The Washington times., 1924-02-14
THE STORY OF CHICKIE
By ELENORE MEHERIN

things breathing hotly now with
impetuous fire-now gentle as he
had been that last day.
Reading them, her heart took
Iife-stirred like a soft pool OF
flame. Oh--he didn't want her to
bow herself down-No-that was
no way to look at it--that was the
coward way.
"And, ChicIxie, remember when
we've watched the ocean ana
sometimes q great wave rushed IN
resistless and bore over the rocks.
Something magnificent In the
power and the flash Of It, isn't
there? Think Of It, like that. /
do"
Then ain-''Suppose we were
alone IN the world. We are In q
way. No other can know or have
a saw for what we feel unless we
permit It. Why should we? This
is ours--Ours only--keep 1t 20.
free from the touch Of others
thoughts"
she read It over, poured It into
her mind. Dearer than anything
else was this-''I love you, Chickie:
I think I did even the first DAY ]
saw YOU as i've told you sitting
up there like a blessed thing. Now
know what you're thinking.
Don't think it. You are more
beautiful by far than you we're be-
fore. Write to me-teil me Wnat
you are thinking. I love YOU:
Like a sanction. She took It as
though his hand reached to her.
led her away. And they were
alone and she was glad.
In the middle Of the night ene
read the letters again. She cried
over them. He loved her 90. Ae
thought Of 1t as q magninctent
wave, flashing, resistleSe.
She tried to focus this image
Of beauty on her mind-look at ic
that way. Little things made 1t
shift, made Il fade; Janina saying
to her "WelI, proud and pure.
how goes It? Do ! step to the
altar with the vestal soonr
And then one afternoon she
came home q little early ana
found Jennie sitting In the living
room on the small, old fashioned
sofa. Jennie had q white celIu-
loid box with silver corners In her
lap. She was going over her
trinkets, sorting them. This was
q favorite pastime to ChiclEie: Il
have some pins here that need
Chickie knew that her mother
was merely fondling these old
relics-that she was going back
to her girlhood. Jonathan had
given her this Jewel box with q
brooch of carved abalone shell the
first week they were married.
Now the faded, wistful look in
Jennie's eyes caught her with a
pang. Suddenly she was aware
that she had neglected her
mother She waa Just sweet
Jennie" as she carefully mended
Chickie's silk stockings-as she
ironed frilly waists and laid them
with anxious pride on Chickie's
bed.
Now, looking at the mild, round
face with the old dreams gtill
showing, seeing tears in Jennie's
ewes, Chickie had a wish to sit on
the little sofa, put her head down
on Jennie's ample breast-sleep
till she, too, was old with faded
eyes.
Old like that-oh, sweet-then
she would forget
Jennie asked her to run down
to the bakery-get some OF those
little rolls. Jonathan liked them.
AS she was hurrying back she
stopped abruptly half way down
the block. Too late. Jimmy saw
her and was all but running to
meet her.
He looked jaunty-new blue
subtitle pink bud on his coat.
Jimmy looked handsome-big fel-
low, grinning. "Wnere do you get
this stuff, Miss Bryce-take q
step and salute your old darling"
She said, trembling: Why.
Jimmy-get a raise-an dolled
Like me, Chickie? New suit
for the new car! Oh, we're sporty.
Say, how about stepping forth
with your old love tonight? My
private sleuth tells me you have
no date. Aw, please, Chickie-
like old times
And he had hold of her elbow,
driving his fingers against it.
Almost beside herself, her breath
failing, she said: "Oh-why, Jim.
mie-well. you see"-
And then Jimmy stopped down
and looked her square In the face.
He said brusquely: do you mean
that you won't, Chiclxie? You
won't take a ride with me-not
that much?"
She laughed, wild with fear,
ready to die rather than this. But
she said: why, Of course! OF
course I will"
(TO Be Continued TOmOrTOw.)
copyright. 1924, by King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)