The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-02
The Dramatic Story Of
Chickie's Attempt
to ESCOlr,e Back"
Continued from Yesterday,

COutInueO from 1eSSeflay.
'aThis is where our views differ,
Miss Bryce. You seem to think
you had perfect right to fol-
low out your own selfish desires
and give no thought to conse-
Quences. You did thing that If
done by. all would shake the
foundations of the entire moral
world. These conventions are for
the protection of the home and
the young race. If we disregard
marriage what is to become of
!, the children of the world? Are
they to be fatherless because you
or others will not wait for the
laws sanction? Is 1t any justifi-
cation that your love is sacred
when It is at. the same time ut
terly selfish?"
The shot went to the heart.
Chickie was stunned and nodded
as though she didn't quite know
what she, was doing. Yes
that's true-the child shouldn't
suffer. That's the wrong-'
But she was desperate and
rallied even from this. She kept
repeating: That's the wrong"
And there went flashing through
her mind and every tortured
nerve, images she had seen of
these children; and things she
had thought in all these aching
years.
She poured them out now like
q living fire. There was no stop
ping her. Miss Sinonds put up
her hand. Chickie flung her
head back and kept on:
But that's the worlds sin,
Miss Simonds, and not mine. The
world should not treat q baby SO.
1t should be glad to have them.
1t should protect them and recog-
niZe them-oh. as great gift.
Then there would be no shame,
but a beauty in the coming of a
child-no matter who the mother
was, or the father!
And some day this will be,
and no law win dare to take a
little child and brand it and
make all it's life a misery. Do
you think that's right? You tell
me. Miss Simonds---do you think
that's right?"
Miss Simonds pushed her chair:
win you sit down, Miss Bryce?"
You are acting very foolish"
Il say-do you think that's
right? Was it right that I had
to go away and hide and pray
that my child would die and pray
that / would die? AS though to
have a child were the ultimate
infamy!
But it should DO glory. And
every girl who is to have a child
should be honored-"
81 think you've said quite
enough, Miss Bryce. You are not
aiding yourself"
"Ho-aiding myself-but 1 say
there should be a temple builded
the most beautiful place in all
the world; and girls who are to
have children should go there,
and the law should do everything
to make the child worthwhile
child. Then men would acknowl-
edge their children and be proud
Of them, and love would be recog-
nized, as marriage Is!
Hold like to know what you
think. Why don't you answer"
Suddenly she heard this uncon-
.AAt4AACN NO1SO ia aACI .
Suddenly she knew she was de-
feated, the half-won triumph
snatched away. She saw Miss ST.
monds gather papers on the desk
and she noticed that Miss Simonds'
nails were Pink and shiny, like
little petals.
She heard a voice of cold dig
nifty: Are you finished at last,
Miss Bryce? Or can you think of
something else to Nsay?"
Chickie kept her eyes down.
And the second death of hope
was a frightful, drooming thing.
you are neither chastened nor
humbled. ] am sorry to see this
attitude. I have a sympathy for
you, Miss Bryce. But you wish
the whole world declared wrong
in order that you may be found
right. You want to make your
own rules and play your own
game, yet you demand a share in
the worlds favors."
Chickie gave a sharp, forlorn
denial. ''FIo, want a chance to
keep the rules, to show that I
will keep them" And she added
with a broken quiet, "You won't
give it to me, Miss Simonds?
Surely"
please, Miss Bryce! have
been patient. Now don't reopen
the subject. It is closed. Make
your arrangement when you can.
] viii do all in my power to make
Il easy for you"
ChiclSie closed her eyes. She
stood for n few moments resting
her weight on her hands.
CHAPTER LVHI.