The Washington times., 1924-04-12
Continued from Yesterday
CHAPTER xxx
THE SHOWDOWN

They were shiny and penciled
very black against the catiny
olive skin. The gesture and the
smile were a smooth dismissal Of
all unpleasant things. Know of
you, my dear Miss Bryce Just
what. for example? That you
are an exceedingly sweet young
lady, though somewhat peppery
a want to know, Mr.. Lam
agek, if Edith Potter told your"
Asking this, Chickie's face stained
crimson. She was suddenly be.
wildered and ashamed. Her eyes
lowered swiftly, but not before
they, had seen a satisfied CLEAN
in his.
"What tale now is Edith re.
counting? Or what greatness is
yours that should hear OF it?"
She turned from him with a
disheartened weariness-convinced
now. He followed, leaning over
her shoulder why speak Of it,
Miss Byrce? / assure you / am
by no means American in that
particular. A little past, more or
less"
look and the tone went through
her with a whitening anguish.
She could have sobbed. She
could. have covered her face, for
It was as though she stood barred
and defenseless. And there was
something brutal about it-that
Lius Lamarck should see her
so. @-a e" - .-si
do you suppose 1t makes any
difference to me, Miss SByrce?
Do you count me another Lee
Whitman? Why--what are a few
yesterdays in the life OF a pretty
girl.
I Talking freely like that of this
!, thing that had broken her to the
soul; that had been the innermost
Of her heart made her feel strip
ped and profaned. She said
pathetically: 'tWhy should I have
to speak OF it to your"
!. "You don't: Did l mention it?
Did I bring 1t up"
cit was in your thoughts. 1t
Is in them now. Because of it
you presume to insist that must
accept your attentions. You are
wasting your timer
''Why, my little dear-you do
me great wrong. only want
you to know that it makes no
difference in my. regard. think
we can arrange to be the very
best of friends"
She went over to the cabinet
In the corner where she kept her
hat. She made no answer for
she felt as one whose hands are
tied and whoever would might
come up and strike her in the
face. It seemed so then.
When he saw her putting on
her hat, he smiled serenely:
"You know you don't need to be
alone here. We are not all like
young Whitman. Don't~fet that
weigh on you. Do we under
stand each other now, Miss
Bryce"
She adjusted her hat, a raw.
ness and heat spreading to her
throat. She forced herself to
meet his glance, measured him
We dov'
He gave her a slow. beaming
smile. IF I'm not here when you
return"
"I'm finished for the day.!
What! At o'clock? Mon dieu!
I led you into lady's job, didn't
II"
She walked uncertainty to the
door, her head very high, her
hands fumbling with. the knob.
She didn't bid him goodby.
I. Lamarck's eyes followed with
cynical amusement. He raised
the lapel of his coat and shifted
the tiny rose.
Chickie walked down Spring
street, needless of the warm
crowds, the strident machines. It
seemed to her that she hurried
through an abyss. 1t was walled
on either side with men. Half
Of them turned from her because
Of a thing she had done; the
other half pursued because she
was to them a legitimate victim.
once. She would give it again.
Since honey is to be spilled, why
not be the one to gather it?
Pitiles attitude, and common
0nough-the vulture circling while
q thing lies dying. Shut. away the
air, be the one to poUnce what
II its own wings. soil with bloods
Ho-Luis Lamrack knew! But
that was all rigl1t-sweet little
Girl--he wouldn't mind. -. 4 q,
On the, rack at the; boarding
house was q letter from Mary. 1t
was the, first in, a week. Mary
was usually very prompt. Chickie
knew that she would let the
dishes go-that she sat down al
ways the very moment and an.
swered. So she had written to
Martha Blake wondering at Mary's
1t was explained now. Mary had
a daughter, No, She hadn't
spoken Of it-wanted it to be a
surprise. Chickie's eyes filled.
She understood clearly enough.
Mary was afraid to mention it,
afraid to- lash up. memories. As
though they were ever buried!
Mary said only, ."She's cute,
Chickie, but little Edward is very
Jealous. 1 don't know just how 1
should act about 1t. Now that
have to stay home so muah,
keep wishing you were here and
thinking Of you.
Jennie called yesterday. We
talked and talked. She seemed
just full to the lips with SO many
things she longed to say. She
was making boudoir pillows be.
cause she saw a picture of a
young girls room in a magazine.
The bed was piled with the Dill.
lows. She said to me: will
Chickie like them?' as though
you were coming home tomorrow.
Then Joathan called for her.
And l don't know, Chickie but It
made me feel 'desolate the way he
I took her hand and they went out
together as fOrlnrn and lost 20 tntn