The Washington times., 1924-03-14
THE STORY OF Ct1ICKIE
By ELENORE MEHERIN

VOuCn OF pnoumOKla anu n0r
hearts none % strong. Please
ask them to give you q little time
off. CAiclxie girl, and run down
here to see us. Jennie 10 in bed
and can life her now like a
baby. She's gotten thin. Chickie,
your old Dad would find It mighty
sweet to have you here in these
night timeR--And sitting by the
bed. What shall tell your
mother-that you're coming as
soon as the train will take you?
Write ut Once
This, too, went under the Pill.
low. Chiclkie knelt at the bed,
her face buried in her arms. And
she cried. And she thought that
God was hard to her.
Doubly hard. Because Jona-
than had sent another letter, On.
closing it with his. It was from
Perry Dunno. He sent her money.
He wrote this:
II know you don't wish to hear
from me. don't send this to
you. But the time must be about
over. I can't endure the thought
that 1t should suffer because Of
me. It will suffer no matter
what is done now, but you haven't
the right, because Of contempt for
me, to make 1t any harder for it.
I will send more regularly II you
let me know"
No name signed--no greeting
given. II anything on the green,
sad earth could make her feel
more alone, more desolate, 1t was
that line from him she had so
loved
She took a plain envelope and
put the bills-3260--in this and
sealed It. Then she put it in her
trunk and trembled. The child
was his--his too-the pain all
hers
She walked into the room, hold.
ing his letter in her hand. feel
ing 1t like q scalding In her mind.
Suddenly she laughed. He
free-she had been free-ever 20
free. She had been glad-oh, Joy.
Gus days on a river-oh, happy,
long hours under a tree. And
she had laughed-daring life to
corner her!
Life had taken her dare. But
not Janina's-not Amy Heaton's-
not even Marjorie Abtott'a.
But II they could eat their fruit
as she was eating hers. Oh, II
they could taste the ashen bitter.
ness. She stopped, exhausted.
Jonathan's letter remained
unanswered two days. Then
came another. Swift, command.
ing. frantic in its prayer:
UfNhhRlHto a1aw1
Jennie is sinking. Leave every.
thing and come. Your mother is
out Of her mind, calling for you.
She's taken this sudden turn.
Pray God to help US. l don't
know what to do or what to say
to her. Send me a telegram.
Don't waste q moment"
And Chickie, shaken from head
to foot. crept up the steps to her
room. She closed the door, locked
it. Then she raced into the closet,
pulled down her coat, pulled down
black silk cape. Oh, she would
go-rush down to them-braxen
it Quitting her arms about Jen-
MES neck, whisper and see the
dear, faded eyes grow bright
again.
She pulled on the cape and
stood before the mirror, her eyes
dilated-almost a madness light.
ing them. She draped the cape
boldly, flung her head up!
Her face grew leaden even
watching 1t, and the coldness of
her hands went into her blood.
Go down to little Jennie-rush
in on her-kill her with a glance
bow Jonathan in anguish! Oh,
yes! Go home IKE this-their
pretty angel come to them as
such. Oh-break their hearts
and walk on them!
Better that Jennie 90 from her
In peace; better that Jennie pass
thinking her sweet. thinking her
so white and dear
Chickie leaned against the mir.
ror. She pressed her face against
the glass. She whispered: "God,
let me die! Oh-if there IL q
Goblet me die!''
She called up her friend, the
telephone operator at the hotel,
asking her to send this wire:
Jonathan, dArling-dOn't let
Jennie sink! I'm comingl The
very quickest can. I won't lose
a minute. But the travel is slow
on these mountain roads. Oh
IL you let her sink I'll never get
over it! 1 may be delayed be-
cause / have a terribly sprained
ankle, and can't walk on It.
Wire me If she gets any worse"
A week passed. There was no
further word. OF cOurse-why,
he thought she was on her way
to them-he thought his letters
wouldn't reach her
Time went with slothful feet.
It trampled heavily upon her.
A week longer-oh-she had
but q week longer-if only it
might come on time-that little
but that very little could be
granted her!
Even as she asked for this,
Dorothy Wreden phoned from thA
hotel, She had telegram.
Jennie Is dying. Chickie--
what keeps you? You may not
see your mother again. Come
now or you will be too late. Hire
machines-but get here"
Chickie ran into the field. She
went down to the river, the dog
bounding at her side. She caught
his head and rocked It wildly in