The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-27
The Story Of Julia Page By Kathleen Norris

nobody knows it. And-and so it's | all right"
 Anything less right than Julia
 ashen face and blazing eyes, and the
 touch of her cold wet little hands, Jim
 thought he had never seen. He step
 ped into the bathroom, and ran his
 eye along the trim row of labelled 1 bottles on the shelf
 Here, drink tllis, dear he said,
 coming back to her with something clear and pungent in glass. Now, come here" and half lifting the lit | tie figure in his arms he put her on the couch, and tucked a plaid warmly about her. Don't forget that your hus- band is also a doctor" said Jim, sit ting down so that he could see her face, and hold one hand in both of
 his. You're all worn out and excited, and no wonder. You see, most girls 1 take out their excess notion on their | families, but my lit1e old girl is too much a1one!'
 Julia's eyes were fixed on him if she were powerlesS to draw them | away. It was sweet-it was poignant i ly sweet to be cared for by him, to feel that Jim's warm heart and keen mind were at her service, that the swift smile was for her, the ardor in his eyes was all her own. For perhaps half an hour she rested, almost with out speaking, and Jim talked to her with studied Hghhness and careless ness. Then suddenly she sat up, and put her hands to her loosened hair. "I must look wild, JimI''
 You look like a ravishing little gipsy! But I wish you had more col or, mouser'
 Am I pale?" Julia asked, with a little nervous laugh. Jim dropped on one knee beside her, and studied her writ n rI,~ the hair off his forehead, and rested her cheek against it with a long sigh as if she were very tired.
 What is it, dear?'' asked Jim, with infinite solicitude.
 "Well!" Julia put the faintest shad- -ow of a kiss on his forehead then she got abruptly to her feet and crossed the room, as if she found his nearness suddenly insufferab1e. 'I can't break my engagement to you this way, Jim' said she. For even if I told you a 1 thousand times that had stopped lov- ing you'-a spasm of pain crossed hel face she shut her hands tightly to. l gether over her heart-''even then yor | would know that I love you with m, ! whole soul" she said in a whisper witt | shut eyes. But you sec" and Juli. turned pitiful smile upon him, .tyo- see there's something you don't under stand, Jim! You say I have climbed | up alone. from being a tough littl | WouId-be actress, who lived over 2 | saloon in O'Farrel1 street, to this! Yor say-and your aunt says-that I an wise, wise to see what is worth hay l ing, and to work for itI But has | never occurred to one of you-' Julia's voice, which had been risin. l steadily. sank to a cold, low tone |
 No,' she said, as if to herself sitting down at the table, and resting her 1 arms upon it. ''No, it has never oc | cured to one of them to ask why ] | am different-to ask just what mad l me so! Life boils itself down to this doesn't M?" she went on, starinc drearily at the shadowy corner of the room beyond her. That women have something to sell, or give away, and the question is just how much each one can get for it! That's what makes the most insignificant married wo- l. man feel superior to the happiest and richest old maid. She says to herself we made my market. Somebody chose me? That's what motherhood end homemaking rest on; the whole world Is just one great big question l or sex, spinning away in spacei And | even alter a woman is married, she | still plays with sex; she likes to feel that men admire her, doesn't she? At dinners there must be a man for every " "OIllai, at udICSS no two S1rIS must dance togetheri And here, the minute a new girl comes to join my clubs I try to read her face Is she pure, or has she already thrown away"
 Julia, dear!" said Jim, amazed and troubled, but she si1enced him with a quick gesture. Her cheeks were burnin gnow, and her words came fast.
 Those poor little girls at St she said fevreishly, they've thrown their lives away because this thing that is in the air all about them came too close. They were too young legally to be trusted as Nature has trusted them for years! They heard people talk of it, and laugh about it it didn't seem very dangerous-"
 'Julia!'' Jim said again, pleadingly.
 Just one moment, Jim and I'll be donei When they had learned their lesson, when they had found out what sorrow 1t brought, when they knew that there was only loss and shame in it for them-then it was too late! Then men, and women, too, expected them to go on giving; there was noth- ing else to do.
 (Continued Tomorrow