The Washington times., 1924-01-29
TIE STORY OF "CFIICKIE' L. 4 s ssS z ss B

cooler, hanging the sauce pans on
a rack near the stove. Her
plump face had q quiet, satisfied
air. That fine Mr.. Munson was
away. ChiclIie was staying home
home every night for week.
Jennie took this fact into her
thought and fondIed It.
Jennie had her own dreams. She
saw her beautiful Chlclkie radiant
as a young queen, robed in furs
going up the stone steps Of q
white palace-her home. She saw
a big limousine calling at the mt.
tie yellow cottage on Fair Oaks,
F.. carrying herself and Jonathan off
to dinner at their daughters.
She fancied the neighbors watch
ing behind the curtains of their
little parlors.
Chiclsie's. For more than the
week she had indeed been home
not because Jake was away. Be-
cause Barry was working. The
evenings were long, pale-but
happy. Chickie was young
enough to thrill with joy at the
thought Of sacrifice. She could
have gone to theaters-to dinners
and dancing. She swept pleasure
asider accepting martyrdon gaily
like q rose in her hair. She said
to herself flushing at the bold
ness! For you. my own!'
Regret the lost gaieties-not
she. Jake kept his word, surprised
her twice. coming right out to the
house 30 that she had to go with
him to dinner and q show. Then
she refused him, because he had
insisted on kissing her. Now he
was away. She was immensely
relieved.
Sometimes at night as she was
dropping off to sleep his warnings
shot through her ears. Grow stale
and colorless? Lose all her charm
even her looks? A few hot,
sitting breaths would catch her.
Then she would flip these echoes
from her. Why, she felt her
mind flooded with lights; her
spirit kindled to a manifold vi.
tally.
She even felt kindly to the tart,
grouchy Stella Wilson, whose
desk was just behind her own.
She even dubbed with laughter
now when Stella said with her
biting insinuation: ''Well, of
course! If 1 wanted to do what
some girls dor' indicating, Of
course, that Stella's virtue was
the one and only bar to her popu.
larity. Chickie answered her
now: You'd knock EN- all dead,
Stella, only you're just too, fine
and noble for the men Of today"
Stella liked that. She believed it.
The days went softly, stepping
on flowers. Chiclxie had no thought
of years and years passing SO.
Her fancy sped the time away,
letting her vision rest as 1t had
when she was but sixteen, in a
long immortal moment-she and
Barry telling each other II love
YOU"
The basket ran over with .
flutter of blue, orange, crimson,
She picked it up, saying halt
aloud: You gaudy, brilliant
things You look like. I feel
perky as the very old Nick"
The alleyway gate creaked-
someone coming in softly-Jimmy.
He swept his hat off, grinning:
Perky, is 1t? Good for you, kid!
Say, II you feel perky-come on.
then, give US a little, win you?
Gosh, ia like anything to have
the works up and sing tonight.
Come to a show with your broth
or, CHECKER"
She said, hesitant: tits too late
to go down town. Just down Mis-
sion street,"
Anywhere you say. Chickie?"
Can I go like this? Just put
on my coat?"
Take off your shoes IL you
like! I'll carry YOU"
Feeling strong tonight, Jimmy
darling?"
His eyes frightened: he showed
the black hair away from his
forehead. Jaw say, Chickie-well.
gee whiz, get a move on. will
you? Shall I get your cOat?" He
took the basket from her. rushing
her into the house.