The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-07-23
pv Gilmore Meherin

GO on WITH THE STORY
By Gilmore Meherin
Chickie said hoarsely: "Inere B
Dick Enright down there in the cor
ner. He's looking at U.S."
Mary said: Bow to- him. For
pity sakesr' =.
Chickie ds4 this and looked out of
the window, her eyes hot
And this heat Travelled down 10
her throat. BY the time they
reached Ohio st. she felt stif1eo.
She gave Mary a nudge and stood
up: Lets get off-quick?
Mary followed her.
She said: IT never felt like this
before, Mary. It's nearly noon.
Well bump into every one. feel
all cold inside"
Are you going to turn back
aow?"
Chickie gave sharp, hyster1cal
laugh and walked on. Mary took
her arm. Suddenly it seemed to her
that this trifling shopping excur-
sion was the turning point In her
life and that If she falteced now she
would never pick up aga1n-she
would never go on. She walked
more swiftly; Mary took short. run
ming steps to keep pace with her.
Chicbe said: I'VE might as well
go down Illinois Street. Come on
Why don't you come, Mary?'
Thv were at Market. Chickie pre-
tended to fix her collar. She was
SO hot she could scarcely breathe.
But she paused at the windows. She
pointed out new fall coat and
stood there talking vivaciously-
laughing. Mary said in troubled
whisper: whats the matter-your
eyes are blazing.
"Nothing--We may as we'll look at
everything. We may meet Jan1na.
tried to get her on the phone.
Every one is out Of town. Mary
looks that Bess Abbott"
How should I know"
Mary became alarmed. Chickie' s
lips were white, but her cheeks
struck with crimson. She said;
.Overdo things That's you. Chickie!
You don't have to smash the whole
world in the face the first day"
But Chickie didr' stop. They wero
Just behind the tall, slender girl in
the smart, black dress. Chickie
touched her arm with q GREATNESS:
s'Bess-how are you?"
Il was not Bess Abbott, but girl
ia
said. "Oh, beg your pardon! I've
followed you e. block. thinking you
were g. friend Of mine"
Mary said sharply with a trace
of alarm in her tone: I'VE came
down to buy rug.
Chickie laughed. She was shaking
from head to foot.
They bought the rug-afterward
they went to lunch. Mary said bit
! lagly: Lets go down to Mitchell
and ask for your job back!'
Chickie kept her eyes on her plate.
AT last she said: Are you angry
Mary7 Why?"<
"Well-why do you need to show
people defiance? That's what you're
doing now. -
"Oh, Lord-Mary! What in the
world should do?"
"Act as if no one existed but you
and and people like us who know.
Let every one else go hang"
Chiclde eaid: II have no poise
left. 1t seems. You know. Mary, I'm
the biggest coward on earth. The
thought of going back to an office
and walking back and forth over
Washington st. is enough to put me
in a faint. I can just know the
thoughts Of men who look at me
and remember; and the excitement
Of girls when they pass me. can
hear the talk of them in dressing
rooms afterward."
Mary was silent. She stirred SUI
gar viciously in her coffee. Are
you going back to an office, Chick
ie?"
What else can I do7'
You wrote so much about that
Eva. Mother and I were think
ing"
You mean that I might go into
a hospital?"
Yes"
You know Ia like it. I really
would. But Eva says It's the hard
est, meanest work in the world.
and she wouldn't let any girl she
knows go in for 1t If she could stop
them
Mary shrugged. Lots Of people
use the same reasoning to show
that we have no right to bring chill
dren here. It's a rich way to look
at things, isn't it?''
Chickie was not afraid Of the
grind or routine. Eva had said to
her once: '"Well-of course, a girl
has to have references! They IN.
J vestigate in some cases, know :"
Now she told it to Mary.
Mary said: you can get refer.
ences. There's mother and I and
your friend, Jake Munson. You
could get by"
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