The Washington times., 1924-03-11

eral Delivery" and her name as
MRS. John Clayton" ~
Standing In the wide corridor,
she glanced about furtively and
hurried to the window. Friday
the letter came. She rushed from
the building, walking swiftly to.
ward Howard street.. The strong,
regular handwriting treasured
her. Then the signature, Agnes
Robbins"
She liked the name Of Agnes
because Of David Copperfield"
and his beautiful love. People
with that name had q kindness
and a charm for her.
Mrs. Robbins was a widow, and
since the death Of her husband
the previous year she had man.
aged their ranch. She did the
cooking for the men. There were
no other woman about. It was
lonely. She advertised for a
boarder, more because she wished
company than for the money en-.
tailed.
II Mrs. Clayton wanted rest;
IL she didn't mind solitude and the
company Of the ranch hands at
the meals, then the widow was
certain she would be pleased. 1t
was an old ranch house, but the
room was airy and latticed with
grape vines. The rate was 50 a
week for board and room.
Chickie bit her lips, reading all
this-solitude and the company of
ranch hands-such a sparkling
vacation-so gay
Little more than a year ago
that August on the river-oh, the
heart.free prepa t ons! And
swinging in the hammock under
the madroneS. A year gone
brightness and the light, happy
song-gone-
Fever sped through her. She
could feel her eyes burn. She.
walked back to Market street
went into the waiting room Of
the Emporium and hastily wrote
her acceptance. Agnes Robbins
might expect her on the train
Monday.
She went to the bank and drew
out all her money. She didn't
need to take funds from him.
There was pride in that.
That January when she had re-
ceived the raise and had so Jubi-
lantly said to him: "I'll save
why, in year I'll have $500
enough to furnish the living
room" he had frowned.
But she had saved. Later after
her return from the river and she
had waited with such passionate
unrest for the day when they
might marry, she had saved more.
She thought: "I'll have $1,000 and
that will be gift to both Of us!'
In all she had 1913. She took
It in currency, putting 1t in an
envelope and sealing it.
AS she walked out Of the bank
she said to herself grimly; well
-shroud and coffin all bought!
Bring on the corpse" She was
shaking a burning hand at her
throat-a weakness in her knees.
She was afraid that she was
going to scream-that she was
going to rush against that stone
building there and beat her hands;
or that she was going to sink
down in the street and cry.
When she went home and all
SATURDAY SIG WcIlI 0UOuIp II CLLA-
DEMONSTRATING with bitter inn
patience at the slightest sound.
Jennie said: "ChickYe dear-why
you're all upset! And you going
off on such a fine vacation
They were both in Chickie's
room and she was gathering her
clothes-putting them in a trunk.
Jennie kept running to the
kitchen to press out a dress; to
get tissue paper. Chickie hid her
face now in the folds of silk.
She had a wild impulse to say:
Mother oh mother not
coming back-do you know that!
Tell that to Jonathan! On yes"
Sunday she followed Jennie to
the garden. She helped her train
the vines. Afterward she combed
Jennie's hair. She tied a blue
ribbon at Jennie's neck-"To
match your pretty eyes, mother
darling. got my eyes from
you, didn't II"
Jennie blushed. She looked up
shyly and smiled. "Your father
says you did"
She made a great fuss over
Jonathan. She manicured his
nails to keep him dashing for
the fair ones" while she was gone.
She sat on his lap and held her
face near his. But when she