought to trial
She listened, the resentment in
her growing. He didn't even no
tice her melancholy; didn't seem
to perceive that her heart was
bursting.
But finally, leaning over and
touching her hand, he laughed.
"Well, frail, appreciative. aren't
you? Five dollars worth of en-
tertainment and not smile.
Why 80, mute?"
Notwithstanding much"
"Worked hard today, didn't
YOU? Not even a moment to
steal a glance alleyways, did
She kept her head lowered,
stirred her coffee. "Oh, didn't
know"
Then he was aware and half
guessed what was coming. He
waited. the merriment in his face
f!attening to moody resigna-
tion. Finally: "Oh, what's the
use, Chickie? Why are you feel
ing so low? Isn't everything go
ing all right?"
SIS it?" A little high-pitched
laugh: "Is 1t going at all?"
He was puzzled: why get
excited about it, now Chickie?
Well-we knew all along there'd
be good wait"
"But months and months--noth-
ing changed"
Were happy, aren't we? We're
living. Listen, Chickie, why
create trouble?. don't see that
we have any particular kick"
"You don't-no?" Her lips
moved. When she could control
them she said brokenly: at may
go on like this years-we may
grow tired and then we never
will be married..
He regarded her with leisurely
astonishment.' This maddened her.
He said calmly. struggling: well,
IL that's to happen and we're
going to get bored with each
other, I'd say it was a whole lot
better If we aren't married."
She half rose. She pressed her
hands on the table: "Oh-yuu
feel like that-dQ your"
whats the matter with you,
anyway, Chickie? What's hap
pened? Why bring this up? I
thought we were happy as larks.
You werer'
You think so? You want It
like this? You meant it to lie
like this?' She rushed on tight,
shrill with excitement. ''Oh, you
don't care-you're satisfied! You
have the gains"
Suddenly his eyes blazed with
hurt; with a mounting fury.
He caught her hands: "Chickie,
stop! That's enough"
She shook him off: "All right,
it ISL She grabbed up her purse
and half blinded with tears, went
rushing to the door.
The cool air touched her with
forlorn shock. She hurried down
the street but her ears strained
wildly, listening for steps that
followed.
At the corner she stepped be.
hind q building. She looked back,
clenching her hands. Oh, in a
moment he would come; grab her
arm, laugh at her.
Now she was q little cool and
wanted this.
The door swung open. She pre-
tended to walk on swiftly. She
looked back. No one was COM
ing.
And she reached the car: let
three pass, then five. Weights of
iron seemed hung from her Shout
ders, bearing her down. She said
to herself, miserably, mot COM
ing-ah!'
At last she got on the car,
squeezing herself in the corner.
She didn't think. His eyes, blaz.
ing with fury, followed her. His
hand, suddenly seizng her wrists,
was there like a burn.
Her frenzy ebbed. She grew
miserable, with a chill, fluttering
disquiet. She tried to go back
over the scene; she could only re-
member its shrill incoherence,
And now it seemed unreal, incred-
ible. Why had she done this?
The happiness of the past weeks
flashed like sun in her face-the
nights they had watched the
water, her head on his shoulder
the long Sundays ON the hilton.
She was half moved to get off
the car, dash back. Then she be.
gan to expect that he was fol.
lowing her. He would be at the
house when she arrived. He
would say, impulsively, "Chickie,
usten-we don't want this"
But he wasn't there. He had
gone back to the office. And
now. perhaps, he was standing
moodily at the window, thinking
OF her.. Oh, he would be sorry.
He would pick up the tele.
She saw him doing these
things. She wandered aimlessIv
about her room, stopping at the
bed. at the bureau-waiting. The
phone didn't ring.
The night became insupport.
able She felt as though she
were being flung now this wav.
now that. One moment her mind
seethed with indignation: the
next 1t was chilled and humble.
When she lay in bed, going
over 1T endlessly, fighting it off,
then wooing 1t back she sudden
ly saw his face alive with merri-
ment as he had come swinging
toward her. She saw it like this
then flattening in that annoyed
resignation.
Mary-what did she know-lot
she knew! Mary had plunged
her into this
She went into the office the
next morning in a hard, steely
quiet. She glanced to his win.
dow-saw a shadow. She felt
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