The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-27
CE1ICKIE
The Dinner Party Breaks Up
Following DR.. Ramm's
Defense of Chickie.

come with me for a ride-only a
few moments"
She saw the emotion in his face
and thai his eyes held an Agony OF
pleading: "Oh-I would go. But she
Is dying and afraid. She has no one.
And she doesn't want to pass out in
the night alone. 1 have to stay.
David"
She seemed so white and slim, the
smile on her face as she turned it to
him, a radiance. All this hurt him;
all this made her seem impalpable
as a spirit; infinitely cool and pure
against the hot. shallow faces in his
mind.
He was unnerved and turned his
head: Tomorrow afternoon then.
You will, Helena 1t is the last time
I'll ask the favor"
She felt suddenly as though the
world were fading and only he and
the summons in his eyes remained.
She answered. Tomorrow after
noon then"
1t was Saturday. She was to have
lunch with Janina. When they met,
Janinas black eyes were brilliant
with triumph. She took Chickie's
arm and/walked along with a jaunty
step.
But she waited till they were at
the lunch table. Just as she unfold
ed her napkin, she leaned over with
sparkling laugh. Congratulations,
old dear! 1 got down on my. knees
last night and said 'Hallelujah" sew
enty times"
Seeing Chickie's blank astonish-
ment, Janinas lip curled: why
hide It, baby? He practically an
nounced to the world last night that
you were the only woman on the
face of the earth and no one Of us
was fit to wipe your feet"
Then Janina told She repeated
the conversations word for word. She
omitted neither the red tricllling
wine from Barry's glass and David
hopping 1T up, nor the alarmed heat
in Has face and the tragic pallor of
her husbands.
80 lnIOuSH StNtH ItllS ,Olt
thing. to win what you've got.r'
Chickie's eyes were dry and
brilliant; the humping Of her heart
a thunder. She dared not trust
herself to speak, so moving and
incredible this wass That he should
stand before them all and speak
for her
Janina said: When"
She shook her head Janina was
insistent. What was the idea?
You let one king go by, you little
fool! Do you mean to ruin the
life Of another"
IT would ruin 1t II I married
him"
Janinas shoulder raised in a fine,
infinite scorn: You would So
you're going to be kind and self
sacrificing, are you, and fling him
to the likes Of Dulcie Hartrick or
Marsha Newlands? That would
round out his days in sweetnessl
That will give the man a mattel Do
you think a man of his caliber needs
you to protect him? Give him credit
for knowing what he Wants-and
what is good for him. The fellow
who did what he did last night,
Chickie, doesn't need you to think
for him"
Chickie scarcely listened. Her
thoughts scared with lifting aban-
don; her pulse beat with song; tears
rushed about her throat in strange
melting tumults. Oh-what was this?
All this?
She looked down two roads. Along
one she walked in her quiet, grave
aloneness, removed from the heat
and fervor of living; the years fad
ing in chill routine of service.
And along the second were two
she and the other who was so
strong, yet with the cleanness and the
sparkle Of the waves or the happy
morning about him. They would
blend their lives; their thoughts. Oh
she would have a share in his work
and he would aid with hers. The
glow of it; the full and ripening