The Washington times., 1924-05-24
The Dramatic Story Of
Chickie's Attempt
to Come Back"
Continued from Yesterday
CHAPTER Lxxtxv.
The Right to Love.

CE1AFIEfS LA1hAF'
The Right to Love.
A moment she listened to his
voice in her ears-a lighted mo.
ment, winging in music. He loved
her. Incredulous as beauty seen
in a dream it was. She stood Tno-
tionless beholding it-motionless
and waiting.
Helena, you care for me? Say
something" He tried to see her
eyes. She closed them hurriedly,
unwilling that he should find her
wild. unreckoning answer shouting
there.
He kept talking, the tones grow.
ing vibrant and eager. Speak to
me, Helena. I've wanted to tell
you this long while. I've loved
you a long while. And you? Say
tt"
She would have given the years
Of her life to look up into David's
face and laugh: to say: "Oh-love
you! You are too fine. Love you!
How can you care for me? !
can't believe 1t. Loving me!
Why t."
An agitation grew in her until
fused way: 1T IL too late, David.
Why did you come? Why are
you saying this-oh--did you see
your aunt?"
II saw her."
She closed her eyes and with a
pleading movement fread herself
from his arms. He followed her
to the davenport, and, sitting
next her, covered her clasped
hands. She said with smile that
pierced him to the heart: you
know about me, David-all Of
it,"
II know about you. Helena
ION, really? why do you say
these things to me, David? Can't
YOU know / would not hear
: them?"
You are hearing them. I've
known almost from the beginning.
1t was when I learned all that !
loved you most, Helena"
She looked at him, her deep,
beautiful eyes full Of sadness.
How can that be? How could
you feel so, knowing all?"
Because see what others
don't. 1t Is because ECU were
sweeter and gentler and more
unthinking Of yourself"
Tears sprang into her eyes.
"Oh, no"
"Yes-and that's why all this
happened"
She saw the warm intentness IT
his face and the features finely
drawn, pale now with his excite
ment. 80 do not see this as an
other might, but only as regretfu
thing in your life, and not 80 re
gretful either. Didn't you say your
self, Helena. that through 1t you haG
grown strong?"
She lowered her head, unable Il
bear longer the strain Of her emo
tons. Strong for myself, DAVID
But / would not have grown strong
for you in this way"
If she could then have wiped cIeaI
the daysi II she could have stoot
before him in her glad, untroublct
beauty. In a pathetic way she saiC
something of this. Then she asket
him not to think of her, for it coul,
never be.
He said: ut is you as you are
before me now that I love. Helena
No other has ever loved that. Tn,
spirit you can give to me has beer
another's. 1t grew out Of all tfi
and 1t is beautiful to me and un
selfish and very dear. I want it
want 1t greatly"
She moved from him with he
hand half covering her face. Thel
she said quietly: II think ] an
paid for all the pain I have eve
known. l think / am. Do not n1in'
that / am crying. can not hell
it. And can not tell you'll cal
never measure with words the great
ness Of you saying these things L
me. But you must believe me, 70
it Is true. Oh, yes, David, It is tn
very truth. know 1t with al
utter completeness. Love is not 70
me"
''HeIena!
But she was standing now ant
facing him. Her eyes shone and
the tears were gone. 1.-THE truth,
David-you must believe it. You
must go-please."
He would have taken her. in his
arms and argued. But she stood
like statue, her hands clasped,
summoning the strength of her
life to stand her now. And she
would not yield.
She even said and smiled: ';Now,
I am to lose another friend,
David? That is rather hard"
You are not to lose q friend,
Let me speak"
"No-please-" for she knew
that in a few moments her
strength would pass and she fear.
ed these eager, yearning hands Of
hers-oh-how they would reach
out and seize this almost terrible
gladness-"no-yOu go-you are
excited--so much has happened
and I, too"
He gave a soft laugh then and
his eyes with their winning in.
tentness were warm on hers. II
think you love me, Helena-and
you will say it perhaps tomorrow
-"
She shook her head.
you will do not mean to be
denied" -
She leaned against the door
when he was gone, pressing her
hands against her heart. No one
would hear that odd, sobbing
laugh-no one would see the tears
now, nor the white anguish
Then she stole down the hall and
listened. Jonathan snored-hov
even and blessed ran the lives of
those two--how gentle their MUIR
INJURED talk In the dark-sweet
evening of homely love-
In the sunroom the hyacinths
breathed like a song. Spring
again. The stars had a golden
look. She watched, them from the
windou,