The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-27
Continued from Yesterday.
CHAPTER LXxVIII.
Ebh Of Hone.

She let him go.
She moved into her room as one
mystified In dream Of terror.
Her lips repeated vaguely: go
ing away-leaving" And she
began to pick up the clothes scat
tered on chairs; hanging them
carefully in the closet. Numb
ness entered with frozen quiet on
her thought.
After this she sat on her bed,
her hands folded. Presently tears
went slowly trickling to the cor
nere OF her mouth. She wiped
them off, saying to herself in sur
prise: why am I sitting here?
Crying?" and then more quietly:
1T won't do any good to cry.
Don't cry about It,"
She turned out the light, lay
staring into the dark-aware that
just below the surface Of this icy
calm was q wild thing OF anguish.
waiting. It would leap up and
throttle her. She held It down.
She was afraid of 1t. She kept
her hands clasped on her heart.
She closed her eyes, pretending to
sleep.
But suddenly she was sitting
upright. moist, shaking. saying
aloud: "God-O my Godv'
Half tumbling from the bed, she
ran into the hall then cautiously
to the front door-opsned it,
peered up and down the block. It
was empty-Silent. The air came
chill on her bare shoulders. She
stood leaning against the door,
staring into the street. It's bleak.
ness fastened on her mind.
She was alone now. He was
gone. Face, with the vital eyes
alight: hands closing on hers
snatched away in the darkness.
The moment of parting returned
to her. His lips 30 cold, touch
ing hers; his voice shaking: BET
ter 50. Isn't it better this way,
CHECKER"
The two Of them, talking to
each other like that! They two
that had so loved; SO bound their
hearts with all these thousand
tender bonds
She shivered. She pressed her
face against the door. The stark
finality Of the thing that had
happened overwhelmed her. It let
loose memories in a storm. These
beat her. She crept back to the
ing to get warm.
The gray waste she had seen in
the dream opened ana claimed
her. It's desolate waters came
running to her feet. She watched
them. in a baffled, incredulous
terror, looking this way and that.
Oh, surely they would not rise:
they would not mantle her. A
hand would reach out and grab
her back
Even yet, she hoped.
Especially, after she had fought
off the shock of awakening; after
she had stepped into the singing
May sun on her way to work next
morning. Barry telling her it was
over coming to give her that chill
kiss Of parting-a lifelong part
ing This would not be the
tragic finish of their love.
He had not told her where he
was going nor when. She had a
childish expectance that he would.
There would be some link be-
tween them still.
But as the day wore on he
didn't phone; no shadow passed
his window. She grew alarmed.
She began to vision him closing
his desk, stuffing papers into q
valise, grabbing up his hat. A
moment more and it would be too
late.
She picked up the phone, gave
his number. The stenographer
answered: "Mr. Dunno isn't in.
No, we don't expect him
back-I believe he left for New
York today. ." No, we haven't
his mailing address as yet. Leave
your number and III let you
know"
Chickie answered family: I'm
call again."
A sudden fury that was cold
and yet swept up like a flame
seized her-the first fury she had
felt against him. He should treat
her like this-taKe the matter
into his own hands, push her
aside. She went into the dressing
room and stood at the window.
From here she could see the bay,
and boats gliding into the stream.
And she fancied him sitting on
one; fancied his mouth. thin and
drawn as 1t had protested: "I
gave my best, didn't I? ] gave
you the first love / ever knew"
Remembering that, she tFembled
Jet the warmth soften her.
Then she went back to her
typewriter and phoned the board
ing house. They knew nothing
here; the proprietor was out.
Shed be in at s most likely. But
she believed Mr.. Dunno had given
up his room. It was for rent
now.
Her mind emptied Of Its strain
ing hope.
Janina. seeing her with a
fixed, white stare on her face,
paused: Thine to go. baby. Shall
get your hat2" Janina did this,
brought it to her. Don't mind,
ole thing, If stroll along with
you. Well drop in around the