The Washington times., 1924-02-02

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for you, Chickie! Please tell me
did you keep thinking Of meg
How can you be SO vain! xou'
indeedy' :
"I'm not vain. If I were I
wouldn't need the approval OF
others. But do. That's my
great weakness. !. And when / see
a handsome fellow like Jake play
ing around / don't understand
how you can prefer me. II you
really did YOU wouldn't keep max
ing dates with him. This isn't
the first one. You've no told me
OF them. But ! heard"
The increasing swiftness OF his
speech filled her with strained
excitement. He grew pale and as
he talked looked straight before
him, eyes on the road.
She said weakly: You're not
fair. You really forced me to go
out with him. You scarcely no.
ticed me for q whole week. You
didn't come to the window. Oh
I'm not so thick! ] knew what
you mean when you said we had
years and years lust to talk"
A scarlet wave rushed to his
temples; his lips moving but not
speaking
''And Friday night-oh, you re-
member-it wasn't what you said
or anything you did, but could
feel! I could feel things striking
through me. You wanted me TO
understand. did. / can't stay
home always. Jake doesn't care
how much 1 put him off or bow
uninteresting I am. He comes
and comes. And. nothing is too
much for him to do"
He said only: "Shall we go to
the same placer" And he took
her hand, pulling her up the
rocky hill. He didn't look at her.
Cruhed by his silence, she knelt
on the ground, unwrapping the
lunch. The gay little sandwiches
Knocked her. She was more than
half crying now, when she said
quietly:
''I don't blame you, Chickie.
Not a bit Of it! You have a
right to take all the fun you
can. Jake's got the coin to give
1t to you. I'd probably fall for
it too, il ! got the chance. Big
neutrality-suspicious.. Takes
money to toss off twenty night
or more and never wink at it.
A girl with a lot on the ball
has a right to expect things, 1
suppose"
When she remained leaning
against the tree, her eyes closed,
the breeze blowing her hair, he
dropped beside her, covered her
hands. Then why so sad about
it? You enjoyed it,"
She drew her hands from him:
you're cruel, I think you want
to hurt me" .r.
He WINGED: ''That's just the
very thing don't want! That's
just the core Of it all. Hurt
you! Why, when I sit here now
and look at you-good Lord
well!'
Her eyes opened to his, star.
tied at the sudden passion Of his
voice. He went on recklesslv:
"And I can't figure it! I can't
figure how you can say you love
me and yet be so carried away
by the things Jake can give yOu.""
"Stop-won't you please! Car
ried away by Jakei I could stay
home forever il I thought you
really cared"
'I care-I love you. I've told
you that. You know how it is.
! can't go wild and throw every
thing over. Lord. I don't know
what to dor
She reached her hand to him.
shutting her lips hard against a
frantic, happy cry.
He went on persistent: But
is this true, Chickie-you only
went out with him because you
thought didn't care? 1 was fore
ing you to it?"
She nodded.
''Chickie, please, you don't kiss
Jake?"
She wouldn't meet the pleading
in his voice: "Oh-I've plenty.
you know. And you've wanted so
few this last moon"
II wonder who's cruel now
Chickie, can't you see things ara
pretty hard? II I had the money
he has--Lord! do you think we'd
be stalling around like this? It's
just what we were talking of the
other night-that in Ethan Frohm.
You think it was terrible for
them. What's the difference? 7
tell you,, it's terrible for US! We
can't take a sleigh and dash
ourselves to death down a hill
But when I sit here and watch
you, that's what I'd like to do
throw everything up"
His hands We're at her shoul-
ders, a deadly pallor in his face.
She laughed softly: Barry -
really? Oh, you mean all thisp"
He drew her to him: what
are we going to do, Chickie?"
Years and years to talk, Barry!
After that, years and years to
He kissed her. His lips were
cold. He said: ''Chickie, you're
beautiful today"
Her heart sang with ita rap
ture. How white and glorious
his face. She answered: every
day! But If you love me SO.
why do you keep away? I
couldn't. ] wouldn't! Oh, even
when put my hand in yours!
You only kissed me once.
He pushed the hair all back
from her forehead. He took her
face and held it in his hands.
staring down at it, drawing IT'S
beauty to him. -,
do you want to make me
homely pulling my hair like that?"
He laughed: Eyes! I think I'll
throw vitriol in your eyes and they
won't haunt me sog'
She saw an anguish in his face,
sighed and closed her eyes as
though a sweet, Intoxicating drink
were poured between her lips:
you love me, Barry? 1 see 1t
now."
II love you! Who could help
"Help it? What do you mean
by that? Oh--don't you want to
love me?"