The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-02-24

Wicked" Miss Saunders said
negligently, watching the dancers,
Il think it's fine. l always said
I'd have ten. Is Jim pleased?"
Hes perfectly delighted -
lyes," Julia assented, suddenly feel
ing that this careless talk was not
fair to the little one she already
loved so dearly.
Julia sat watching the room. a
Vague little smile curving her lips,
her blue eyes moving idly to and
from.
i 81 wonder II I will be doing this
Twenty years from now" thought
Julia. II wonder if my daughter
Twill come to the Brownings, them"
90 y which l call disgraceful,
don't you, Mrs. Studdiford?'
asked Miss Saunders suddenly.
| II beg your pardon!" Julia said.
Istartled into attention, Il didn't
hear you!"
! Il know you didn't" the other
said, laughing, nevertheless, it
was low trick" she added to
Mrs. Thayer, land Leila Orvis can
wait a long time before she makes
the peace with mel Charity's all
very we'll, but when it comes to
palming off girls like that upon
your friends, it's just little too
much"
i Flows 1t happen we didn't ask
II n
dear?" asked Mrs. Thayer.
Because Leila told me she knew
jail about herr" snapped Miss
Saunders.
what was she, a waitress?"
Julia asked, amused.
mo, she was nothing! Miss
Saunders said in high scorn;
shed had no training whatever.
She was simply supposed to help
with the pantry work. Well, one
day Carrie, maid Mothers had
for years, told Mother from some
thing this Ada had said she fan
cied Ada had been in some reform
school-imagine! / got the whole
story out OF Ada in five minutes.
At first she cried good deal, and
pretended 1t was an orphans
home. Finally l scared her into
admitting 1t was a place just for
girls of her sort"
Fancy" said Mrs. Thayer,
tanning. Julia had grown a little
pale.
What did you do. Miss saund-
ers?" said she.
DO? l sent her packing, of
course!" said that lady.
81 wonder where she went?"
pursued Julia.
Il really have no ideal" Miss
Saunders said.
You may be sure she knew just
where to go, a creature like
that old Mrs. Thayer said
wisely.
"Oh, she wouldn't go utterly
bad,' Julia protested; you can't
tell, she may have been decent for
years. 1t may have been years
ago"
"Of course, it's too bad" Miss
Saunders said. but at the same
time you couldn't have a girl like
that in the house, now could you?
"Oh, yes I could" said Julia,
scarlet checked. 81 was just think
ing how glad I would be to give
her a trial."
She stopped because Jim had
come up to them.
Tired, dear?" Jim said.
Just about time you came up,
Jim!' Ella Saunders said cheer
fully, here's your wife champion
ing the cause of unfortunate girls
she wouldn't care what they'd
done, she'd take them right into
her home!"
"Jmia'd like to take in every
cat and dog and beggar she Sees"
said jim, with his bright smile.
But Julia knew he was not
pleased.
1t was not until she was bundled
into furs and in the motor car
that she could say, with an ap-
pealing hand on his arm.
Don't blame me, Jimmy. I
didn't start that topic. Miss Saund-
ers happened to tell of a poor girl
who"
II don't care to discuss It." jim
said.
Julia sighed and was silent.
After while she said, a little in
dignation burning through her
quiet tone:
I've said I was not responsible
FOR the conversation. Jim. And it
seems to me merely childish in
you to let casual remark affect
you in this way!"
All right, then, I'm childish,"
Jim said grimly.
\ Julia sighed again. Presently
Jim burst out:
I'm affected by a casual re-
mark. yes, admit 1t. But doesn' I
II mean anything to you that I
nave my pride, that when I think
OF my wife | want to feel that she
Is more perfect in every way than
all the other women in the world /?
All l ask is, Julia, that You let
such subjects alone. You're not
called upon to defend such girls, -,
Julia did not answer. They
reached the house in silence. and
separated with a brief Good
night"
Continued In Our Next Issue.)