The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-01

Continued From Our Last lssue)
Mother" said she. why diddunt
you wake me1'
because you were sleeping 80
nicely, Pussy" Julia laughed with
both arms about the little figure.
Give me thousand kisses and
aay I love my motherl"
II love my mother" said Anna.
Can have breakfast with Re
gina7"
Yes. le. her. julia" Regina
urged. Come on. darling!"
"rhls n the way 10 enjoy break
fast: not twenty feet from the
stoyei" julia said. pouring the
cream into her coffee. Was Ger
Rldine stirring when you got up.
Rcglna7"
Not a stir'" Regina said. she
and Morgan we're talking last night
until two. what they have TO talk
abou, gets me-"
"Oh, my dear. engaged people
could talk forever" Julia said len
iently. They were house hunting
yesterday. There's always so much
10 talk about"
Anna had gone upstairs. and
Regina was finishing her breakfast
when Chester came downstairs.
followed by the still sleepy yet
shining-eyod Geraldine. Geraldine
was 20 be married in few weeks
now. and had given mp her position
IN an office. 20 devote all her time
20 house-furnishlng and sewing.
I'm awfully sorry 10 be 80 late"
smiled Geraldine. but we talked
until dent know when last
night" She poured herself cup
OF coffee: the meal went cheerfully
on. Presently the bedroom door
opened. and a stout. handsome. mid.
dle-aged woman came into the
kitchen.
Julia was used. by now. 20 the
tranh,ormation that had come 10
house and garden. that had affected
every member OF her mothers fam
/ lily In the past four years. But TO
the change In her aunt, Mrs. Tor
ney. she never became quite accus-
toned. II hRd been slow in com
ing; II had come all at once.
There had been weeks when
Julia felt that nothing would ever
silence the whining voice. or make
useful the idle hands. And then.
suddenly. there was new woman
In the family In Aunt Mays place.
Julia always dated the change
from q certain Thanksgiving Day.
when Mrs. Torney. who was an ex.
conent cook. had prepared a really
fine dinner. During the whole
evening Mrs. Torney's daughters.
Julia. Chester and Mrs. Page and
and little old Mrs. Cox united 10
praise the dinner and the cook.
II was as II poor Aunt May had
come into her own. had been given
AT last the role to which she had
always been suited. From that day
hers was the happy part OF the
busting housewife. Mrs. Torney's
heavy tread on the Kitchen floor
was usually the first thing Julia
heare In the morning. and late at
night the infatuated housekeeper
would slip out 10 the warm. fra
grant place for last peep at ris-
ing dough or simmering soup.
Regina and Chester presently
went off to their work, Mrs. Torney
and Geraldine fell upon the break
fast dishes. and Julia went up
stairs She found the little Anna
dreaming by sunny window. one
stocking on. one leg still bare. and
her little petticoat hanging unbut-
toned.
Come. Infant, this won't do"
Julia's practiced hands made quick
work OF the small girls dressing.
When IL was left TO Anna merely 10
lace her shoes. Julia began TO go
about the room, humming as she
bnsied herself with bureau and bed.
She presently paused at the mir.
eye fell upon the oval-framed pic
ture of Jim that she had carried
away with her from the Pacific
Avenue house.
/ Jim had been taken in tennis
fclothes; his racket was still in his
hand. hts thin shirt opened 10
show the splendid line OF throat
and chin. His thick hair was
rumpled. the sunlight struck across
his smiling face.
Come. Mouse." Julia said. rous.
ing herself from a reverie a mo.
ment later. Get on your HAITI
You and have TO go to market"
Julia's mother was In the kitchen
when she and Anna got home. her
dark hair still damp from brushing
her thin wrists no whittier than her
snowy ruffles. Presently they all
moved into the dining room. where
Geraldine's sewing machine was
temporarily established. The In.
valid. between intervals az knitting
watched them all with sympathetic
smile.
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