The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-03
MA GA ZINE
The Story Of Julia Page Kathleen Norris

Hannah, why not others! A letter Of
 Marks to some one-to any one
 might be in existence now, waiting its
 hour to appear, and to disgrace her, and Jim, and all who loved them.
 And was it for this, she asked her
 self bitterly, that she had so risen
 from the past, so studied and strug- gled and aspired? Had she been mad
 all these years to forget the danger in which she stood, to imagine that she had buried her tragedy too deep for discovery? Had she been mad to marry Jim, her dear, sweet, protect ing old Jim, who was always so good to her?
 But at the thought of him, and of her bitter need of him in this desoIate hour, Julia fell to a violent crying, and after her tears she drifted into a deep sleep, her Iashes wet, and her breast occasionally rising with a sharp sigh as chi1d's might.
 When she awakened, dawn was breaking, the level waste of the sea was pearl color and rose under a slowly rising mist. Julia bathed and dressed, and went out to the deck, where, with a great plaid wrapped about her, she might watch the mir acle of the birth of the day. And as the warming rays of the sun enve1op- ed her, and the newly washed decks dried under it's touch, and as signs of life began to be heard all about, slam ming doors and gay greetings, laugh ter and the crisp echoes of feet, hope and self-confidence crept again into her heart. She was young, after all, and pretty, and Jim's very agony of jealousy only proved that he loved her. She had never deceived him, he could not accuse her of one seconds a "a a sudden, terrible revelation of the truth he had known so long; 1t could not affect him permanently.
 "Going down?'' said a voice gay1y.
 Julia turned to smile upon a group of cheerful acquaintances.
 Thinking about it,' she smiled.
 where's Himse1f?" somebody ask ed.
 ..Stin asleep-the lazy bones!' Julia answered calmly. They all went down stairs together, and Julia was perhaps a little ashamed to find the odors of coffee and bacon delightful, and to enjoy her breakfast.
 Afterward she went straight to her room, not at all surprised to ind Jim there flung, dressed as he was across his bed, and breathing heavily Julia studied him for a moment in silence Then she set about the somewhat diff ficult task of rousing him, quite her capable wifely little self when there was something she could do for him.
 "Jfml You'll have to get these damp things off, dear! Come, Jim, you can't sleep this way. Wake up, Jim!
 Drowsily, heavily, he consented to be partially undressed, and covered with a warm rug Julia grew quite breathIess over her exertions, tucked him in carefully.
 ''rm going to tell the chambermaid not to come in until I ring. Jim. But I shall send you in a cup of coffee? ?'
 "Ha!" Jim said, already alseep.
 'Do you want some coffee, Jim
 "No-no coffee!"
 Julia tiptoed about the room a mo- ment more, took her little sewing bas- ket and new magazine, and giving departing look at her husband, found his eyes wide open and watching her. Instantly a rush of tears pressed be- hind her eye1ids. and she felt herself grow weak and confused.
 Thank you for fixing me up so nicely, darling" Jim said meekly.
 "Oh, you're we1come!'' Julia an swered, with 8 desperate effort to ap- pear calm
 .rwill you kiss me, Ju1ie?" Jim pur- sued, and a second later she was on her knees beside him, their arms were locked together, and their lips met as if they had never kissed each other before.
 s'You little angel" Jim said, what 3 beast I am! As if life hadn't been hard enough for you without my add ing to iti Oh, but what a night I've had. And you'll forgive me, won't you, sweetheart, for I love you SOY"
 Julia put her face down and cried stor1nily, her wet face pressed against his, his arms holding her close. After a while, when the sobs 1essened, they began to talk together, and then laugh together in the exquisite reief of being reconciled. Then Jim went to sleep, and Julia sat beside him, his hand in hers, her eyes idly following the play of broken lights that quiver- ed on the wall.
 She leaned back in her big chair, feeling weary and spent, broken, but utterly at peace. From that hour life was changed to her, and she dimly felt the change, accepted it as stoica1- y as an Indian might the loss of a limb, and adjusted herself to all it t1Ta- | piled. If Jim was a little less her 1 god, he was still hers, hers in some l new relationship that appealed to | what was protective and maternal in ! 1er. And if the burden of her secret | lad grown lncOnCe1VdDly nedVy LOT | Ter to bear she Knew by some instinct | hat this burst of jealous frenzy had | somehow frightened its weight for Jim; | ;he, not he, would henceforth pay the l ,rice.
 "And life isn't easy and gay, say what you will" thought Julia phi1o- '"There is no use grumb- ing and grooming, and saying to -ourse1f, oh, if only it wasn't just his or that thing worrying mef for here is always this or that. Kennedy l nd Bab think I am the most fortu- l Iate girl in the world. and yet, to be | ble to go back ten years, and live a | CIV weeks over again, I'd give up | I have. even Jim. Just | O start square! Just to feel that eretched thing wasn't there like | aver of mud under everything I do, | making it a farce for me to talk of | uplifting girls by settlement work, as I ,eople are eternally making me talk! | )r if only every one knew it. it would | ,e easier, for then I would feel at