The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-25

sweet evening time; walk quietly
and laugh with Jonathan.
Oh-the past was her shadow
she couldn't put it from her
1t walked at her side; it crowded
her to the wall. She said to
Jonathan: "Oh-you see-now you
see, Jonathan, let me go-!es me
go away
He ran his hand down his
cheek. back and forth-"Ah-ah-
you want to go away"
Il want to def you could
only know how much"
"Chickie, girl, you won't do that.
You wouldn't treat your old dad
so?" l.>
"Oh-after all I've done"
. "Now-now-what did you do?
Why, you had a little child. and
your old father would have taken
it-didn't you know that"
A little wild laugh-"And Jen-
nie-oh. that would have killed
her"
"Hush-hush now"
Twill you let me go. Jonathan?
l have to work again. OH could
never start in here-I could never
face them ALL want to be alone
maybe not so long"
You're all / have, Chickie-"
"Oh, you kill me, saying this
Just for a while-just for a
while
Then let us go, too"
But she wouldn't have thiS-it
was too much the way Jennie
touched her hands-the way Jen'
MES lips so often twisted and her
eyes were wet on Chickie's face
Jennie said to her: so you
want to leave-you want to go
away"
"Oh-only for a while-for
little while. mother-can't you
see"
So they took their hearts and
crushed them in their hands.
They said. "If you must, Chickie
if you must--then go-not for
long-not for very long
She stood in the room they had
made so bright for her. She took
quietly the things from her bu-
reau. Then she knelt before her
open trunk. 1t was twilight in the
room.
She knelt there. Tears were in
her eyes. She wondered what 1t
was that made her cry. Oh-it
was leaving them, perhaps-oh-
it was everything.
And as she knelt there came a
step-Jonathan, of course. There
came a sound and someone knelt
beside her. 1t was Jimmy. He
put his arms about her. One hand
with a piercing gentleness took
hold Of hers.
She tried to run-tried to get
away, feeling suddenly her life all
broken and his with it.
But he lifted her. He said,
"Chickie, do you want me, now"
She turned hard against him,
pressing her face low on his arm.
"Jimmy-let me go-oh, Jimmy.
you ask me that-let me go"
And stifled the means that tore
what little heart she had left;
tore it all in two.
Then she felt that Jimmy cried.
He was crying, too. He said: Il
love you, Chickie-dont you want
me now-let me take you
away"
Jimmy. let me go. Oh, IL l
could only die. Oh, Jimmy, there
isn't any place in the world. nor
any one, nor anything. And II
anyone really loved me, do you
know what they would do? They
would come in here tonight when
l am sleeping; they would come
and kill me. l would do that
thing myself except for Jonathan.
ocLn6 M to- ~
Jimmy only said: "No-not that,
Chickie-do you want newly
don't you take me now"
She said: i've done too much
wrong-I've hurt you so-it could
never be-never-oh, l would see
it always in your eyes. Every
time 1 looked at you, it would be
there"
Il don't think Of you that way,
Chickie. l don't think of you that
way. never would. You mean
because Of things I've said?
81 didn't understand. Chickie.
Can't you see? I've loved you al
ways. You need me, perhaps.
Don't go away alone"
He held her hands in both of
his. She stopped and pressed her
lips to Jimmy's hands. You're
good, Jimmy darling. You're
good. No-don't. 1 couldn't-oh,