The Washington times., 1924-01-10
The Story Of
'Chickie''
By Elenore MeIterin
PART i
CHAPTER /.

~ HE was the only child they
had. They were old-fashf0n0d,
~ these two. Often they looked
at her, then at each other. Their
eyes filled with tears.
'Chiclxie''-the father called her
that. Sometimes at night she
would 50 in and sit on his bed.
patting his big hand, telling him
with q hundred airy affectations
all the news Of her day; asking
favors, naming little gifts that he
might bring to her. Now it was
that Mary, her dear, dear chum,
got a new wrist watch-much
smaller than hers.
"And was wondering, JOna-
than darling, If you could have half
an inch taken off mine. Think
you could, cutie-cutie?"
She called him all funny names
like that, pinching his long mus
tache into q knot, leaning over him
and laughing all the time.
Jonathan Brice listened and
chuckled, his whole body tingling
with love.
THAT Chiclie Of oursr' he would
say to the mother afterwards.
"That CHECKER
And she, lying In the dark at his
side, felt as though threads of gold
were cast from his heart to hers
because Of this last child Of theirs.
"Ah, God Is good to u.s." she
nlIlrmured. Whenever they talked
of Chicliss the mother said this
quite loud to make sure that God
would hear.
Her Religious Belief.
Ever since Chickie's sister had
dled she did this. she ad an idea
that God was always how'd ing
about listening, that he liked pE ige
and because OF it would be kindstO
them now. He would leave them
their 10y In Chiclie. He would re.
ln1ernber the wound burned red and
ever living in their hearts. That
once already they had knelt be-
side a narrow bed and felt their lit
tie thing-their dear child thing
grow cold within their arms. And
saw the tiny hands relax; the little
face turn gray and still. Oh, they
knew It all-and the ache that
comes to dwell forever In the
thought.
Only Chiclde was left them. They
poured out their hearts love on
her. Too much so, perhaps, for it
was almost an anguish to them.
Like the time she made her con-
fiT1nation-the white dress-the
down. her hands joined and walked
. r.. -
gold hair was a halo.
Jonathan strained forward in the
pew drowned In the warm tide Of
emotion.
Like a young angel sweeter than
4 prayer. oh, that's what
she was-that Chickie Of his-he
Gched with love.
At these times q supergtitious
fear stopped him short like a knife
cleaving into his bone. What II
something were to happen to
Chicl1ie?
He felt that he would rip out
his veins and empty them Of blood
all in moment rather than hurt
her.
She was sixteen--a bright, ca
PRECIOUS thing. Pretty and flip
pant, but sweet as q song.
She was at the age to see ad.
venture in the merest trifles-al-
ways tingling with some delicious
excitement, whispering some vivid
secret. Even so little q thing as
passing a group OF boys on the
way homo from school.
Embarrassment.
She and her great chum, Mary
Blake, walked up the hin together.
When Chiclkie drew near the cor.
ner where the young boys stood
with their hands thrust In their
pockets, her eyes danced. She
pinched Mary'g arTn-all in a
flush. saying. Hurry. Oh, heav-
ems! Mary, let's rush! The
nerve! They're just starting!'
Mary blurted h0tly, "I'll not
hurry an inch. Don't be 30 sillyl
You give me a pain, ChiclieP'
but Arthur was there. Did
you see him, Mary?"
well, should throw q fit be-
cause Arthur Sontag stands on
the cornerw
Cnlckles pink TO n0r temples,
gtill conscious Of the dozen lifted
eyes, felt herself floating along in
q dream. She felt sorry for
Mary. Mary was asleep. Mary
was a stone. Mary did not walk
airily joyous as she, Chiclrie, did.
She had come now to a vivid
hour. The time OF her first
dance. Arthur Sontag was to
take her.
They had argued about it for
days, those two, the mother and
father. Should they let her go?
So young, just sixteen, but she
wanted 1t so. Why, she would
Just die il they said no. So It
was decided. q
And Chiclxie, wild with ex.
element, went about in q con-
tinual fervor. Suddenly, now, she
grabbed Mary's arm. MARY, sup
pose should be a wall flower?'
Mary shrugged with q little
mint Of contempt, adding sharply,
Continued ON Pase 10 column Va