The Washington times., 1924-03-13

like anything. I'll be down
mighty soon, and it win be for
good"
She was afraid sending that.
If they should trace it-h Tor
one instant a suspicion leaped
into their minds and they began
to question. Or If Jonathan
should show that message, say
to Jimmy, the whole flimsy pre-
text would be barred!
Now, looking back, she could
see a hundred flaws in the moves
she had made. Oh-she should
have gone farther away; should
have put a. thousand miles be-
tween her and the chance of re-
turn-the chance Of discovery.
Christmas day she was awake
early. It was cold. The cold
bit into her flesh. She sat up in
bed and could see her face in the
mirror. There were black lines
under her eyes-and a pinched
look at her nostrils. She sank
under the covers and the feelings
of strangeness, of not knowing
this person that was now she,
made her SILVER.
Then she laughed: "Oh, no
not you! Somebody else! Not
you at all!'
No rain-but the wind swept
with a chill, dismal cry about the
house. She pictured Jennie put
4,Y~ tn hn
athan walking about restlessly-
She went with Wilde down to
the river. The water was brown.
heavy with mud; the trees
stripped Of their leaves had a
bleak. desolate aspect. She
touched the naked branches. She
leaned against them.
Suddenly she began to cry and
the dog whined. He jumped up
and licked her face. She put
her arms around him and cried
more.
And she didn't try to calm her
self-didn't fight against the out
burst. She gave in to it. and
finally sank down on the damp
earth, undergraduates again.
She wondered vaguely If she de-
served to suffer so-if it was
right that she should be exiled
here and not a chance in all the
world to escape: not even a chance
to meet the future. Oh-she had
no idea what she was to do.
Others went free. She was the
one to be branded. Marjorie Alb.
bolt could escape Her baby
was born dead. Janina wrote
this bit of news with many caus-
tic comments. Marjorie could
have taken care of her child. She
was married; she had money.
She-Chickie-could do nothing
for hers. But it would live and
she would live. The child would
grow to hate her to ask her how
she dared to bring it here know.
ing what 1t must meet. Oh
the child would turn furiouslv
against her-the child would be
her judge.
Now, she imagined it a son.
with a mouth that was full and
sweet; forehead touched with
glory. red hair brushed back.
She was afraid of this image.
When 1t confronted her she twist.
ed her hands. If she had a son
to look like him-to grow tall
and question her with quiet.
doubling eyes? She prayed that
1t would never be a SON
Then she fancied it girl
the face like hers. She saw the
bright thing standing before a
mirror In a dress Of green. She
heard this girl laugh with fov
finding herself so pretty: life so
glad.
Chickie, seeing this, grew cold
grew utterly cold. She heard
cries OF anguish. They were her
own Oh, Goblet it not be a
glrl-never girl to suffer So
The week after Christmas there
came a letter from Mary. Mary
wrote to her often and often
there was a sting in her words
Like this one: II dropped in on
Christmas Day to see yollr moth.
er. Chickie. She did nothing but
talk OF you and the wonderful
job you had received-the hio
future and the big salary. TfSs
Patnetlc. She was talking her
neart into the words. Well-the
$2OO may be a good salary, but
you're not the only one paying
for 1t, Chickie. think It's inst
cruel to your parents. II you're
going to be down there much
longer you better stop and think.
i suppose I should mind INV
own business, but Jennie Is look
ing very old and thin. She shows
her age and she never did before,
Jonathan didn't say a word
the whole time I was there. He
just chewed his cigar. Finally he
asked me to come in for a while
at dinner. We were eating at
4 so I could. It was the sad.
dest thing in the world t. see
those two sitting there alone
making show of Christmas
spirit with your place ali deco
rated in holly, and Jennie wiping
her eyes all the time. / don't
know how you can do it, Chickie.
It's selfish and nothing else when
you know their whole life is
centered in you"
And in the next mail there
came a message from her father:
"Chickie girl. it was no Christ
mas without you. Jennie is get
ting too lonely. She's not go we'll.
! hope you'll come very soon.
That's all she needs to perk UP
again. Poor mother-she dreams
about you every night and wakes
me up, crying. Now that's all
foolishness, I tell her-but Just
you hurry up, Chickie girl or
we'll come up and fetch YOU"
She took these two letters and
read them till terror like a poison
filled her veins.
She sent no answers.
Time-she must fight for time.
And now it seemed to her that
her mind was paralyzed. When