San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-08
Chickie Finds Happiness
Beyond Her Dreams as
SS David's Wife. a
CHAPTER LXXXIX

Dlh VI lIiC SiO"thS ySoiS
were done-ten since a soft
April evening and a young
girl with a great sadness in
her face started on her way
alone.
Ten years since Chickie
stood at a depot bidding
goodby to the two old ones
who loved her so; yet sent
her into the waste she had made.
She thought her life was finished
then and all its music stilled. She saw
the empty years stretch out-the bleak
and tragic things.
Now the years were come-her
hands were filled with gifts. Once she
cried because she was SO branded,
and now because so many blessings
should be hers.
Often seeing Jonathan come swag-
gering down the block, his young
uamesake astride the giant shoulders,
she laughed aloud, so joyously the
love had come to her. Other times
going out to that house where the chill
dren she befriended played, she looked
into the many little faces-tears
rushed into her eyes because this serv-
ice had been granted her.
She could turn back now TO that
other time and admit the richness of
| hnr nd
its tragedy. Because the flowers were
fair she could forget the dark and bit
ter soil that nurtured them. She
thought of her son, her teasing, brown
haired little Jonathan as ter first
born and David as the only love she
had known.
She said to herself once: at was
lie always that i loved" She meant
by this that it was the beauty, the
faith and the glory she asked Of life
and through him attained. She had
always wanted this. Once it failed hel
now it endured. And this was the
living reality; the other a shadow
that is lost.
In the beginning she was afraid. II
David came home tired or not in .
mood to talk, she watched him witt
a pang of terror. Had something hap
pened to make him sad? Then ht
would look up from his book and tel
Of some gossip he'd heard. or give lei
papers to read. She would see thai
she had not even been in his thoughts
he was not one to harbor hurts Of
look for them. She grew ashamed o.
her constituencies saw it for what j
was-a morbid self affection. 0the
things in life to love besides onei
l precious self Other interests!
And in the beginning, too, sh
prayed the little children would al
be sons like David and like the Of,
fellow standing behind her chair I
look down with such awe at tn
pretty angel in her lap. But when tn
girl came she forgot it was anothe
son she asked.
/ Yet she took the girl more serious
". Hard business this to be a woma
i these tumultuous days. This daint
one must not grow strong through bC
! ing weak. She would not have il
spirit thrive in sorrow.
D Chickie looked back on her ow
; life and on her own mother. How 81
cret she had kept her thoughts. Ho'
little of them Jennie, living in be
days Of lavender and a kiss once
year under the mistletoe, ever guessed
-, How little she had ever dreamed I
! wild songs humming in Chickie
heart.
But she would know this golde
mOrsels dreams. She would be Ill
Martha Blake and live in days tn;
are: not in those that were. 81
would give this girl a hundred int
ests and a great deal, but most Of q
a sturdy sense of her own value.
, She tried to find some rule TIL
, would guarantee life Of untroublt
beauty. While the poor little thin
was but two or three months old 81
: became greatly agitated about it ar
o confronted David every night wi
c her theories.
t He laughed at her. an tell 70
= lady. Well put n lump of sugar
d her pocket. Thnt1l make her swct
4 You want rule tn escape the we
/, and tear of fife? The only solutic
j for life is meeting il. My dear. darlil
girl, we'll do as Adam and Eve ha
f done for centuries-lie awake mai
J. night and tear our hair and no
L that the road we set her on is Z
:. right road. That's the best we can
Stand by and cheer If the going
good: stand by and help if it's har
Shush nOw-she's safe, daresay, al
won't ask for a cigarette till the a
r. of or n diamond necklace until !
b He had a ruggeder, happier way
8. look at things. He could always ma
- her laugh. Men are that way-Jon
= than. too. He was with them no
Il h %
II was sold and the wOndrous gard
with its spring song Of roses and
+; lips had lost the gentle soul "
III cherished IL. Jennie was gone. )
Is went so quietly-just sitting in b
81 chair one evening darning his so,
n then looking up TO smile. A start
"a look darting through the pretty, fad
Id eyes-that was all-and left the
r. fellow alone except for her, his bri2
Of and pretty one. q,
David was busy Jonathan would ?
by out his hands as he had so ma
years ago when he wanted TO Ike
Chickie at home. Then she would I
the manicure set, even a little bowl
suds and trim and shine the tough
~ nails, curl up the long, straggly M
- tache. She rejoiced doing this. WI
bo she finished he always leaned do
w and whispered: you're very hap
oI Chickie girl? Whom do you love
10 most-your old dad or that new
ks lowY
as Jonathan with his stale old jokt
lie But they made her glad. For ne kn
, she was happy. And he saw the De
IT. ening beauty Of her face. ,
at Az pi1bt she stood at the wind