The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-19

SlanO II!
That night, Chickie unpacked
her trunk. She locked her door
as she did this. She hid away all
of the baby's clothes. She drew
out the envelope with the $3.50
Barry Dunno had sent. Oh-he
didn't want it to suffer because
of him.
She wrote a note. 1t was this:
1T may not rejoice because Of
you-neither shall it suffer-"
She put the bills in this. She
sent 1t to him at the st. Francis.
CHAPTER .CVII
THE VISITOR.
There was a bundle hidden
under a heap Of old shoes in
Chickie's closet. One morning
when Jennie was feeling so well
she began to sing a little, Chickie
took this bundle and rode down
Valencia street. She was going
to give 1t away-shirts, little
gowns, blankets.
She was nervous about it and
put it on the floortunder her feet.
NOHiC OALC uuN6CN CIOOW.
Pretty big lunch you carry,
these days, Chickie!" Sarah Dillon,
the homely, good-natured girl
who lived around the corner,
kicked the package with her toe
and slid into the seat at Chickies
side.
Chickie's face was crimson with
the shock. She had a picture Of
the paper suddenly sprtnging
apart. After a moment she an
swered flippantly: "Oh my, yes
turkey and two or three squads.
She wished to get off the car.
Sarah rambled on: "Not work.
ing, Chickie? Neither am I. You
heard about ma, didn't you? She
got struck by an automobile. Oh
that's so-you've been away.
Well, I'm home running the She
bang now. Its all right-but
give me an eight-hour job any
day. Didn't run off to get mar.
ried, did you, Chickie? 1 heard
you We're engaged Just think.
it's nearly five years since we
left school - getting old you
haven't changed a. bit" She sur
veyed Chickie with open admira-
tion-'pretty as ever. Lord,
Chickie. | thought you'd be
picked off long ago. Imagine
Mary Blake beating you to it
but you never can bet on man.
suppose. you're waiting for a
millionaire-are your"
"A crown, Sarah-a country
estate and limo to go with
every hat-That's enough, Here's
where l get Off"
The bundle weighed heavily.
Sarah looked after her from the
car window and waved A little
thing like that oppressed and
frightened her. She wondered
what Sarah would say-what all
the world would say, If abruptly
they were to know.
She walked quickly to the or
phanage of the Salvation Army
There was a desk in the hall-nO
attendant. Chickie left the bun
die and hurried away.
No one saw. No one knew--she
went along in the morning breeze
and the sun. People treated her
Just the same-they saw no diff
ference in her. She was the same.
A sense of freedom touched her.
She wished to intensity the feel
ing. She went down town to
meet Janina.
1t was noon. AS she walked up
Montgomery street girls stopped
to laugh and chat. How was the
farmerette? Glad to be back?
Have great time-back to the
soil and all that
After each greeting she felt
lighter-more secure. She could
take up her old place again--not
the same-but only herself would
know.
Janina had a little shopping to
do. They went to Grant avenue.
Picking over ribbons in an aisle
counter, Chickie happened to
glance toward the elevators. She
saw stout, rosy girl with blonde
hair step outcome toward her.
Her thought collapsed
the girl in the town store-the
girl who had sold her and Agnes
Robbins materials, ribbons-baby
things
She said to Janina: Lets get
out-close in here" and, de-
liberately turning her back.
AuSlcu " Tile OOOT-
Janina gripped her arm-"Hells
bells! Well-what's up?"-
Chickie dashed along, half lean
ing on Janina's arm. Finally she
said: ut was someone I saw
didn't want to see-that's all"
You poor loon. Can't you
give more accomplished snub
than this? Dash for death-the
latest in rural elegance. De-
liver u.s.
Chickie was thinking. az won
der If it was Lena? Was it? Was
she coming to meet me?"
Safe now she wasn't at all GER
tam. Perhaps not, but it looked
like her.
If it were Lena Joyce and she
said, "Oh-how do you do. Mrs.
Clayton! 1 heard the baby died.
Awful sad. I felt sorry for
YOU" she would blurt that out
right before Janina.
Fear grew heavy within her,
Any day she might meet people
from the small town-Dr. Elmer
son or the nurse who had brought
lilies and little pink roses. They
would recognize her; would call
her Mrs. Clayton" speak of the
child; ask after her health; had
She suffered any setback; did she
like the little monument
That night Chickie sat in her
room after Jonathan was in bed
and Jennie was long since asleep.
She began to count up all the
people who knew; who might
some day confront her. She got
up and walked about the room in
her bare feet-twisting her hands.
IL would come Quit was bound
TO-
She dropped on her knees, COW
erlng her face. No-that wouldn't