The Washington times., 1924-03-26
|Ne SEQUEL To- hiCl2ie:A &5ES
Start With 'Chickie'
on Her New Life
and Adventures
BY ELENORE MEHERIN.
CHAPTER I.

- With each beat Of her
~ pulse she paid. There was
no end Of it-for her or for
tnem-those that loved her so.
A while ago she had been glad:
bright. flippant thing, her heart
all song. A while ago, Jonathan
watched here every move, his old
eyes filled with alteration. He
chuckled to the mother: "That
Chickie Of oursi An angel-that's
what she ISL The mother always
answered. TREMENDOUSLY: "Ah-God
Is good to u.s.
But now the wings were folded
down; the music stilled in
Chickie'S thought. And they must
give her up-their dear and pretty
one-send her into the waste she
had made for herself; send her
there alone.
Bitter thing to do-stand in the
depot, this soft, April night; wait
Tor the train that would take her
from them-let her go
wave gaily. Oh-but their hearts
cried out against it. She was
Observation-Disclosures tonight she
seemed 50 sweet; so tall and slim
with the pale sadness at her
mouth.
Jennie said: you look quite
pretty. Chickie dear"
A GENTLE MOTHER.
Chicaie stopped and fastened
the leash to Wildie's neck. She
patted her mothers hand and
didn't try to speak because then
queer little movements went
about her lips, made them twist
%.
Jennie said: ''why, the light is
very strong" And wiped her
eyes. She said that a dozen
times. It was hard for her. She
was 30 gentle; so bowed by
Chiclie's pain.
But Jonathan stood up, giant
and prOVd, his arm on Chickle's
ehoulder. Ho. this was a lark
for them, gust a trip, nice little
outing. He said: "Write now,
ChicliO girl. every day! Old
ones get Observation-Disclosures
Said careless things like that
For IN the night she had awaken
W. SO8I0IIIdI1 was hIlOS11Ilk OF
her bed. It frightened her. She
ran her hand across his griZZled
head. He didn't move-never said
Q word. Finally he rose and
kissed her long. His eyes were
wet against her face.
Now he said: "We'll be jaunt-
ing down to see her week after
next, eh mother?"
Jennie smiled: tears rushed
fresh to her eyes. She pulled
ut Chici1ie's hand: held It hard.
For there came a whistling; a
enort1ng Of the train. Jonathan
reached for the suitcases.
Jennie said: ''Oh, now-youll
90? Going, Chickie dear?''
Chickie smiled bewildered, re-
peated: "Oh, now" and swept
her arms about her mother. chung
10 her and in that moment would
have given up her life to have
them hold her: keep her with
them.
Jennie's lips moved softly:
'Going. Chickie dear? Oh-oh-"
It was like sobbing.
Chickie said: Mother. mother,
darling-there-oh good-by@"
and took the thin, soft hands,
oh gently, from her neck, pressed
the young, sweet lips on Jennie's
faded cheeks.
Still Jennie cried and wouldn't
let her go. Then Chickie laughed
and with a little gay move took
her handkerchief. wiped Jennie's
eyes. She said: Mother, you
love me? Oh, you do"'
HIS GREAT EMOTION.
And grabbing up the leash went
stumbling after Jonathan.
Jonathan carried her bags.
brushing the porters aside. He
set them quietly at her place.
He passed his hand over his
face that was so gray, it hurt
Chickie, to look at it.
She lowered her head against
him, pleading: "Ho, Jonathan,
weakening?"
There went a trembling
through him, the rugged chin
doubled. But he raised her face
in his hands-that way he always
did. He said! "Ah, Chickie-
Chiclie girl" and stopped down
quick and kissed her said
again "Chiclie my Chickie-
pray God-pray Cod"
She closed her eyes-heard him
shuttle down the aisle. Alone
she was all alone Cow.
Suddenly she remembered that
they would wait there until the
train was gone and she got up
IN q panic, rushed to the plat.
form. !. Another look-see them
again.
They were DEMONSTRATING
their eyes. They saw her. Jennie
cried out. Both Of them waved
began to laugh. They kept
waving. Chickie blew kisses -
them. Jennie took a little step
toward her, called; the train be.
ran 70 move. Soon they grew
smaller, face blurred.
Still they Observation-Disclosures
dimmed-now gone-now swal.
lowed in the dark.
Rails humming; rushing her
away; from them; from all the
old. familiar things-into the
future.
And she was afraid-yet smiled
above her hammering fears. Oh,
brave-they said she must be
1rave-stand up quietly and bat
tie. Jonathan asked that of her
only that. And there might
come to her again a beauty
even a richness and a peace:
even healing of the wound
that ached within her heart.
Chickie didn's ask this. Oh,
no! Ask nothing.
She stared now with blinded
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