The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-02-23
CHAPTER V.
Tho New Life


Tho New Life
Tho young Studdlfords, upon
their return to San Francisco. en-.
tered heartily upon the social Joys
OF tho hour barbara had been
only waiting their arrival 10 an
nouncc her engagement. and Julia's
delight Immediately took the form
OF dinners and theatre parties for
the handsome Miss Toland and her
fiAnce.
Captain Edward Francis Hum
phry Gunther Fox was an officer
In tho English army. lie had
comfortable private income, an
uncle, young and healthy 20 be
sure. but n,ill a lord. and an older
sister who had married n lord. so
that his credentials were unexcep.
tionablc. and Mrs. Toland was
nearly as happy ms her daughter
was
IT'S curious" said Barbara to
Julia. but there is n distinction
and an excitement about getting
engaged. and you enjoy Il Just as
much at thirty as al twenty per,
hapH more People who have never
paid mo any attention before. are
fiocklng 10 the front now with
presents and good wishes
Well. there Is a something
about marriage" Julia admitted
you may not have any reason for
feeling 30. but you DO feel super.
Tor way down In your secret
heart. And yet. Babble." and a
little shadow darkencd her bright
face. and yet. once you az. mar.
riod you see sort of-well. sort
OF Incorporating brightness
about Eirlhood. too when ! 30
out TO Tho Alexander now. and re.
member my old busy days there.
II makes me almost little sad"
Don't speak OF IT," said Bar.
hara. When think 81 leaving
Dad. and home. and going off 20
EnglHrd. II scareH ne 10 death
IN miss Dad most" pursued
barbara seriously. Mothers cur
ious. Ju Sho loves mo theoretical.
~. But she has taken my not mar
ryinR TO heart. Hints about old
maids. and stories about hcr own
popularity az n girl. REGARDLESS O,
tho fact that no one wanted me"
"Oh. Babbie."
Well. no one did" barbara
laughed. But now she's all love
and kisses. and Francis In bold,
biz thief. and how can she give
up her dear. big girl"
"oh. Barbara. don't be bitter'"
We'll. | suppose am bitter
And why you're not. Ju, I can't
understand. for you never had one.
tenth the chance ! did"
No" Julia ashcnted graycly. I'll
never did Mothers are strange.
Baby. they have so much power
or seem to- Suppose you had
young daughters. Bah. what would
you do. differently from your
mother"
oh. don't know" Barbara said.
only II seems funny that mothers
can't help their daughters more.
Half my life Is lived now. prob
ably. yet Mother goes right on
theorlzing. she-she doesn't get
down TO facts. somehow, don't
know"
1T all comes down TO this. Julia
said. sitting around and waiting
for some one TO ask her TO marry
him Is not a sufficiently absorbing
life work for tho average young
woman"
She isn't expected 20 DO any
thing else Barbara added And
II isn't as II she could be deciding
In her own mind about Il; the de,
cision Is In his mind n he chooses
he can ask her; II he doesn't, all
right It's shame. say. not TO
give her n more dignified existence
than that"
Yes. but. nab. your mother
couldn't have put you into a shop
10 sell ribbons. or made telephone
girl OF you"
mo. my brothers didn't sell rib.
bons. or go on a telephone board.
either but don't see why L
shouldn't have studied medicine,
like jim"
Yes. but. nahhv. you've no lean
ing toward medicine"
We'll, then. something else, Just
az Jim would have done something
else, In that case! office hours and
responsibility. and meeting of men
In some other way than a social
way. You and ! have somehow
dragged n solution out OF Il. Julia
we are happy In spite of all the
laundering and stumbling. but I've
not got my Mother to thank for H.
and neither have you"
mo. neither have T." Julia said.
with a long sigh.
The Studdifords went 10 San
Mateo after IN" wedding. and Julia
entered upon the social life OF the
summer with = perfectly simulated
zest. She rode and drove, played
golf and tennis and polo. gosslped
and spent hours at bridge. she went
tirelessly from luncheon To tea.
from dinner TO supper party. and
when jim was detained in town,
she went without him: this little
piece 81 self-reliance pleased him
very much