The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-25

warm glow of a lamp shade. or the
 gleam of 9 leather-bound book /ther,
 was at once a suggestion of discrim-
 ination and of informal ease. AnC
 informal yet strangely exhilarating l the friends of Doctor and Mrs. Stud | afford found it. Very famous folk l liked to sit in these deep chairs, and 1 talk on and on beside this friendly l fire, while London slept, and the big
 clock in the hall turned night Into | morning. No hosts in London were | more popular than the big, genial | doctor and his clever, silent, and most beautiful wife. Mrs. Studdi- 1 ford was essentially genuine per son; the flowers in her drawfng-room. | like the fruit on her table, were sure | to be sensibly in season; her clothes | and her children's clothes were ex- l traordinarily simple, and her, new | English friends, simple and domes-
 tic as they were, whatever their rank. | found her to be one of themselves | in these things, and took her to their | hearts.
 | Julia herself was sitting before the | fire now, one snppered foot 70 the l blaze Four years in London life had left her as lovely as ever; per 1 haps there was even an increase of beauty in the lines of her closed lips, | a certain accentuation of the ol9 spir- 1 itual sweetness 1r her look. Her l bright hair was still wound about her | head in loose hralds, and her se | verely simple gown of Quaker gray | was relieved at the wrists and throat | by transparent fri1ls Of white. Tn her arms lay a baby less than year l old, a splendid boy, whose eyes, 1 through half-closed lids. were 1azi1y studying the fire. His little smocked white frock showed sturdy bare knees
 and the fire web of his yellow hair blew like a gold mist agaInst his
 mothers breast.
 The rooms only other occupant, tall, handsome woman, in a tan cloth
 suit, with rich furs, presently turn ed from the deep curtained arch of window. This was Barbara Fox, lady CurrieI now, still thin. and still with a hint of sharpness and fatigue in her Drowned face, yet with rare con- tent and satisfaction written there, too. Barbara's life was full, and every hour brought its demand on her time, but she was a very happy woman, devoted to her husband, and her three small sons, and idolizing her baby daughter. Her winters were devoted to the social and po- litical interests that played so large a part in her husbands life and her own, but Julia knew that she was far more happy in Ike summers. when 1
  manor house at High Darmley, and | every cottager stopped to salute the | donkey cart and the shouting heirs | of "the big family
 Not a sign of themi" said Bar bara now, coming from the window to the fire, and 1oosening her f1>rs as she sat down opposite Julia. "Is | he asleeD?" she added in a cautious l undertone.
 Not he!" answered Julia. with kiss for her son. He's just lying here and linking bout fings' I don't know where inc others can be-" she went on, in evident reference to | Barbara's vigil at the window. "J1m said lunch, and it's nearly one o'clock now! Take your things off, Babbie, and lunch with us?'
 Positively I mustn't, dear. must be at home. I've to see the paperers at two o'clock, and tomor- row morning early, you know, we go back to the kiddies at the seaside"
 And they're all well?'
 "Oh, splendid. Even Mary's out of doors all day. and digging in the sand ! We think Jim's right about Geordie's throat. by the way; it ought to be done, I to trouble him at all. and 1t can wait! Julie dear, why don't you and the boy and Anna come down. if only for four or five days? Bring nurse and some old cottons. and a parasol, and we'll have a Eove,y. comfy time!"
 "But we're just home!" Julia pro tested laughingly. 'I've hardly got straightened out yet! Howver. I'll speak to Jim,' she went one. This gentleman thinks he would like 1t. and Anna Is frantic to see the boys"
 And we must ta1kI" Barbara added coaxingly. 'Ts California lovely"
 ''Oho-" Julia raised her brows, with her grave smile Home is home, Bab."
 And Mother looks well?"
 Your mother looks very we'll. But when she and Janey come in January you'11 see for yourself Janey's SO pretty; I wish she'd marry. but she never sees any one but Rich! Rich is simply adorable; he had Con and her husband and little girl with very fat-she's great funi And red's very much improved, Bab, very much more gentle and sweet. She told me about Bob Carleton death, poor fellow! She went to see him md took George, and do you know. [ don't think Ted will marry again. although she's handsomer than ev.r,"
  wife 2" Barbara asked with smile.
 "Sally? But I wrote you that.H Julia laughed. "Yes. Keith was giv- ns concert in Philadelphia when we went through at Easter So linn md T made special trip down te lear it. and my dear, The hall was >a acked. the women went simply crazy ,ver him, and he's really quite poerf- al looking, long hair and all that And Sally saw her at the hotel ( he next morning and such a man. leri Protecting the privacy of the z senius. don't you know, ard seeing exporters. and answering requests for | ( lut osra pns and declining invitations. 1ere. there. and avervv-here! think T ;he has more fun than Keith does, les quite helpless without her; won't ( zee a manager or answer a note, or wen order a luncheoni Sally he T ,ays. handing her a card what do I g