The Washington times., 1924-03-04

against her-tell her-yes, tell
her! Was it such an awful crime
she had done? And no one would
ever wish to look at her again?
They would rather have her dead
than know OF it?
Others didn't need to die. They
were hard or clever like Janina,
like Amy Heaton, like a dozen
she knew. They could escape.
She was the one chosen to pay.
Why? And now, when the love
was over and he gone? Some
times it seemed such a CHASTITY
thing-so pitiless-she would cry,
even on the street.
If someone might have touched
her hand then; if they might have
said: Its not so terrible. You'll
get over it; others have" she
would have fallen at their feet in
gratitude. She longed with a driv.
ing hunger for a brave word like
that.
One day she went to Mary.
Little Edward was two now,
with black hair like JiInmy's, and
the merriest eyes. He liked Chickie
and sat now on her lap, opening
and shutting her purse. playing
with the keys.
Mary said, hiding her eagerness:
Not handsome, is he, Chickie?
You know how / always wanted
beauty? How I envied you? But
personality is better, isn't it, in a
man? The baby has that-don't
you think so? That is-for a
little fellow"
The baby had succeeded in
jangling the keys and piped in a
glad. birdlike. voice: ''See! See!
Mamma see"
Mary's face glowed, but she
feared Chickie would tease, and ap.
peared not to notice.
Chickie lowered her head, pre-.
tending to laugh against the
baby's neck. She could scarcely
breathe. There were questions
she wished Mary to answer. She
had tried several openings. Now
she went in badly.
Hes a love, Mary! A love.
And you wouldn't give him up for
100 lives. would you? Why, you're
just blushing, you think he's so
wonderful. Remember how we
used to pity poor Lucy? Now
you think child is the greatest
thing in the world. don't you?"
I'VE didn't know, Chickie. And
four children in five years is no
joke. I'll still hold that. Yet il
l had to take my choice between
four in a hurry or none at all,
I'd take the four"
They're worth as much as
that. Mary? Honestly?"
"Yes-they are!"
Always, Mary? Would you say
they're such blessing as that?'
Yes, would. They mean work,
but there's no joy in the world
equal to them
Equal to having a child, YOU
mean? Ho!' Excitement was now
hot like a flame at her throat.
She began to laugh: :.Ho-I
guess so-a blessing always!"
Then with a deadly quiet:
"Mary-what would Lily Tass-
man say to that?"
Mary shuddered: "Chickie Lord.
what makes you say that? Awful
on, I've just been sick reading of
that"
"Yes-yes-Mary, imagine it!
! imagine what she suffered
Mary kept repeating: Yes
awful! l can't understand it. A
] girl like that might know better.
! You'd think she could have done
better"
Maybe she thought that, too.
Mary. Maybe she thought she
was pretty clever"
:, Il suppose so. It's too horri-
bic"
But it happens. Things like
that happen, Mary-they do. You
say it's horrible. But imagine
now terrible to go and have your
self murdered. Imagine that!
And all because she was going to
have child. She didn't dare have
a chlld-didn't dare! Janina says
public opinion is the murderer. 1t
is, isn't it? People wouldn't let
! her have the baby! They say she
wandered like a crazy person about
the streets. Oh, l think that's
the cruelest thing! You have a
child and it's the biggest joy in
the world; it's blessing. Hers
is a crime! That's the horrible
part Of it"
Mary stared in amazement:
For pity sake, Chickie, what's
the matter with you? Where do
you get this stuff? Want the
world to think like Janina and
We'll have children born on every
doorstep
Amy old time! Oh! Mary
such a thing to say! It's no
crime for married people to have
children. But they arn't crowding
the world out with them, are they?
II they have two, why, they have
a family! They're doing a. great
and glorious service to the race"
Mary grinned. True enough.
true enough! You win! But at
that, Chickie, do you think a girl
like Lily Tassman, or any one, for
that matter, has the right to bring
a child here with no care for it's
future?"
mo. But it shouldn't be
thought a crime, should 1t. She
shouldn't be stoned to death.
should she?"
1T is a crime, though. A child
has certain rights. Life isn't so
easy or delightful under the best
conditions. We take a mighty re-
sponsibility launching any one
here"
Being married doesn't alter
that, Mary"
Yes, it does. 1t gives two to
meet the responsibility.
"Oh, Mary-suppose the father
died observation-disclosures that
then there's only one to meet it,
"Well-you don't count on
! that-a child has right to a
name, anyway, and to two par
entS-"
"Oh, yes! And It has a right to
money and food and education.
lots of them don't get it. And IL
| the father dies yuo doD't hIov,oo