The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-07

just as told you before.> / don't
think ia be accepted"
Yes, you will. The best way
to make sure Of that IL to try.
I've made the arrangements.
Please don't ball them up"
She tried twice to ask: did you
see the letter Of recommendation
Doctor David?" But no forcing
would bring the glazing question
forth. She answered instead:
"Oh, all right--Ill go"
"Helen-you won't break this
appointment"
Moth keep tt"
She forgot Jennie. She stood
with her hands on the hook
clammy, yet hot, trying to tell
herself. "What of tit doesn't
matter-one thing more-what Of
it."
But Jennie repeated: "Chickie!
, What is It? What is the matter?"
"Oh-you there, Miss Jennio?"
What did he want? You're all
upset"
"Yes-you see-there's q chance.
Well--he knows, Of a place in an.
other hospital, and he wants me
to try to get II"
Leave where you are? II that
wiser"
Jennie's eyes grew big. Chiclrie
took the telephone book and very
precisely hung It on q small screw.
II guess it's wise. II I can get
THE thinks So"
And Jonathan had to hear about
It. By this time Chickie's story
was clear and glowing r.. Why
big opportunitiesl And who
knows-she might be something
yet!
She talked thus gaily. Within
her was a chilly quiet and deeper
than this turmoil and a clash.
She moved about precisely. She
stacked the dishes and very me.
thodically brushed crumbs from
the pantry shelf.
Never mind .regretting. Stop 1t
now! ShA was going. The prom.
Use was made
She tried to steel herself in this
way; tried to shut down the sick,
warm excitement.
That night when Jennie and
Jonathan were asleep she sat at
her desk In the sun room, the
crumpled letter Of recommendation
before her. She smoothed it again
and again, rubbing her fist gently
back and forth.
She pasted the sharply torn
strips together. Janina said to do
that.
Then press it between the leaves
OF the old Britannica Encyclope-
dia-Jonathan's first anniversary
gift to his bride. Ho-JennIe be-
gan to read the cumbersome vol
umes before Chickie was born,
hoping that her child would be
a geniuS-brilliant and noble!
Chickie had often heard the tale.
She thought of 1t and reread as
though she craved its pain. the
fateful paragraph He
lena Bryce, then and since unmar.
ried, became a mother-the child
died-there was an Inquest
Well-true, wasn't It?
So Janina could accept 1t; could
BADLY say: us 1t a crime to love?
To have a child? How are you
tainted?"
Chickie shut her eyes now in a
mute recoil from Janina's facile
exoneratiOn. On chair in the
corner was Jennie's work basket
Across the back Of the chair were
many stockings. They were mated
ana now waited to bes darned.
Years and years Chickie had seen
a chair draped in this wise.
Jennie would take up the mend.
ing with fervor. Then iona
than would come in. She would
stand up, one sock over her hand,
and wait while the old fellow
kissed her. Then the smile on
her face as she settled again in
the roomy chair, and the tender
way she drew the needle across
the hole.
This was her life-these thou
sand drab monotonies turned into
holy things because they meant
q thousand loyalties. And how
these two had stood to each other
in all the little things and then
in big
Why. they expected always
the best and finest in each otnHr.
That time when Chickie lay half
dazed and the sheriff had come TO
make her go away-that time
even Jonathan had said: Stay,
mother! 1t Is for you to stay!'
For this their marriage meant
measures up. So they rode the
tide Of life.
Chickies eyes filled. Some.
thing heroic about 1t. Call This
love-but what Janina meant was
shoddy enough and cheap enough
and tainting enough before the
strong, enduring faith of this.
She put the letter in the book
and put three heavy volumes on
top of 1t. Oh, by Monday, per-
haps, tho wrinkles would be gone.
And she would take the lister
quietly and show it-not flounce
1t down and laugh In Mrs. Ellis
face.
For she didn't feel so about it
not quite. But what was done
was done. She would admit.
She would say simply that it was
past-she was not chained to it
nor would be-
Sunday she kept reading such
thoughts and stealing in to see
how the letter looked.
Once, 1t occurred to her like a
revelation that David Ramm
couldn't know of this letter. lie
would be ashamed to the soul to
have recommended her and then
have her come to his friend with
such a flaming record behind her.
His eyes would flash with
anger.
She answered this: He must
know! He can't be stupid.
Everyone hears"
But before the day was over
she went to the phone and called
up Phyllis Stone. She hardened
herself for rebuff. When she
said, This is Bryce" she almost
felt a vibrance over the wires,
and Phyllis, In her low, sweet
voice, answered: Eat last! Why
1lAAIk x,n1, nall onnpon2 TSVn ,,yos