The Washington times., 1924-01-24

had rad, mournful feeling Of
aloneness. 'Janina watched her
all morning, dropping her eyes
almost abashed when Chickie met
them. At lunch she said with n
touch of eager humility: what
shock to see you walk into the
office this day of days. ] can't
survive 1t. Chiclrie, did anything
/ say keep you from going?"
''Oh, flatter yourself. ole thingi
You took an awful lot for granted"
BE q sport, Chickie-answer
me this: Did you tell Jake I
frightened you into staying
away?"
Chiclie gave q derisive laugh:
saw the passionate eagerness like
a visible pain on Janina's face.
mo didn't mention your name,
Janina dear. An1 nothing you
said made particle Of differ
ence."
In her relief Janina sat back
with q sigh. Her hard, brilliant
ewes appraised Chickie, musing.
"What you're saving, girl, may
De WOEtu q AOSs u1NS MY
doubts. What you lose In keep
ing it is more than worth it,
price"
Chickie said coldly. "why are
you 30 crude. Janina? Do, YOU
lust like to say things to shock?"
"I'm not crude. Chickie--I'm
truthful. I've only taken off
some Of the mouldy papers they've
wrapped about Life and what
i've found inside Is a whole lot
cleaner and sweeter than the
contemptIble hypocrisy that hides
it! Take that or leave 1T
"If everyone did that, Janina-
things would be rather terri
"Yes-they handed that bunk
to our grandmothers! Made them
run along the chalk line. But
we're on the broad road now. -
it going to hurt US any more
than it's hurt men2'
''All girls don't believe az you
do by a long shot"
Janina smiled. Thirty per cent
of the marriageable females. my
dear, are without mates. Are
they lived in monasteries? They
are not! Are they going to per-
dition sixty miles an hour? I'd
like to bet they aren't! All in the
course of evolution. my dear.
Takes a little while after you
discover you have feet before you
learn to walk easily. Same with
US. Minds leap into the future,
instincts rooted in the past. Have
to fight for harmony. Wen get
there-some OF us"
She broke off abruptly. nudged
Chicl1ie: Here comes Bess Abbot
something doing?"
A thin, graceful girl with a
languid air, dreamy, black eyes
and hair bobbede caught Janina'S
glance. She sauntered over
delicately, dropped into chair.
letting gold vanity and ciga-
rette case clatter on the table.
Hello. Janka, love-" she said
with q long breath. why is
life so tiresome? Cheer me UP.
I've been looking for you"
"Then meet Chickie. She's the
most refreshing thing know.
Spring violetT'
"Oh, is this Miss Bryce2" Bess
Abbot gave q wan smile, tapped
her lips with a very pale, trans
parent hand. "Scuse, my dears:
only got two or three hours
sleep this morning. Can smoke
here?" She opened her case, Of
fered It to them. Rescue me,
Janka, If they try to put me out.
I'm weary"
= She wore an immense solitaire
on her left hand. Its setting was
massed with small diamonds.
Like it? Well, 1 decided to take
1t after all. Harry's such an old
pest, Janka."
Janina laughed. $50 you're en-
gagged, are you, Bess?"
$50 1t seems. All is monotony.
BY way Of celebration we'll have
q house party, Friday to Sunday.
You won't fail me, Janka?" Sne
turned lazily to Chickie: "Why
don't you come along, Miss Bryce?
We do have some riotous times"
Janina ihterposed, "Chickie's just
hoped off a fryingpan; she may
not choose to jump into the fire"
Don't mind her. Miss Bryce. I
don't give that kind of party.
Very nice-mother's along. You