The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-08
The Story Of Julia Page-By Kathleen Norris

1 What is it, dear?! Whats Lizzie say? Caroline wants you?'' "Its just ,that-it's ten o'clock, Jim, and Caroline sent down to know if I am going to give Anna her bath this morning."
 "Oh, bath-nothing! Let Caroline waft-what's the rush?''
 Its only that baby gets so cross, Jimi'' Julia would plead.
 "Well, let her. You know you mustn't spoil her. Julie. If there's one thing that's awful it's a house run by a spoiled kid! Do let's have our breakfast in peaceH'
 Julia might here gracefully con- cede the point, and send message to Caroline to go on without her. Or she might make the message a promise to perform the disputed duty her self, 'in just a few minutes
 She would run into the nursery breathless1y, and take the baby in her arms. Everything would be in readi- ness, the water twinkling in the little bathtub, soap and powder, fresh lit in order.
 "But hush, Sweetest How cross she is this morning, Caroline!"
 'Yes, Mrs. Studdiford. You see she ought to be having her bottle now, it's nearly eleven! Dear little thing, she was so good and patient"
 Well. darling, Mudder'n be as quick as she can," Julia might console the baby, and under Carolines cool eye, and with Anna screaming until she was scarlet from her little black crown to the soles of her feet, the bath would somehow proceed. Ellie might put her head in the door.
 "Well-oh, the poor baby, were they 'busing El1ies baby?" she would croon, coming in. Don't you care, because Ellie's going to beat 'em all with stickSi''
 Caroline anticipated Julia's every need on these occasions: the little heap of discarded apparel was whisk- ed away, band and powder were promptly presented, the bath vanish ed, the clothes-rack with it's tiny hangers was gone, and Julia had a moment in which to hug the weary, sleepy, hungry little lump of girlhood in her arms.
 Bottle ready, Gardiner
 "Yes, Mrs. Studdiford She goes out on the porch now, for her nap. Come to Caroline, darling, and get something goody-good.'
 And so Julia had no choice but to go, wandering little disconsolately to her own room, and wishing the baby took her nap at another hour and could be played with now.
 Presently outside interests began to claim her again, dressmakers and manicures, shopping and the essential letter writing filled the mornings, lun- cheons kept her late into the after l1c. o,-I r,Io ing and teas. Julia would have only a few minutes in the nursery before it was time to dress for dinner; some times Jim came in to feast his eyes on the beautiful serene little Anna, in her beautiful mothers arms; more often he was late, and Julia, trailing her evening gown behind her, would fly for studs. and pull the boot trees from Jim's shining pumps.
 In September they went to Burlin- game for the polo tournament, and here, on an unseasonab1y hot day, Jim had an ugly little touch of the sun, and for two or three days was very ill They were terrible days to Julia. Richie came to her at once, and they took possession of the house of friend, where Jim had chanced to be carried, and sent to San Rafael for Julia's servants; but two splendid
 
 and the baby was in San Rafael, so that Julia wandered about utterly at a loss to occupy heart or hands.
 On the third day the fever dropped, and Julia crept in to laugh and cry over her big boy. Jim got well very quickly, and just a week from the day of the accident he and Julia went home to the enchanting Anna, and began to plan for a speedy rem oval to the Pacific Avenue house, so that the little episode was apparently quite forgotten by the time they were back in the city and the season opened.
 But looking back, months later, Ju- lia knew tAat she could date a defin- ite change in their lives from that time. Whether his slight sunstroke had really given Jims mind a twist, or whether the shock left him unable to throw off expressing thoughts with his old buoyancy, his wife did not know. But she knew that a certain su1len, unresponsive mood possessed him. He brooded, he looked upon her with a heavy eye, he sighed deep ly when she drew his attention to the lovely little Anna.
 (Continued Tomorrow