The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-11
The Story Of Julia Page Kathleen Norris

 sitting down on the edge of the bed and possessing herself of one of Ju- l lia's limp, cold hands, Ellie told me you-she came to the door and heard you! My child, this won't do! You mustn't make mountains out of mole | hills. If Jim Studdiford has had the senseless cruelty to go off to Europe in this fashion, why, he ought to be | horsewhipped, that's all! But I don't | believe he'll get any farther than New York, myself. I don't believe hell get that far!'' She paused, but Ju- lie was silent. After a moment the older woman spoke again. What does he say in the letter." she asked "One would rta1Iy like to know just 1 how this delightful piece of work. is explained"
 Aunt Sanna!" Julia said, in a diff ficult half whisper. She took Miss Toland's hand and pressed 1t against her heart. Her lips were shut tight | and against the white pillow there was a little negative movement of her head
 Well. of course you don't want to l talk about it, Miss Poland said sooth- | ingly. "But was there a quarrel?' Oh, no-no!" Julia said quickly, ! with another conclusive pressure of Miss Toland's hand, and another jerk
  that distressed Jim-something I l couldn't change" she added with diff 1cu1ty.
 'H'm"" said the other, and the evil dence for both sides was in, as far as Miss Poland was concerned, and the case closed. She sat beside Julia in the dark for a long time, batting her hand without speaking. After a while Ellie brought a glass of hot milk, and T1I1 1n1U q l. f nd ffed to being put to bed, raising a face as sweet as a chi1ds for Miss Toland' S good night kiss, and promising to sleep well.
 The pleasant winter sunlight was 'Stream ming into the older woman's s room when Julia came in the next morning, although all San Francisco echoed to the sombre constant call of the foghorn, and the air was cool enough to make Miss Toland's fire de- hghtfu1 Julia had Anna with her, a delightful little armfu1 in her tumb1ed nightwear, and she smiled at the pie ture of Miss Toland, comfortably en- toying her breakfast in bed. But it was evident that she had not slept: deep shadows lay under her blue eyes, and she was very pale. She put the baby down on the bed with a silver buttonhook and a bracelet, and sat down.
 Sleep any?" Miss Poland asked.
 "Yes,I think I did." Julia said, with an effort at brightness. She seemed nervous and restless, but showed no tendency to break down. "I've just been talking to Caroline" she went on. "I told her that Doctor Studdi- ford had been called away, and inn piled that there would be changes. Then I spoke to Foo Ting at break fast-Mrs. Pope is crazy to get him so that will be all right
 "Julia-of course I've not read Jim's letter." Miss Poland said earn estly, "but aren't you taking this too much to heart - aren't you acting rather quickly?"
 gers for a few moments without
 "Jim isn't coming back" she said
 "But what makes you say so. dear !? How do you know?"
 Well, I just know it," Julia said, raising heavy-1idded eyes. They looked at each other.
 "But you aren't telling me serious 1y, my child, that you two-the most devoted couple I ever saw-why, Ju- lia, show a little courage, child! Jim must be brought to his senses, that's all. We must think what's wisest to do, and do it. But, my dear, there'd be no marriage left in the world if people flew off the handle"
 "I have been thinking, all night Julia said patiently, "and this is what I thought. I want''-she glanced restlessly about the room-'I want to get away from here! That'H take some little while."
 '.Go away by all means, dear, if you want to, but don't dismantle your house-don't make it impossible for the whole thing to blow over-
 "He won't come back" Julia re- peated quietly.
 "You don't think so?" Miss Poland said uncomfortably. 'H'm!"
 'eNo one must know, not even Doc tor and Mother" pursued Julia ''N'o newspaper, nobody"
 Well, in any case. that's wise!" the older woman assented. And where vii you go-to Sally?"
 ..No!" Julia said with a quick chudder. ''Not anywhere near here! No, I should rather like to give the impression that I will be with Jim, or near Jim," she added slowly.
 "Following him abroad with the baby, that's quite natural!" Miss To- land approved. "But why not stay a week or two in Sausa1ito, just to keep them from guess:ng?"
 "Oh. couldn't!'' Julia said, in a quick breath.
 And where'!1 you go-New York ?"
 "Oh. mol" Julia leaned back and shut her eyes. The muscles of her throat worked. we were so happy in New York" she said. with sudden quivering of her lips, But a mo- ment's struggle brought back her composure "I thougnt-some little French village, or England" she haz- arded.
 "England," Miss Poland said promptly ''This is no time of the year to take 6 child to France; be- sides, you get better milk in England. and if Anna was sick, there's London, full of doctors who speak your own language"
 .'So long as it's quiet" Julia said, "and we see nobody-that's all I care about. Then if Jim should-But I couldn't wait here, with everybody asking, and inviting me places, and