The Washington times., 1924-02-18
THE STORY OF CHICKIE
BY ELENORE MEEERIN
CHAPTER LxY.
DETECTED?

- - ~ = ANA(A s4e4
But Nance said with q sigh:
well, moonlight may be sweet.
but moonshine isn't! Behold a
mixture Of the two staggering
down the hall. Did she frighten
your"
"A little. The noise did. was
out on the balcony"
Nance stood on her toes,
whispering in Chiclxie's ear:
Dreaming Of him?"
Perhaps! What else?"
Good night, then dream ont"
Chickie closed the door softly.
Her Il hands shook. She stood
there so long that presently sho
saw his form coming toward her.
I What's the matter? What
happened2 Why are YOU waiting
In here"
She answered family: "oh, I
don't know. j was afraid Nance
might stay-might go out there"
What If she did,"
well" and suddenly the mus.
cles of her throat frightened.
.t 1Wsll.. It's late = she might
His cheeks blanched. What
might she think"
She answered hotly: "Well-the
room here-and both Of us"
She could feel him stiffen; feel
the flashing resentment. He stared
at her colby. She said, weakly:
Barry don't look at me so!'
He drew a deep, rasping breath.
"Chickie. this is awful. This is
detestable. Making a problem
and shame Of every breath we
draw! can't stand this! Lord,
can't we sit on a balcony that
opens onto half the rooms In the
house without your getting fright
ened into a faint II any one sees
us?"
Barry, don't! It was just the
sudden banging on the door. It
was Nance coming in like that
so late. Oh, wouldn't want her
to think things-not Of usr'
He walked back to the balcony,
sat morose and silent on the rail.
She followed, put her hands in
his, saying childishly, II couldn't
held 1t. Barry"
''Well-but why do you want to
torture yourself7 Listen, Chickie
why should Nance think things
because we sit on this porch? And
why are you always fearing what
other people think? You make me
fell that In your heart you're blam-
Ing me-alwayS. can't stand
THAR
TITS not true! Oh, you don't
think that-kiss me. haen't
room in my heart to hold its love.
Where would the blame be?"
I'm your mind - in your
thought"
She laughed. IAN idiot like
me? Don't be silly. Look, you
make tears run down my nice
pink cheeks
He said somberly, But IL
you're going to crush out all the
mo, no-you know DON'T
tnere-pleaSe She took his
face in her hands and kissed him.
He pulled her to him, laughing.
We'll. l guess you don't!'
Yet this fear Of detection which
she sometimes showed made him
uneasy, gave him moments of
chill discomfort that at times
mounted to a sharp resentment.
He fancied he saw in Chickie's
eyes a gentle wordless reproach.
1t was torment to him.
. She said to him now, softly:
Barry, when I'm with you and
you put your arms around me.
nothing matters. Isn't that
strange? Oh, / wish It could be
this way always. I%ish it could
be SOON"
II wish that. too, Chickie."
But it's just the same-no
nearer?"
"It has to be nearer. I don't
know. If you mean about the
steamers. 'that's no nearer
we'll"
"Neer mind, we don't care. You
love me very much, Barry?"
he held her In silence. After a
while ne said: But, Chickie, we
can't let the situation get the
pest OF us. II we let a hundred
little things prey on us-well-
you can see how that will
She stopped his mouth with her
lips: We won't-well never do
that. Barry-you won't let that
happen--no-oh, I won't ever be
bothered again"
But that night she dreamed
And in her sleep her fears walked
stark, She heard the hanoin .
on the door, then Janina flinginT
1t open with derisive cry: "Ho,
pink and pure" And Janina
stood in the arch, her hands
capped to her hips, her head
thrown back, shouting with crude
laughter.
She sat up in bed. wild flut.
tering at her throat. Gradually
the strange room, the balcony.
with its hanging rose trees. ont.
lined in the dim moonlight. She
remembered, sank back on the
pillows trembling.
Bur when she slept the dream
returned. This time it was Jake.
He passed before her, the rich.
handsome face flashing cynically.
he stopped down and whispered
IN her ear: "You, too, Chickie!
Well"
He came a second time. but
with an awful sadness in his
eyes. He said: II wouldn't have
done this, Chickie1-an old dog
like Jake-not to you"
She awakened. She had cried
in her sleep.
But when the morning came
she remembered only what Barry
had said: IF we go on like this.
Chickie--if we let hundred
Things prey on us-well-you can
see where that will end"
She wouldn't! No. Brush every.
thing away-worthless Only
him-make him glad-bind him
to her--keep him
1t seemed to her then that IL