The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-17

n0r OuC-neIpeQ n0r TO the steps.
And she paused, breathless on the
old post. Why were the lights
so bright there? Why was that?
The front door opened softly
a deep, muffled cry: "Chickie!
Chickie! girl!' Jonathan like q
boy, bounding down the steps,
half lifting her in his arms, carry.
ing her.
Then she saw his face-haggard
and worn. She closed her eyes.
She whispered: Jennie? Jen-
ME" .,sla..-
"Ah God, Chickie!"
"Oh Jonathan-quick-t me-"
He said-"Come-"
Half fainting she followed, cling
ing to his arm. Half blindly she
went into their room, reached the
bed, dropping on her knees. Jen-
ME lay there.
Jonathan stopped down and whis.
pered in her ears: Mother
she's here-mother-"
Jennie didn't .stir-Chickie heard
a faint, gasping breath. She
looked and saw the plump, gentle
face white, thin - the nostrils
pinched.
On--DuC SN0 was LHOr6! Sn0
was alive-she was left to them.
Chickie reached for the, wasted
hands, brought them to her lips.
And Jonathan said, with chuckle
in his murmuring voice, Jennie!
Your Chickie! Jennie-she's comet
The pale lips opened, flicker
Of joy, a faint "Chickie?" Jen-
ME turned-saW her-ah-smiled.
Chickie buried her face against
her mothers arms and cried be-
cause Of the look in Jennie'a
eyes-and cried because her. heart
was broken so. Oh, Jennie looked
at her as though 1t were an
angel come to visit her-as though
1t were the sweetness of heaven
opening.
And Jennie raised her hand a
little. She touched Chickie's hair.
Jonathan came over then and
lifted Chickie in his arms and
pressed her against his shoulder,
sobbing and holding her 30 tight
She said: "JOnathan-she's all
right-Jennie's all right"
His chin doubled as 1t had in
her dream. He shook his head. II
don't KNOW don't know-pray
God!"
But Chickie answered, "She is!
She ISL
She chung to her mothers hand
hold her-death should not
winch, there's been enough
enough
She sat there through the night
and knew no pain Of her own. She
looked across to Jonathan and
smiled. He came over and kissed
her-raised her face in his hands,
saying again and again: "Chickie
girl-Chickie-"
Once Jennie heard that-opened
clearly, II knew she'd come"
"Mother-you know me-I'm
here" Chickie smoothed the hair
from Jenny's wide forehead-she
leaned down and kissed it gently.
Tears were in the corner of Jen-
MES eyes.
Oh-the peace of these nights
and days! Oh-the shelter and the
quiet of Jonathan's arms-the
benediction of Jennie's smile.
Die-not now-and Chickie here.
Her coming wrought the miracle.
Jonathan met her in the hall one
morning that first week. She was
bringing Cruel to her mother.
Jonathan cried He said: THANK
God for you, Chickie girl-you
saved her"
Chickie turned her face away.
Another time at breakfast, Jona-
than got up swiftly, put his arms
on Chickie's shoulders, staring in
her eyes. A startled, frightened
look crossed his mouth.
"Chickie-you're sick-Chickie-
don't you feel well?"
''Of course, of course"
But he touched her cheeks-he
ran his hand under her chin. He
said abruptly: "You must rest
rest, Chickie. Can't have you sick
now"
She laughed: "Oh, Jonathan-I
feel so WE'LL feel-oh, you don't
know-but as if everything is
right again"
She sat all day with Jennie.
Sometimes they talked. Sometimes
her mother lay quiet. But a smile
on her lips.
She wanted Chickie near the
bed. She kept saying: "Chickie
will you go again? Are you 60
ing back?"
Mother-no-no-n for all the
jobs in the world"
"You mean it, Chickie? You'll
stay now
"Yes-yes-oh l will"
When she was alone In her own
room she knelt at her bed. She
prayed. Let me stay-let me
have this-Oh, Cod"
And she wouldn't think-she
held her mind closed against the
past. Oh-blot it out-oh, cling to
these two who needed her and
wanted her-only that-and never
let them know.