The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-15
CHAPTER LXXIII
Chickie's Stand.

Chiclie's Stand.
"7 HAT made her do this now?
IWI Rather high-handed in way
0 since she knew very well he
liked her company and wanted it.
1t never occurred to David Ramm
that Chickie acted to safe guard him.
He saw in her letter a grim, yet
pitiful sentence of exile passed on
herself. He wondered why she did
this; why it had now become neces.
sary and a better thing to do
He was far from agreeing. Maud
lin way to look at things, especially
in one so capable of gladness. She
was not the narrow, righteous type
taking punishment as a godly due.
She didn't view herself so. He was
sure of it! She was ,game-yes-
but never smug-never' cringing-
So something had happened 8.
some revelation, perhaps. like that
other time. He drove more quickly,
wondering what IT could be; II 1t was
anyone connected with the hospital
if she was afraid of her position
there
Would she tell him? Or would
she hide behind that reserve of hers
that reserve that had piqued him
so in the beginning,
He remembered the day she
stood at the corner with the dog
"a figure Of grace. He asked her
to go to a theater and she said
coolly she never went out. She had
that rule. AS she told him this,
she stopped to fasten the dogs col
lar and her sweet mouth was very
pale.
How remarkable this refusal Of
hers had seemed how very I'M
usual such an attitude in a young
pretty nurse. He was pricked by
the calm indifference with which
she turned him down f. pricked
yet fascinated. For he thought her
very beautiful and imagined some
mysterious, profound cause for her
alootness.
When finally she did go driving
with him and he surprised her in
moods of quiet; even Of sorrow; his
interest and his curiosity grew.
Then that morning came when she
was gone; her place taken. For a
while he was completely unable to
accept the story he heard
His memory dwelt on the ap-
pealing sadness he had so often
noted in her eyes, and Immediately
he decided in her favor. If she had
really. done all this, some moving
cause lay behind it. 1t could be no
shabby or trifling affair. He was
sure Of this. What a cruel shame
then to send her away branded!
All the fight that was in him and
all the pity surged uppermost. He
had seen much that was fine and
mellow in her; noted often her eager
ness about the wards; the human
ness Of her serving; the way she
had with the children. And he had
heard her talk; heard her laugh:
learned something Of her thoughts.
So he could take no part in this
ruthless judgment passed against
her.
When he saw her In the sun room,
forcing herself with a pathetic pride
to meet his glance and saying: at
Is already done, DIR. David, I have
left" he wanted to strike out and
hit. Blame some one or something.
Not her. Behind these facts just
barred were reasons deep and terrible
and cruel as life itself. She was
defenseless before them.
Or so he judged her. And her
punishment seemed brutal. Especial
ly having to take that letter to a
stranger and show it. He knew
somewhat of Its contents-some-
what of that paragraph. He doubted
greatly her courage to go through
with. it.
XVI HEN she met the test when
Nv he saw her standing hesitant
- on the corner and then going
resolutely into the building, a
warmth of admiration stirred him.
Bitter enough to do thing like
that! Not many would. Worth a
cheer when one fights so.
A bond warmer and more vital
than sympathy made him put his
arms about her. Deserved to win
any one so game. And she would.
He stood by and watched, not
knowing that through serving her
he was loving her.
He thought less Of her past. Some
day he would learn it all. Right
now 1t was pleasant enough riding
with her; winning the open. fervent
tribute in her eyes. She was odd
in that-so frankly admiring-
That he might be hurt by this
association never occurred to him;
nor had he figured on the people
who might know of her and talk Of
her
This letter flinging 1t in his face
seemed inopportune - unnecessary.
He would soon dismiss it
Jennie opened the door. She was
always a trif1e excited by these
visits Of the great young doctor-as
she and Jonathan called him. And
now she blushed: ooh, Chickie?
Why-she's in the garden"
Then let me go in that way
please. No, don't call herr"
He had a domineering way of
speaking.
Jennie said hesitant: you can
come through the kitchen If you
like, or through the alley"
He smiled: Through the alley,
Miss Jennie"
Chickie was sitting on a bench
outside the summer house. A book
lay open in Chickie's lap.
Her hands were clasped on It.
head leaning back, eyes closed.