The Washington times., 1924-04-10
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHTCKIE'S CALLER

Chickie opened her bag to make
sure that her keys were there.
Then she dumped the contents on
the table and put them back
IN orderly fashion-her purse a
handkerchief, powder case, cards.
pencil and finally the keys-ali
there. Still she hesitated.
She was going out to register
with all the typewriter companies:
ask another chance. All her
nerves were heavy with reluc-
Just before awakening she had
dreamed. Jonathan came to her
door, chuckle in his old eyes, He
called: Sleep all day, Chickie
girl! Hot biscuits-smell 'em?
Hurry, nOw!' She had stretched
out her arms in glorious laziness.
But in the dream it was years
ago-that time when there would
be q rose on the kitchen table and
she would pin 1t so saily on her
blue suit. 1t was before all this.
She pulled her hat down over
her brows and dabbed more DOW
DER on her nose. In her heart
she didn't care about a job; didn't
want to wade out in the fragrant.
uplifting sunlight.
For it occurred to her after
that letter from Willman's office
the letter Eloise had typed that
she was irrevocably pinioned to
.tne post. No matter what effort
she made, she would be Knocked.
Like that nightmare that had
IHnHThI0d hnv -
at Jennie's bedside. She had gone
back searching for the grave. But
no stone marked 1t and she
couldn't find the place. A man
passed, pointed at something, then
at her. Another came-dozens
pointed. Many came-dozens-
hundreds. They began to shout:
ITS there! Can't you see?
There" A frantic terror seized
her.
Life was like that dream. She
might forget-drink an hours
glad peace. But the worst would
point: TITS there! Can't you see?
There!'
She became agitated with her
thoughts. They swept down on
her In an avalanche. She shut
her eyes to fight them off. The
scenes marched into her mind.
The night in the little parlor on
Fair Oaks, when he had come to
DID her goodby and she stood so
quiet In the darkness that fell
upon her heart: that hour in the
restaurant when he gripped the
chair, the beautifully set head
lowered. Oh-and she had asked
him: barry, you mean that
Wen be married? Is that what
you mean"
Chlckie pressed her hands now
to her throat. She went over and
sat on the bed. She was shaking
from head to foot. No use to
stop now. Scene by scene she
would go through it to the last
bltterest detail-even to the mo-
ment when Jonathan raised her
in his giant arms, shouting to the
outcast!"
These lashings of memory left
ner imp; left her conquered. She
was afraid of them.
They came like an assault. She
would run from them. Or she
would dump out all the contents
OF her bureau, rearranging them
anything to keep herself in
frenzy OF activity.
Now she wiped her face, say
ing softly: II can't go on like
this" She repeated this, starting
ing at a crack in the high cell
Ing; then at long streamer of
dust.
And she knew that she had
come down here not to condemn,
but to prove herself; that she had
LETT those two saddened and alone,
yet left them with a mighty faith
in her, their dear and only one:
that at night they realized down
In the dark for each others hand,
and prayed together for her. She
knew this.
She picked up her purse, rear.
ranging her hat. She said to her.
self, childishly: You expected all
this, didn't you? Cry about 1t!
Oh. vest"
Walking down Spring street,
she held her head erect. aha