The Washington times., 1924-04-26
The Dramatic Story Of
Chickie's Attempt
to Come Back"
Continued from Yesterday

In the hundred-yard dash he
picked out a chunky fellow, say
ing tensely: 81 used to run. He'll
win. I'll bet on him.
The runner started with q dash
ing brilliance. In the last Sec
ond he was outstripped. David
stood up and shouted. When the
boy lost he snapped his fist with a
soft: "Damnation--damn Chickie
burst out laughing.
She felt very friendly-un-
troubled. When he said Thanks
for. breaking your rule, Miss
Helen, we'll do 1t again." she
answered breezily "Yes-let's!"
Alone she was startled at her
GOODNESS as though she had
suffered some lapse. Finally she
thought, II can't go through
life ignoring every one. can
have a day like this now and
then. I'll have to"
She was certain of her power
to keep this or any friendship
utterly impersonal-utterly in her
own control.
It was easy with this David
Ramm, because in his work he
was absorbed and selfless as
some inspired machine. For weeks
at a time he had no other
thoughts.
Chickie used to wonder about
him as though he were a new
species of being. She contrasted
him with herself and flushed with
humility. One day taking a
walk with Wilde, she thought,
Did he ever do anything he
was sorry for? suppose not!''
She was confused and ashamed
even wondering this. No-men
like him were not buried in
their own petty, wild desires.
They weren't loa1ing about wait
ing for Life to present them
with some glowing gift.
They were DISQUALIFICATION
passion and meanness; even above
human yearnings. Chickie had
yet this outlook of the girl
eager to exalt an ideal; to en-
body it in enc who seemed
to have the touch Of glory.
Then to drop on her knees and
worship.
Incidents stood out luminous
in her mind. There was a little
UOy Ia bbGAS
ster.. His hand was mangled.
David tried to save it. He
worked as though he meant
to fashion new fingers. In the
end it had to be amputated.
Chickie saw the operation. She
felt like crying. The Doctors
face was pale. She had never
seen him work so silently-with-
out a word; never saw his eyes
so warm. That afternoon she
met him and spoke of it. He
said, through his teeth: "Ah,
damn! Why does a thing like
\ that happen-great little kid,
too. Hate a thing like that!'
Another time Chiclie was on
duty in the mems ward. There
was very gentle boy about
eighteen in a cast. The cast was
split so that the patient lay in II
as in a half shell. Unexpectedly
he became delirious and tried to
spring from the bed.
Chickie was frightened, finding
herself unable to restrain him.
She called the patient in the ad-
joining bed. Then with kind of
inspiration grabbed Jap the other
half of the cast that was standing
near the wall-set in it place with
tape.
The following night DR. David
walked into the ward. He said.
Put 1t here, little nurse! and
held out his hand. Her heart
leaped.
One afternoon he asked her to
take a ride through the park Be
fore leaving the hospital che
visited the maternity ward be
cause Of a case that dr. ew her
with a cruel fascination. Two
weeks previously the ambulance
had been called one night to get
a young girl reported to have been
seized with violent and very sud-
den case of appendicitis. The girl
was fifteen-an overgrown, coun-
try type. She lived with three
brothers and kept house for
them.
They were aghast when G. child
was born. The Oldest brother, q
hard working, well meaning fell
low. came to the supervisor. He
said it never dAwned on him that
his sister was even old enough to
worry about. He blamed himself.
They should have looked after her
better. And now he and his
brothers didn't want the girls life
ruined. They wanted the child
quietly disposed of-they wanted
it's birth kept entirely unknown.
So they took their sister home
and left the little child. 1t was a
boy-beautifully formed. large.
Chickie touched it hands. They
were warm. And to her dismay,
her eyes filled with tears. Make
this tiny thing take the penalty.
Run away and leave it-how
dared people do such things? Oh
the selfishness that doesn't
think
She began to tremble and alb.
ruptly walked out of the nursery.
Getting into the machine she was
completely unnerved and didn't
look at David Ramm.
Yet she had a wish to pluck
his sleeve; to say: II don't won
der the world is harsh sometimes
to me and that girl. But what
do you think"
And this wish to have some
word from him mastered her
She told of the baby left like that.
He said carelessly: "Yes-I
know it."
do you see how a mother
could do 1t? should think the
torment would be crucifying.
Shouldn't you think she'd wake
up in the night and wonder
where it was; IL 1t was turning
pretty; If people were kind to
it.
He looked down at her with a
half hooking amusement: "Well,
Miss Helen, do you suppose that
girl Is afflicted with an imagina-
ton? She'd probably not have