The Washington times., 1924-02-11

veins. She felt the sun stream.
ing about them in a flood, hot,
overpowering. She wished that
she might die there in his arms;
make him hold her so until all
the life went from her. She said
weakly: 'You won't go-Barry,
no-leave me now?'
He answered bitterly. you're
crueler than /, Chickie You don't
know it. But you are!"
The grimness of his mouth hurt
her. She began to tremble, swept
by her terrible pity and longing.
She put her hands against him,
the blood tanning In a hot tide
from her heart. She was afraid
and whispered family: "Ohy"
After a moment, "You better co."
She knew that he kissed her.
that his hand ran again and again
over her hair; that he bent down
to her whispering: TITS no use.
It's too late now. ChiclIie, you
love me2 Oh. say it-pleaso--
look up-you won't? You want
me to go? You think / should
offer this?"
Then he was going with hur.
ried steps down the path; tWigs
snapped; leaves rustled. She was
alone.
She felt her spirit numb in a
coldness, bleaker than death
Gone! He was gone! The bald,
incredible fact smote her, seem.
ing suddenly monstrous-gro.
stesque-unnecessar Gone-why?
She began running down the
trail, in her wildness, her feet
stumbled. The she heard Jennie
moving about the kitchen, singing
in a gentle, high falsetto. She
crept back-up the hillside.
And she waited, crouched
against the tree-listening. The
silence sprang open with a
whistle, hoarse, throbbing, pro-
longed. The train going out.
carrying him away, carrying her
heart, she thought. Leaving her
to sink in this stark emptiness;
leaving her to struggle with this
gaunt specter-gone. He was
gone now.
Hours she sat there, limp, over
powered, drinking in the impos.
sible cruelty Of his leaving. Again
and again she started to her feet,
goaded by a thousand memories.
They assailed her like brutal
whips.
You're sending me away,
Chickie. You think should offer
this?" And the strained passion
Of supplication on his lips
She fought against the ashland
took it. Yes-sent him away. She
had done this-pushed him from
her. Told him to go.
And now she lay here beating
the earth in a frantic protest
calling him back, denying with
impotent anguish the thing she
had done.
Oh. she would have him back
call him! She could feel his
arms about her, hand wiping her
eyes; feel her spirit sinking to
its knees, clinging to his. She
lay on the ground motionless,
beaten by this storm of ruthless
emotion.
Leaves crunching - Jonathan
calling: "Chickie! Chickie girl"
Loud, anxious calling
again.
She hid in the shrubs. Flooding
OF his heavy feet: "Oh Chickie-
where are you? Dinners ready"
And she had to hurry down,
battle her eyes, talk gaily, pre-
tend, laugh, answer. All the
while her thought went blindly in
void hooting with echoes.
They bore down on her that
night as she lay in bed, staring
upward at the stars, all hushed
the song within her heart. She
heard him laughing as he pulled
her head beneath the water, kissed
her with his teasing: Another
sin, frail! Like it?" Only yester.
day
Then the tenderness that caught
her with such thrill as he prom
Used: II won't bother you again.
You're too sweet, Chickie! That's
the trouble" Tears ran down her
temples to the pillow.
Oh-it couldn't be-couldn't be.
They loved each other so! He
would come. She would send for
him. She must.
She wouldn't accept the hard
finality of parting-wouldn't take
this dependence. Somewhere in
the cup was the bright sparkle of
hope. She drank that. She had
| to. It was life. She chung to it,
In the morning feverish impa-
thence - almost a gladness seized
her. He would wire-send a tele-
gram. He would say: '..Ah, listen,
Chickie, I can't stay here. I'm
coming back" She must get that
MESA e-hug It to her. She hur-
ried to the station.
There was no word. Nor the
next day. It was the beginning Of
days that devastated her mind,
tore away its poise and left in it's
place only a wild, aching protest;
made her heart clamorous,
L - ~ l.