Evening star., 1922-10-22

worry about what's to become OF
me. /" She stopped suddenly.
This was cold comfort to give a man
who loved her. She slipped her hand
into his. you've been awfully good
to me- Stephen"
She had no way of knowing Stephen
Winthrop's heart turned to lead.
Eventually. Julie completed the
alterations in her husbands apart
ment and she discovered herself the
/ possessor Of long hours of leisure.
She read a great deal, walked and
visited the art galleries and museums
which to Julie Parker of Benton had
been only names. AS the days passed
she grew thinner and the color left
her cheeks. She wondered DULY what
could be wrong. Was she not living
her life as she had planned? Wasn't
she happy?
One afternoon, when Winthrop's
valet was away. Julie went into her
husbands room to lay out his clothes
for dinner. For long time she put
| tered around, rearranging drawers.
already meticulous. In the neckband
Of one OF his shirts she discovered a
tear, and, almost with a feeling of
triumph, she brought her sewing
basket and went to work. With a
feverish haste she mended. She de-
lighted in the finding Of some un-
darned socks. Twilight crept into the
room, but she did not turn on the
lights. AS she sat there she began to
wonder about Winthrop. What did
he do all day? She knew he was
busy, that he was often worried, but
she felt as remote from all his inter-
ests now as that first day she had en-
tered his office. She wondered sud-
denly whether she loved him. Could
| one love a man as detached. as abb
sorbed in his work as Winthrop?
1XIITHOCT jules sensing his ap-
w proach, Winthrop entered the
room and switched on a light. Hello -
he said. He was glad to see her. but
that gIadness did not cause the hag-
gard look to leave his face. What
you doing?"
"Fussing."
! He came across the room and sat
sort Of thing?"
| She smiled drolly. Used to hate
it. But, don't know. Today it saved
my life"
He looked at her quizzingly. THAT
sounds serious. What's the mat
| ter. Mrs, Winthrop"
| She waited a long minute before
she answered Maybe. just being
Mrs. Winthrop. Stephen, I haven't
enough to do"
| "No?" He took her hand and
smoothed it gently. Il thought may
be you'd earned some leisure"
"Earned?" She laughed. a little bit
terly. my mother earned it. but did
she get It? The things you get in
| this world are the things you don't
deserve. What's the matter with the
systemT'
ASK me something easy. sweet
heart For instance. do I have to
dress for dinnerT'
| "Tired?"
| He nodded, but she did not need
this confirmation. stephen, you need
a tonic"
/ In q week Winthrop suspected 1t
might be more than a tonic he need
ed. He had q queer pain in his eyes
and the back OF his neck. Much as
he hated to spare the time from his
Office, he consulted his doctor.
Dr. James Spaulding took a long
hour for the examination. but his
diagnosis was short You've worked
yourself" he said, ito the edge OF
the precipice."
Don't be so lyrical" Winthrop
thundered.
"All right I won't" he answered.
"1f you weren't so grossly successful
I'd tell you to throw over your Job
and go to work on a farm. Not a
big one-fortyr acres. Spray the po-
tato bugs. bring in the peaches mend
the gasoline pump. You know"
Winthrop shuddered. Sounds at
tractive."
ut is. Look here. know just the
place for you-friends of mine who
want to sublet for the summer
THE summer"
James Spaulding eyed him squarely.
well, that pains pretty stin. isn't
it,?
Winthrop was not going to be rush
ed into this. I'll see." he temporized.
You'll decide now" said DR.. Spauld-
ing, "or you can go to another doc
tor. You'll leave the office Hat
You're never to discuss business or
your symptoms, even with your wife.
Don't give your Office q forwarding
address. You're to stay farmer until
I tell you you're well. Clear?'
To break the news to Julie was
l. more difficult even than he had
supposed. She would hate it, pitched
way off on a lonely farm. But he
would engage plenty of servants for
her. She at least would know none
of the drudgery he was letting him.
self in for. How ridiculous life was!
After dinner he broached the sub
ject to his wife. "Julie." he began.
could you bear packing of to the
country for a-few months?. To the
real country, I mean-potato bugs,
and red ants, and gasoline engines
that don't pump the water, and"
stephen. you're wandering"
| He shook his head. i've got to cut
down on this sort Of thing He
swept his head toward the beautiful
vista of rooms. 'Got to be simpler" !"
i He was pleading his case badly.
| Julie, I'm sorry. If you don't want