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

her heart burned. Janina had
something to say. Perhaps?
SO she went with her to hear.
''Well, old lady, not going to
break your heart over that. are
youa"
cover what, Janina, dear?''
Have sense, Chickie. Can't
blame the boy for grabbing q
chance like that, can your
HE isn't going on the tour, ia
nina"
"You don't say! Then why the
weeps all day? Why the whisper
ed phoning?"
she would have liked to bluff.
II took all her control to keep
her hands still, her eyes lowered
--smarting with q wild pain.
going to New York"
Janina smiled. She said, quiet
~: You shouldn't be so grieved
over the health Of the lads
mother"
"oh. I'm mott He may be gone
a long while"
Very softly: "And you're afraid
he isn't coming back. ChiclSie?"
The cup In Chicl1ie's hand
shook and the tea spattered to
the table. he laughed at that,
became absorbed, hopping It UP.
She wished to jump up, shout at
Janina; run from the place.
well, this is what I've got to
say, old thing: Don't worry about
him. It's the quickest way on
earth to lose him. Worry digs
the grave for love deeper and
swifter than cruelty or sin. II
he's gone for good, ole dear,
then he is! There's nothing on
earth win drag him back. And
tears make a sea that love
won't sail. ! know"
Chickie smiled: "Why all the
wisdom, today, Janina?"
1--WE had my eyes opened
lately, Chiclxie. No use to tell
you you were making q fool of
yourself, then: but there Il. now.
Oh, by the way. did you know
that has party starts tomorrow?
One Of Moore's boats on the last
lap of it's tour is picking them
up. They go through the canal
to New York, lay over for q
week and make their start from
there"
Chiclie said: mo- didn't
know that"
The knowledge sickened her.
He was going with them, Of
course. Clear enough to see 1t
all now. He loved liza Moore
brilliant and a poet. la Moore
loved him.
She remembered the radiant
flush on Has face that evening
so long ago when Barry and
she had met after an absence
Of some three years. R6mem-
bered LA awake when she re-
turned from the pool 40 late
that night. liza wished to talk
of him; wished to know IL
Chickie was a very old friend
of his.
But that was the night Of
glory-the night when the dark
ness closed about them like an
immense black flower, made
them one with the holy beauty
Of the scene; the night he said
for the first time, II love You.
Chickie-tell me. oh, I have to
know-you love me-Say It."
And so she had not talked Of him
to Ila-too sacred for that.
Now into her pain came q
dismal misery. Lied to her
cheapened her like that-going
away with them after all his hot
denials.
She said to Janina: 81 didn't
know that"
Leaves at noon tomorrow.
Wish the sweet poet had made
me a guest-I'd dance to her
tuner
Ali evening Chickie kept say
ing to herself: HE wouldn't do
that-wouldn't lie about It. He's
not going"
The next morning she asked
Lewis II she might leave at IL
o'clock. She had urgent bust
ness.
She had found out the name
Of the boat: the pier where It
was locked. She went there
frightened but driven. Even hur-
rying to the water she thought
with a bitter sob: "If she should
see me! Oh" It seemed to
her that this would be the final
scene. She went on.
A little crowd waited. Girls
with many boxes Of candy, arms
laden with flowers. Mothers
with tears in their eyes. Young
men, eager, yet laughing ner-
vously.
Chickie edged close to one Of
these groups.
Suddenly she heard q soft,
happy laugh. Tia Moore In n
blue tailored suit, blue hat and
a Fisher neokpiece brushed SO
close she could have touched her
hand. Basil Arthur, another
girl, another man, then Has
mother.
But Barry wasn't there.