The Washington times., 1924-02-16


Chickie stammered, flushing
painfully: ''It wasn't crude at all,
then. And when you love per-
son, suppose II makes a dlIter.
ence, doesn't it?"
Usually happens that way. All
young and trustful once, you
know"
DO you mean that you were to
be married and then something
happened? Oh that must be
DREADFUL
Maybe I had snealxing hope
of that, though marriage didn't
enter much into the consideration.
Well--it was quite some time
ago"
An odd softness crept into the
clear, incisive voice: "Know why
I'm telling this to you, angel face?
Well, I'm fond OF you. And l
hate contempt! Even though 1t
gives me an ache and l can see
the fool hypocrisy of it."
"Oh, l. don't feel contempt for
you. Janina."
You have"
"No-but just the same. can't
understand how you could do it
and not feel sorry even now"
Janina's shoulder raised scorn-
fully: Leave 1t to the good peo-
pie to burn with remorse. My
kind OF love doesn't measure Its
giving. 1t doesn't come creeping
afterward and try to snatch 1t
back. What I did 1 wanted to
do. That's all there was to it!'
Weren't you afraid the man
might think less Of you after.
ward?'
"Oh, that mid.victorian stuff!
What Is man, anyway, that he
should scorn us because we have
the same feelings he considers so
imperiouS and right in himself?
But that's the meanness Of
womeA-petty things dependent
on the attitude Of Others If a
fellow thinks less of a girl when
he knows she loves him, he's a
cad and it's a darn sight better
to find him out than to marry
him"
But 1t must have hurt ter.
rtbly, Janina, when 1t was over?"
And l suppose 1t hurts a
woman who is married when she
looks out the window some dreamy
morning and sees love flashing
out OF sight. Marriage can't give
any guarantee that the emotion
will last. It only agrees to per.
petuate the blunder in case there's
been a mistake. What's the odds?
AS for me, III say it's worth the
hurt-any hurtP'
A thrill Of admiration ran nm
from Chickie's hearts Big to feel
like that-fearless. Oh, Janina
wouldnG shame a thing with re.
grets. She wouldn't look back
ana want to snatch It to herself
again. Give freely, gladly
proudly-that was the way.
That evening she grabbed up his
letters from the hall rack. With
the first impulse Of happiness
she had felt since his going, she
hurried into her room and read
them. Like the others-full Of
impulsive youth. He n1issd her
so. She dwelt in his thoughts
drew them with longing. He kept
seeing her eyes, so sad that day.
Don't have them so! :, Why-and
they loved each other. They
would be together soon.
SA0 AoASON AWE uSdO-SLHiIcOs
Well
But the day he was coming
and sent a wire that she was to
meet him-a wild nervousness
possessed her. She kept running
into the dressing room, putting
pins in her hair. taking them out,
combing the whole thing over.
His train was due at o'clock
at the Oakland pier Lewis gave
her the afternoon off.
Janina dropped a note on her
desk: lis your wandering boy
coming home baby? Don't worry,
angel face: you look a cream.
For the love of heavens, don't do
any more fussing with that phiz
of yours! Give him my love-
it's free!'
She reached the pier twenty
minutes before his arrival Yet
she kept rushing up to the time
table, scanning 1t. She asked the
gate man which track the train
from New York would take, and
she ran over and strained her
eyes down its length.
When finally she heard its
"AAStAOS SIG HuHS OdCk ana Wnen
it came black and chugging into
the yards she was afraid to move.
Suddenly she saw him. First one
to come swinging to the steps.
He glanced about with feverish
intensity-up and down-not see
ing her. A look Of blank, in.
credulous disappointment, like a
powdering of chalk, overspread
his face.
Then she raised her handbook
a few hurried steps. And he
saw. Her heart opened with
joy. He laughed-he ran up
and caught her in his arms
kissed her-and again. not car
ing that others might Fee-were
looking
He said: "Chickie-miss me?"
She looked before her eyes
filled.
you got my letters?"
She nodded.
"Oh, look up and smile, won't.
your
She did. She laughed full in his
face and she stole her hand under
his.
~R~ AR