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

staring dreami1y out at the rolling
 green Pacific; every man on board
 was anxious to improve her acquain-
 tance, from the Captain to the sev-
 enteen-year-old little English lad who
 was going out to his father in India,
 and to not one of them did it ever occur that lovely little Mrs. Studdi-
 ford might prefer to be left alone. But the sea air shook Julia into | splendid health and energy, and she
 was her sweetest self in Honolulu; she and Jim both seemed to recapture here some of the exquisite tenderness
 of their honeymoon a year ago. Neith-
 CT would admit that there had been any drifting apart, they had never been less than lovers, yet now they experienced the delights of a recon ciliation. Julia, in her delicate hn- ems and thin embroidered pongees, with filmy parasol shading her
 bright hair, seemed more wonderful than ever before, and lovely Hawaii
 was setting for one of their happi- est times together.
 On the boat, coming home. how ever, there occurred a little incident
 that darkened Julta's sky for a long time to come. On the very day of
 
 returning San Franciscans, were
 standing, a laughing group on the
 deck, when a dark, handsome young
 woman came forward from nearby
 cabin doorway, and held out her
 hand.
 Julia, whose white frock was draped with dozen ropes of brilliant flowers, and who looked like a little May Queen in her radiant bloom, looked at the newcomer for a few moments, and then said, with a clear ing face:
 Hannah. Of course I know you. | Mrs. Palmer. may I present Doctor | Studdiford?"
 Jim smilingly shook hands. and as the rest of the group melted away, l Mrs. Palmer explained that her hus- | bnad's business was in Manila, but | she was bringing up her two little l children to visit her parents in Oak | land.
 She's extremely pretty" Jim said, | when he and Julia were alone in their | luxurious stateroom. ''Who Is she?"
 'I don't know why I supposed you knew that she is one of Marks sis ters," Julia said, coloring. "I saw something of them all. after-after- ward, you know"
 "Oh!" Jim's face. which he chanced to be washing also grew red; he scowled as he plunged it again into the towel. Julia proceeded with her own lunch toilet in silence, humming a little now and then, but the bright ness was gone from the day for her: the swift-f1ying green water outside the window had turned to lead, the little apartment was bleak and bare. Jim did not speak as they went down to lunch, nor was he himself when they met again, after a game of auction, at dinner. In fact , this marked Julia's first acquaintance with a new side of his character. For Jim's sunny nature was bal anced by an occasional mood so dark , IS to make him different man while t lasted. Barbara had once lightly { 1inted this to Julia-"Jim was gloom ( ng terribly, and did nothing but S Miss Poland had con- ! irmed the hint when she asked him, ] It Christmas dinner, when he and t Julia had been eight months man and ] wife: Well, Jim, never a blue devil i once, eh?''
 ssNever a one, Aunt Sanna" Jim T lad responded gayly.
 What should he have blue devils Lbout?" Julia had demanded on this occasion, presenting herself 1nd1g- lantly to them, and looking in her black velvet and white lace Ike a T child.
 She thought of that happy moment his afternoon, with a little chill at Ter heart For there was no doubt : hat Jim had blue devils now. When he came back to her stateroom at six 'clock, he was already there, flung cross the bed, his arms locked under is head, his sombre eyes on the ceil- ng where green water-lights were laying.
 Jim, don't you feel well, dear?" h
 "Perfectly well thank you!" Jim a aid coldly. I
 Slightly angered by his tone. Julia il ell silent, busted herself with her Il rushes, hooked on a gown of demure \ herry color and gray, caught up II reat silky scarf. :,
 '.Just-let me alone!" Jim answer l, without stirring. is
 Hurt to the quick, and with sudden y, olor in her face, Julia left the room. sl he held her head high, but she felt c; Lmost a little sick with the shock. d i've minutes later she was the centre g E chattering group on the deck a
 milky twilight held the sea, the L | in the opal spaces all about them, 1e ship moved over a vast plain of smooth waters. Where D aterooms were lighted, long fingers r rosy brightness fell across the a, eek; here and there in the shelter 2; bit of wall were dark blots that N ere passengers. wrapped and rec1in- al g and unrecogniza In the gloom. fc Julia and a young man named W anners began to pace the deck MT. to anners was a poet, and absorbed in It ,e fascinating study of his own per- W ,nality. but he served Julia's need Iyc st now. and never noticed her ab- a raction and indifference. He des- tn ibed to Julia the birth of his own te ,u1 when he was what the world ,nsidered only a clumsy. minimizing al d of seventeen. and Julia listened as hs pain-racked fever patient might lis tn