The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-07-16
Sitting Her Fears, Chickie Ac-
cepts Luis Larmarck's
Friendship
Friendship

| On the rack at the boarding house
was letter from Mary. 1t was the
first in week. Mary was usually
very prompt. Chickie knew that she
would let the dishes go-that she
sat down always the very moment
and answered. So she had written
to Martha Blake wondering at
Marys silence.
1t was explained now, Mary had
daughter. No, she hadn't spoken
of it-wanted it to be a surprise
Chickie's eyes filled. She understood
clearly enough. Mary was afraid to
mention it-afraid to lash up mem
cries. AS though they were ever
| buried!
Mary said only: "She's cute,
Chickie, but little Edward is very
jealous. 1 don't know just how !
should act about it. Now that 1 have
to stay home so much 1 keep wish
ing you were here and thinking of
( you.
Jennie called yesterday. We
talked and talked. She seemed just
full to the lips with so many things
she longed to say. She was making
boudoir pillows because she saw a
picture of a young girls room in a
magazine. The bed was piled with
the pillows. She said to me: VIII
Chickie like them?' as though you
were coming home tomorrow.
"Then Jonathan called for her.
And I don't know, Chickie, but 1t
made me feel desolate the way he
took her hand and they went out.
together as forlorn and lost as two
old blind people.
Il am hurting you-of course. But
lying here in bed 1 am pretending
to be you and figuring out how 1
would act. I wouldn't stay away any
longer because this is only an eva
sion. You said something in your
letter to mother that makes me sure
Of this. And you're only avoiding
life by this absence. We can't do
this-none of us.
"Chickie, old thing-I haven't a
bit of pep. Mother wants to add a
line"
In Martha's clear, virile hand was
this:
MY Dear Girl Chickie:
You say that you live in fear
Of meeting some one who knows;
some one who will flash everything
| 1t 81,
pened? Whether it has or not you
must meet it. And you must not
fear 1t; you must not bow. This is
not contrition; it is cowardice. We
give power 10 evil when we allow
it to beat us down.
Don't you know, Chickie, that
remorse Is the DEVILS strongest wea-
pom against his God? With it, he
sharpens to panic the cry of despair
the cry one gives and sinks
And we are not to hear this
fApm you, dear girl You cannot
let the world say what your life is
going to be. Let the world have
any opinion of you it will-you must
be deaf to it. There's only one idea
of you that counts. That's your own
idea Of yourself. You must walk
bravely in your own thought. You
know what you are. Be that so
calmly, with such persistent faith,
that the talk of you will falter and
grow dumb before the serene, con-
flicting presence Of you.
"Of course, you will meet rebuffs
perhaps you are meeting them
and you are telling us, who love
you. That is good. But you can't
spend your life waiting for these
blows. The victorious way is to
come out and challenge them. 1t
is a hard way, but you are on a
hard road, Chickie, dear, no mat
ter which fork of it you take.
Because of all this, I wonder
do you think of coming home, Of
meeting the issue face to face?
Our love and faith is yours,
whatever decision you make.
Your old friend,
MARTHA.
ITO Be Continued
Copyright. King Feature Syndicate)