The Washington times., 1924-02-08

arm about her-lxissed her. She
helt nef spirit was already his.
Other times they went to the
dance because she loved that. A
rough, open air platform with the
redWoods towering above them.
halr shutting. out the sapphire
sky. High school boys earning a
dollar on their vacations furnished
the music. Girls Of fifteen, care.
less, radiant creatures, danced
with the wiles Of saiome but
smiled with the innocence of
cheIUbs--a mystery to some of
tie Old ladies who came with
their grandchildren and sat on
the hard benches arranged about
the floor. Outside, unde- the
trees, other girls rested their
heads on the shoulders Of young
boys.
Scandalized, the old ladies whis.
pered the stale refrain: what
are these young people coming
to? Look at that one in red.
someone should tell the girls
motherw
A moment later the girl in red
and her happy-go-lucky partner
sauntered to the ice cream parlor,
and quite oblivious of the shock
she had administered to the past
generation, pArtoOk delightedly Of
strawberry sundaes and root beer.
To Chickie they were but bright,
Joyous youngsters, very much
like herself except that they were
still dwellers in a make believe Of
sentiment. She had In her hands
the warm. living reality love
that was both beauty and terror.
1t seemed that way in moments
OF shtver1ng gladness when she
acknowledged to herself the power
. OF his word, his glance. Espe.
cially when he taught her to
swim. She that had been fright.
ened OF the water plunged in like
young Undine. Once he made
her swim across the pool and she
knew 1t was so deep she might
be sure to drown. But because
he said, laughing, at her: You
will" Because Of that, she did
IT. He kept alongside of her.
When they had almost reached
the bank, he drew her head under
the water and kissed her.
OAAO was lieu. Ion 90
things like that, Barry. You take.
my breath away"
He did 1t again.
They came up the path. iona.
than sitting on the porch, watched
them abSently. He listened to
Chickie's glad. crystalline, laugh.
ter. Afterward, as she dressed.
ne came and stood beside her. !
He raised her face in his Great
palms. looking at her till she
blushed and tried to pull free.
He whispered: "Chickie, girl
you're very happy?"
oh, Jonathan" Her eyes filled.
She said hastily: TITS so glori.
ous here. / wish we could stay
She had an idea that everything
was blessedly settled now. #
would come out all right, and
soon. Because he seemed to feel
hat way, too.
One day they swan across the
liver and were lying on the sand.
half hidden by trees. He had his
head against her arm. Half shy,
she kept looking at his long, mus.
'ular form-so clean, and then at
his. face. the red hair wet and
'licked back from his forehead.
He laughed. and. reaching up.
pulled off her cap, so that her
lair fell down. Like me. frailo
lerei" p0
No - wait. You know-you
eem SO happy-why, Barry"
"A secret"
Tell me-"
Wrap your hair around me
nd I will"
No"
"I'll tell you. anyway. wired
Moore. Told him we'd got to
now. So I think we're a cinch
. win in a week or two! That's
'hy." He pulled her down. "It's
good thing. Chickie! Lordee.
onld never wait five years"
Slte was half crying with ex.
Gould you. Chickie?"
Don't ask-never mind.
ONE"
WE'LL feel sure"
They talked about il - thew
anned. They waited for that
1swer. 1t came Friday.
Ito BE Continued Tomorrow =
(ConvriObf 1904 d.