The Washington times., 1924-02-02
CHAPTER XLIH.
RNe@AeN

His low, uncertain voice
throbbed through = her with a
mingled pain and joy. "Chickie,
want me to come out?"
''If you want to come.
els that the way you feel about
#? Don't care whether we have
the ride down the country or
not?''
ooh, don't know" She
laughed with Questing nervous
ness. "I've never been very, hest
tant about things, Barry.
A long paus. For a cold, stilted
moment she feared he had gone
hung up on her in this grim quiet.
Then he said: 'Well, shall I
Gomez"
'sYes!'
She went humnlng down the
hall-eyes wet, heart singing.
world all a-sun again. Day in the
country, they two together under
q tree. Arm in arm, talking to
each other; rejoicing in each 9TH
ers look. Oh-let him say what
he would! Let him flash scorn at
her. She would laugh in his face!
She would laugh at anything.
For he had come to her. She had
flouted him; run away with Jake
before his very eyes. And. now
he came and asked her humbly
did she want him.
Her mood dashed from fervor to
fervOr-happiness exaggerated be-
cause of the misery preceding 1t.
She made sandwiches for their
lunch. She cut them into fantastic
shapes. There had come to her a
radiance Of peace as though now
would never again dawn the faint
est misunderstanding. They loved
each other-oh, simple-the heart
settled it.
She flung the door wide for him,
ignoring the pale fOrnality of his
greeting. She snapped her fingers,
murmuring gaily, But you're
here, Mr.. Red! Keep your cold
looks
He had a box of candy in his
pocket, the yellow cord tying it
showed. She tapped 1t imptshly:
"a peace Offering. Red?"
He grinned. well, the nerve
Of some peoples widows! Why
should I bring the peace when
you maQ0 Iu0 war!
did / though! thought I only
fired the first gun-the war was
there already. Is 1t over now?"
He drew a long breath. his
mouth straight. ANY lunch for
today? Takes a long time to draw
up suitable peace treaty, you
know"
And after they started she
found him now and then watch
ing her, an intent, dubious fixity
in his glance. It made her un-
easy.
She began to talk--surcharged
with emotion and suspense. Glori.
Gus day--look at the flowers
oh, did you see that suirrel? And
finally: $50, you're angry with
me. Barry? And you've, only come
out to tell it?" -,
"Why no--what makes you
think that?"
Rather quiet, aren't you?"
"Well--in a way. But ] don't
want to quarrel with you, Chickie.
You don't blame me for being
shocked, do your"
"You mean that went out with
Jake? You mean about yester-
day?" ~
''well-suppose you were rush.
ing down to meet me and gave
you breezy nod and went flying
off with some other dame-what
would you have done?"
She didn't answer for she had
whitening image of herself sud-
denly watching Barry go off with
another. She sat mute with the
sense Of bleak devastation.
'What would you have thought
or done, CHECKER"
Ihtink / would die, Barry"
Looking up. 1t shocked her to see
a flush, an exultance light his
face.
"As much as that, ChickiA? DO
you mean itT
"I let you see 1t far too plainly;
Mr.. Red. / shout that love you.
And girl should never do that.
Then you grow afraid. Oh, /
know! And you run away"
"Ah--don't say that, Chiclsie. I
might tell you few things you
don't realize. ! think I'm going
to. But the part I can figure is
that you seem to like going out
with Jake"