The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-27

Janina's lips curled with contemp-
tuous humor. Speaking Of even
chances, did you hear about Mar.
jorie Abbott? You didn't! Well,
the child got herself engaged once
too often and she had to make a
marriage of It."
"Not to that limp, sallow Teddy
Parks?"
'"The same"
''Why did they let herr"
use your bean, my dear. Those
who take love for fun sometimes
find love taking them with conse-
quence-with one Of your great
and holy purposes, as it were."
Chickie looked at her aghast.
"She's only II, Janina."
''It seems her age wasn't asked.
Well, only half q hundred Of the
intimates OF the family. will ever
know Of 1t. In a year or two
they'll dismiss 1t from their
thoughts. Mrs. Theodore Parks
will be listed among the bon ton
wherever and whenever she
wishes But fancy If this hap
pened to Peggy, the cobbler's
daughter, or to Flossie, the belle
Of the factory! II love caught up
with them in this nice, friendly
way they'd have a fat chance Of
catching up with a husband,
wouldn't they?"
Chickie said. blankly: isn't
that awful-isn't that a shame2
Now her whole life il spoiled"
Spoiled? My dear simpleton,
how do you figure that?"
Chickie trembled. She didn't
love limits awful"
Janina shrugged. "Well, this
comes Of putting dynamite into
the hands of infants. No game
for babies or amateurs. AS I've
said before. they can't get away
with 1t, because 1t gets away with
them. Too bad! Discredits the
clever players"
Chiclxie turned impatiently. her
heart sickened: "Clever players,
Janina! Do you think all life Is
a Joke and a make-helieve? Why
should any one fool with lover"
II leave 1t to the pure and
proud to ask. If I were to an
swer, you wouldn't understand.
And as q wise man remarks, It
doesn't do to tell the truth to
those who do not wish to hear
But I may say, in pass
ing, that there are many who
should not fool with freedom. 1t
will make the fool Of them"
who are your clever ones that
get away with it, Janina?"
Clever, indeed! They are the
women. my dear, with a callus
where you have a conscience.
Conscience IL the terror Of conse-
Quences; the clever do not fear
what they eliminate"
at is hideous, though, to look
at life in this way. Janina. In
the end what have your"
'Hell's bells! II you're going
to ask, WHITTIER thou goest, wom-
an?' How do we know? But
we're on our way. Nice, new sea
to travel. Lord knows. perhaps,
IL there be a shore ahead.
don't!
$50 the pure and proud, as well
as the young and stupid, had bet
ter keep to the old landsi Takes
a crafty sailor and hardy one to
keep his boat afloat on these I'M
chartered waters, let alone guild.
ing 1t to port.
when others strike out, as wit
ness our young flapper. Marjorie
you see what happens. Boat
smashes UP. Lucky for her, money
throws out q lifeline. You and I
and Peggy, the cobbler's maid, in
the same predicament. would sink
sweetly and unlamented to the
seaweed forty fathoms deep!'
Suddenly moist and disturbed,
Chickie laughed uneasily; and the
next moment. her cheeks were blaz-
ing for Janina half read her
thought. Janina said mockingly:
when one stays on the old shore
she may come to a little grief but
not to tragedy. And grief you
know Is but an emotion. 1t
passes. Tragedy Is a fact: 1t must
be borne. What do you hear from
the lad, my dear?"
"Only left two days ago, Janina,
and he wasn't going on an air
plane"
win you be stepping out with
US bit, now?"
II may and then again, I may
h" Hd-etaoin shrdlu cmfw bmbmbno
you don't think that he is GO
ing to New York to play the her
NIT, do your You don't expect it,
II you have any sense. Well-in
this day and age, IL you want
to be a match for a man, keep
step with him. Or rather, keep
two steps ahead Of him. Much
better for the woman to keep him
on the run than to give him the
handicap on her. She'll never
overtake him. IL she does. You
mind me!'
Janina. do you think I'm to be
forsaken?" Chickie laughed and
for the first time, because of her
great inward agitation, she ap-
peared gay and untroubled.
'Well-no! You're not!'
Chickie repeated carelessly: mo
-Janina. I'm not! And I
shan't worry about keeping two
steps ahead or two steps behind.
Going is pleasant one way or
another"
Janina looked at her a long
while in silence. She said: 'I
envy you. Chickia I always
have
They got up. then. It was
well they did, for Chickie's eyes
filled. She felt that in another