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

only seem liko-well. like any one
else look az you az one might
look on some old school friend. and
wonder II ever really loved you"
Jim stood quite stlll. staring fix
eddy at her.
II see" no said quietly. I'm
sorry"
And without another word he
turned 10 tho hall door and was
gone.
TO Jim tho world was turned
upside down. iio could hardly
credit his senses. He did not be.
lioyo Julia's protcsiationB OF a
change OF heart. But her coldness
hurt him and upset the plans he
had been allowing 10 form OF late
In HIS mind.
Two days later he went 10 see
her second time. 10 beg her 10
be his wife again lie asked her
10 forget and forgive the past. 10
trust him once more. 10 give him
another chance TO make her
happy.
Il was a fool" hc said. There
II can't say more than that. Ju.
And I've paid for my folly. And.
dearest. I'm so bitterly sorry, I
cant explain A. don't under.
stand Il myself only know that
I'D give ten years off the end OF my
life 10 have the past five 20 live
over again. Forgive me. Ju."
our marriage was mistake.
jim" Julia said thoughtfully.
II was all very well for me 10 try
10 make myself over: couldn't
make you never should have
tried Theoretically. had made a
clean breast OF n. and waa for.
given; but actually the law was
too strong. It's hard and strange
that II should bo 80. isn't Il? I
don't understand II: never shall.
For gtlll Il seems as II the punish
mont followed. not 10 much the
fact. rs the fact's being made
known"
Jim felt rs II weight OF in.
evitRhle sorrow were weighing him
TO the ground. Iulia's rcgretful
firmness seemed to be breaking
his heart.
You wont-ohange your mind.
JuT' he asked huEkily.
y VIII let you know. Jim" she
heard her own voice answer. very
iew.
A moment later she was alone.
Minutes passed. then Julia went
quietly out OF the green gate
which had so lately closed upon
Jim. She went ms unquesiionInrIy
as an automnton moved by some
Irresistible power.
Jim walked 10 Eighteenth Street.
turned north. and Julia. reaching
the corner. was in time TO see him
entering the shabby old church
where they had been married eight
years ago. And instantly a suffo-
eating rush Of blood to her heart
made her feel weak and cold with
the sudden revelation that the hour
OF change had come.
Sho climbed the well-remem-
bered stairs. and slipped into one
OF tho last pows. in the shadow OF
a gallery pillar.
Jim was kneelIng. far up toward
tho altar. his head in his hands
Minutes slipped by. and still the
man knelt there motioniess. and
still the woman sat watching him.
her eyes brilliant and tender. her
heart flooded with n poignant hap
piness that carried before II all the
bitterness OF the years.
When Jim presently passed her
she shrank into the shadow OF her
pillar, but his face was sadder and
more grave than Julia had ever
seen Il.
The next evening Julia opened
the lower gate OF the Toland's gar.
den in Sausallto. and went quietly
up the path. From the drawing
room windows pale lamplight fell
In clear bars across the gravel. but
tho hall was unlighted. the door
wide open.
Julia stepped softly inside. Pres.
emily she found Mrs. Toland In the
NNuuNs rt'lth hiout ntlOTf QAinc
fire. Julia kissed the shrivelled
soft old cheek.
''oh. Julie. dear' Isn't II nice
TO soc you" Mrs. Toland said. "ana
80 fresh and rosy. like a breath
Of fresh air. Papa and | used TO
like to walk up and down In the
garden"
Speech became too difficult. and
she stopped abruptly.
81 know" Julia said sorrowfully.
1T would have been thirty.flve
years this November" Mrs. To-
land presently said. Marriage is
n wonderful thing. Julia. Pima
was much smarter than | am. But
after a while people come TO love
each other partly for just that
he differences between them"
Mrs. Toland paused for a few
moments. then she said.
Julie, Jim's like n son OF nv |
,wn to me. You'll forgive a fussy |
I'D woman. who loves her children. |
{ she talks frankly to you? Don't |