The Washington times., 1924-05-03
The Dramatic Story Of
0ickie's Attempt
to Come Back"
CONTINUED from Yesterday.

Suddenly she sat bolt upright.
There was to be an operation
IN the morning. Doctor David was
the surgeon. He would notice
her gone. Would he ask whyY
Would ne hear this thing?
OF course he'd hear! Why
should her secret be kept And
1t wouldn't. She knew that well
enough. In a week 1t would
filter through all the wards-0h
you hear everything.
Chickie saw his face pale, yet
strong, and with such a winning
charm about 1t. She thought he
had the modest look sometimes,
yet a youngness and a verve. And
he made fun Of her, calling her
Nurse Helen" because she
couldn't leave of the doctor" be-
fore the David.
How would he look hearing
this Of her? What would he
think Of the way she had lied and
pretended? And the way she had
talked Of babies who were 1ban-
doned and selfish people who left
them. It would sicken him.
She lay back and turned her
face against the pillows. In her
thought, she had flashed out
boldly against every one elss'S
scorn. Now she was stilled.
They were going to a con-
cert together on Friday night.
Well-there would be no concert.
All the next morning Chickie's
mind went through the hundred
details of the operation. Miss
Pain, the chief surgical nurse, a
fair girl with magnificent blue
eyes, would ask: where Is
Bryce?" Irene would give some
answer. Then Irene would begin
to scrub. She would have a
bright, hot look in her face. Miss
Pain, whom Chickie half adored,
because she was so wondr0usiY
capable, yet as gracious As a
practitioner. would begin &c
wonder.
Chickie was carried so complete
ly into this scene that for two
or three minutes she stood with
plate in her hand, the dish
towel quiet.
Jennie said: "Chickie, dear, you
just go out in the garden
never mind about those Dishes
So Chickie laughed and Tipped
the towel with a terrible speed.
Afterwards she aired all the beds.
She went into the front room to
see how the painters were getting
along.
And she thought: 81 should
send Tor the trunks" But her
thought baked. No! Her trunk
had a right to be there. She
loved sitting in the dining room.
with all the happy chatter. Did
they all blame her? Did any one
put in word for her? Phyllis
would? Would Myrtle?
That afternoon she walked half
way down to the hospital, not
knowing why. She walked back
in a breathless panic
No use! Those gates were
closed. She couldn't force them
to reopen. Resentment burned
like a poison IN her heart. She
wanted to talk-Shout out this
thing
Yet when the phone rang for
her, she refused to answer.
And three days passed. Thurs
day afternoon q registered pack
age came. It was from Jake.
Within was a bracelet broad,
platinum band, massed with dia-
monds and sapphires. 1t was the
most exquisite thing Chiclie had
ever seen. Ola gift like this
for her. Tears sprang into her
eyes. There was a note:
Mr.. Munson presents his COM
pliments to Miss Helena Bryce
and begs she will accept the en-
closed in memory of moons and
SIGH, and that she will accept it
yay or nay. Firstly, IL It be
yay, then in honor Of great
winds on mountain tops. Second
ly-though God save the mans
soul II 1t be nay-yet that she
accept 1t none the less In token
OF much beauty and the sweet
ness Of great hours shared"
She was touched to the inmost
HAS ~ SbGO AAOSCp CNCA LuOE0
than she was astonished at the
priceless Gift. For the note had
the mellowness, and the rich,
fine tolerance that was Jake's.
Much he cared If they called
her doubtful" Ho-if she
wrote ono single word he would
come speeding. He would laugh
at these puny judgments. "To
the ievil with them, Helena.
Let them kick US out on our
face. I tell you there are bet
ter gardcUs to treadp'
Something like that Jake
would say. He would put his arms
aruond her; snap his fingers at
the world
Chickie put the bracelet on her
wrist. She sat down, feeling
suddenly weak and defeated.
Well she had tried anyway-tried
hard to come back alone
And how gentle II was - ana
hnw sweet to know another
cared. Another-high up in the
worlds good grace would vet so
gladly stoop to her