The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-23

On just this casual. kindly advice be very dignified with Julia: and to make the separation definite and final, if not legal, or to bring her back, however formally, as his wife, exactly as he saw fit.
 And then came the meeting in the Poland library, when in one stunning flash he saw her as she was; beau LifuL dignified, and charming, a wom- an to whom all eyes turned natural ly and admiringly, grave, sweet, and wise in a world full of pretence and ignorance. selfishness and shallow ness.
 She spoke. and her voice went through him like d sword, a mist rose before his eyes. He tried to re- member that bitter resentment upon which his l.ride had fed for more than four long years; he Datt1ed with a mad desire to catch her ir his arms, and to cry to her and to all the world, After all, you are still mine!"
 He watched her, her beauty as fresh to him as if he had never seen it before. Had those serious eyes, turned to Richie with such sisterly concern, and so exquisite1y blue in the soft lampHght, ever met his with love and laughter bright ening them :?
 
 quickly about his mother, in her trouble, ever answered the pressure of his own? She could look at him dlspassionately, entirely forgetful O. herself in the presence ot death, but in the very sick-room his eyes could not leave her little kneeling figure; whenever she spoke, he felt his heart contract with spasnl of pain. It seemed to him that if he could kneel YorI,+ sure of her linked hands about his neck, and have her lay that soft, sweet cheek of hers against his, in heavenly token of forgiveness, he would be ready to die of joy.
 How far Julia was from this mood he was soon to learn. and no phase of their courtship eight years ago had reused in him such agonies of jealousy and longing as beset him now, when Julia, quiet 6r pulse and level eyed, convinced him that she could very contentedly exist with out him.
 All these things went confusedly through Jim's mind, as he sat at his club window, staring blankly down at the dreary summer twilight in the street. The club was a temporary wooden building, roomy and comfort able enough. but facing on all four sides the devastation of the great earthquake. Here and there a small brick building stood in the aEhy waste, and on the top of Mob Hill the outline of the big Paramount Hotel rose boldly against the gloom. But, for the most part, the rising hills showed only one ruined brick foun- dat1on after another, broken flights of stone steps leading down to broken sirewalks. twisted. disco1oured rail- ings smothered in rank. dry grass. Through this wreckage cable cars moved, brightly lighted, and loaded with passengers, and tonight, in the dusk, steady wind was blowing, raising clouds of fine, binding dust.
 Jim stared at it all heavily. his minds strangely attuned to the dreary prospect. He felt puzzled and con- fused; he wanted to see Julia again, to have her forgive and comfort him. When he thought or the old times, of the devotion and tender ness he had taken so much for grant ed, a sort of sickness seized hlm; he could have groaned aloud. Only one thought was intolerable: that she would not forgive htn, and let him make up to her for the lost years, and show her how deeply he loved her still!
 He unused upon the exaotions she might make, the advantages that would appeal to her. Not jewels she must have more jewels now than she would ever wear, safely stored away somewhere. He remembered giving her a certain chain of pearls. with a binding vision of the white young throat they encircIed. and the kiss he had set there with the gift No, jewels were for such as Senta, not for grave, stately Julia.
 Nor would position tempt her. She was too wise to long for it; the glory of a London season meant nothing to her position was only word. She was happier in the ShotweH Street house, clipping roses on a foggy morning.; she was happier for when she scrambled over the rough trails of the mountain with Richie than ever London could make her. Position and wealth might have their value for Ivy, but Julia cared as little as bird for either.
 And now it came to him that she was infinitely more fine. more beau dful, and more clever than Senta and that her pure and fragrant fresh ness, her simple directness, her candid likes and dislikes, would make Ivy seem no more than jaded sopllist a quoter of mere words, a worshipper of empty form.
 To have Julia in Londoni To take her about, her bright face din1pling in the shadow of a lowered hat, or framed in furs, or to see her at the tea table, a shining slipper showing under the flowing lines of her gown, the lovely child beside her, at once enhancing and rivalling the mothers beauty-Jim's heart ached with the pain and rapture of the dream.
 He was reused by Richie who came Empfng Into the club library, and over whose tired face came bright smile at the sight of Jim.
 'rHel1oI" said Richie. taking an op- posite chair. His expression grew so- HcitouS at the sight of Jim's haggard face. Headache. old boy?" he ask ed sympathetical1y.
 Jim shook his head. The big room was almost dark now. and they had 1t quite to themselves.
 Thinking what a rotten mess I've made of everything, Rfch." Jim said desperately.