The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-08
DR.. Ramm Tells Chickie She Must
Not Give Up Her
Profession

with a breath of pain: "Oh-you
didn't wish me still to go?"
There came a questing sadness
to his eyes: why not? Yes-Yes, I
expect you still to 60"
You will excuse me-please-"
Shall we go for a ride, instead?"
mot tonight. I'd much rather
not
He kept hold Of her hand: well
all right then. But I'm going to
call you up at noon tomorrow. You'll
be home by that time"
She had not promised to go. She
did not wish to go. She wondered
if he knew completely what he
asked.
She felt intently his glance and
knew that ne expected her to meet
it. She did, though it was hard to
do this. She said, with her lips
grown utterly pale: 1t Is kind in
you to come-to bother so much. 1t
is very fine in you"
For a moment they looked at each
other-the clasp of his hand tight
ened, then he said with a boyish,
half teasing laugh: "Yes-very fine,
I am that! Be here when 1 phone,
won't you? 1 want to know how
you come out"
A wave Of color swept up from
her throat even to her temples and
suddenly her eyes filed. She said
softly: yes"
The picture of her, standing so,
fastened in his mind. 1t heightened
the note Of sadness that now tinged
all his images Of her.
There were many IF these. Near
ly two years he had been gather
ing them. The night Of the dance
when he looked at her glowing face,
her young lips parted in fervor and
she said how much 1t meant that
she should win in this new work
how very much
Often in the months that followed
he had surprised a rapt fervor in
her dark eyes. That time, for in
stance, when he fashioned anew the
girl Susie's mouth; and again when
he labored so to keep the hand on
that game little kid.
He had wondered at her loyalty,
the brightness of her service-and
he had puzzled long at the aston
ishing reserve of this girl who was
at once so young and so full of
charm.
He had liked musing Of her. He
had grown to want the tribute of
admiration in her swift glance.
Once, when he took her for ride
she said: That was glorious of
you. I love a thing like that! This
had surprised and warned him so
that he laughed and seized her
hands
But she drew them quietly free
she was at once silent. This quiet
Of hers; this persistent stunning of
pleasures and Of the slightest in
timacy baffled him. What young,
fanatical ideals governed her. sub
dued her so-kept her remote?
But he never dreamed Of such a
cause as this. And coming down
the steps of the little cottage with
Jennie very tremendously bowling
him out, it affected him as tragic.
He saw Chickie as she sat with
Mary's pretty child in her lap; the
sun glinting over their hair, and
the flowers all about; saw her
glance upward, and a deathless pain
cross swiftly her pale, uplifted face.
wished to fling an arm about her
so defenseless she seemed.
What a shame, hauling up a thing
like this.
Now he wondered-a girl Of her
type, with her face and her manner
how had she come to such a pass?
And who was the man figuring
so cruelty in her life? Where was
he now? Why had he deserted her?
He brooded these things and grew
angry. After brooding still further,
he became sad, knowing readily
enough how things may be, and
seeing not the shame in them but
the pathos.
She loved this other greatly, of
course, and gave to her love COM
pletely as she now gave to her work
an ardent nature
Why had it turned out so Ill? Why,
in the end, was she forsaken? She
must have hoped in those months of
waiting. And suffered He ground
his teeth. But why had she
Numbered so? Why had 1t all be-
Then he wondered about that gen.
tie old woman and about the iona
than" she spoke Of so wildly. Had
they stood her we'll? He hoped So
Surely some one should. Pity for
her and for the great fight still be-
fore her filled him.
How game she was! All, damn 1t
why need things be made so hard?
Would she go there tomorrow?
He became uneasy lest she should
fail. Then he remembered that she
promised.
He thought: "She will"