The Washington times., 1924-03-15
Continued from Yesterday.

Cnlckle turned her face-pre-
tended to sleep. She said again
and again to her thought, "a
little girl-mine Each
time her thought shuddered.
Then she said. The fourth day
wait that long"
Finally she slept. Now she had
another dream. It was of ner
father. He was opening a win
dow-flinging it wide. He was
shouting: 'Chickie--come-!" And
she was running. But she mad
no breadth to answer. When fl
nally the words Gid reach her
lips. the window was banged
down a shadow, massive
and black, heaped behind It. And
the shadow was Jonathan. He.
too, was dead
Agnes Robbins bent over her,
and now a wintry sun was IN
the room.
"Dearie-you're all right. The
baby is all right"
Chickie began to cry. She
pressed her face in the pillows.
Agnes stroked her hair. Don't
cry, dearie."
''It seems SO strange. OH
wish my mother was here
"Yes-yes--"
did any mall come for me?"
None"
Then Agnes too. brought over
the child. All day they seemed
to be doing. this. It lay still and
didn't cry. 1t seemed to sleep.
The more she looked at It. tho
more she pttied It.
Once when she was alone IN
the room she raised It 30 that
its tiny face was close against
her neck and she Whispered
''oh-ho-"
She held it like this a long
while. Then she stared at its
face. And she was wondering
what this little thing would say
oh some day when IL learned
to know-how would 1t look ut
her. She brought. its lips to hers
and kissed them.
Mrs. Faris urged her to sleep.
She wouldn't. She was afraid Of
her dreams.
On the third day she asked
Agnes to phone to the Stockton
Hotel and ask Dorothy Wreden
If there was a telegram for Mrs.
CLAYTON. But there was none.
This silence appalled, her. 1t
was like the touch Of death. And
she got up and stood at the bed.
She said to herself: Tim strong
Il feel all right" Precipitation
stood on her forehead. They
came in and made her get back
and lie quietly.
Agnes said: ''You must keep
your strength for the little one.
She'll need IT,
For the baby was quiet--all
day it lay with its eyes shut
and it scarcely nursed at ALL
Chiclie had the basket brought
near the bed. She spent the time
looking at It. She liked to touch
it's hair.
A strange fancy had taken pos.
session of her. She had an idea
that took the baby home and no
one was surprised. And Jonathan
raised it in his great arms and
chuckled. She thought this as
she looked at 1t. Why-oh, they
might. The tenderness in her
grew. Poor little thing-like she
was-alone-and she wanted to
guard it-save Il.
The fourth day she said to
Agnes Robbins: IT want to sit uu."
"She insisted. So they let her.
She said: IT feel wonderful. Did
any mail come for me!"
None"
In the afternoon Billie brought
a message from Old Lady Arlett.
She was dying. Someone ought
to go and be with her.
Because Chickie seemed so well,
Agnes went. She would stay
till the poor, lone soul passed.
The moment she was gone
Chickie said to Mrs. Faris: "I'd
like a little chicken. Will you
fry me some?"
When the woman was in the
kitchen Chickie stole to the phone.
But a strange voice answered her.
Dorothy Warren was off for the
afternoon.
Chickie said in a muffled voice:
els there any message for Mrs.
John Clayton?"
mo"
"I expected a telegram. Perhaps
YOU have one for Helena Bryce?"
"Oh, yes--I didn't know where
to send 1t. One came q few
hours ago."
And the girl read to her:
Mother will not last through the
night. In Gods name, hurry,
Jonathan"
She said to the girl: "Send an
answer to that. Say: Coming.
I'll be there tonight. Chickie."