The Washington times., 1924-01-12

excitement, Quickening her pace,
digging her fingers hard against
ChiclSie's arm. "Why, what else
could she do? II you love. you
have to marry. For pity sakes.
ChicAie. do you think people can
stop living just because life IL
hard?"
Its not hard for every one, and
II Lucy didn't have 90 many chill
dren all at once It wouldn't be hard
for her. Look at Nora Bright.
She loved and married, and mas
everything just the way she wants
it. and not one single thing to
bother her."
mora Brightv A shrug Of con-
tempt. why, she's not half az
happy as Lucy. You know what
I've learned, Chichie? People that
have the hardest times, like Lucy
and my mother. get the very most
out Of life. They go down and feel
the heart Of things. Nora Bright
reminds me Of a big bisquet doll
that is always smiling because 1t
never FEELS"
''Oh, you sound Just like your
mother, Mary. You're only repeat
ing things she's said hundreds Of
times"
"Yes-well. I used to think moth.
er was just kidding herself along.
She gave up her own life and all
her dreams. You know all that
poetry she wrote when she was
teaching school and she wanted TO
write. Then she got married and
had all of us. always thought she
was just trying to fool herself into
being glad about losing 80 much.
Now know she meant 1t all and
she was glad-glad as could be.
Shed really go through every
bit of it again. You know, tChichie,
when Jimmy comes in and puts
his arms around mother and grins
at her-say-I bet that's worth a
million dollars to her. She just
looks at Jimmy and her eyes get
all full. They seem to shout:
You're my very own. My son! I
can imagine how she feels. She
thinks Jimmy is the grandest thing
on the earth"
! Chickie said with her heart stab
bling: "Oh, Mary, you're in love
with Edward McPike."
! Yes, I love him"
! Chickie wanted to press her face
against Mary's arm. She tried to
hold back the swift tears that all
at once rushed through her. Oh.
she loved Mary as though Mary
were her own sister. From the
time they were eight or nine they
had been chums. Now Mary spoke
this aching thing; now Mary was
going to step into warping drudg-
cry like Lucy's. And all their
bright, happy companionship was
ended.
And this clumsy Edward Nc.
Pike could do all this to Mary
Chickie was suddenly remember.
ing the wondrous romances she
and Mary had weaved together.
How they would each marry some
one handsome-some one with Jus
a little money. And they would
have bungalows near together
with garages and gardens. They
would go on picnics together.
Oh-there would be none Of that
| now Mary would have to
| .pAAACAII SuO WOuIU IOOk LOT u cheap
flat-buy furniture on the in.
stallment plan Oh It was
! a shame.
Suddenly she felt Mary's trem-
bling hand; Mary's nervous words
oh, know what you're thinking
about, Chickie. But you don't
know. You can't Judge things by
the outside. You can't ever know
what Edward is, Chicl1ie. He has
a soul. I can't tell you how
feel"
Chickie was almost in tears.
Yes, yes-then you are going to
marry Edward?"
Soon"
"Oh, you'll have 1t hard like
Lucy"
Mary's face grew tense. IT
like to suffer for Edward. I love
him like that. That's what love
means. -. Oh, Chickie, it's
like the whole world bursting all
at once into flower. want to
laugh and cry and oh I don't
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