The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-04

guest, and fell asleep long before the
 voices downstairs subsided. Even ii
 they went upstairs together, bott
 were tired; there was neither time
 nor inclination for condolences. fol
 long and leisurely talk.
 Happy Jim said to his wife one
 day, when Julia, looking the picture
 of happiness. had come downstairs to | join him for some expedition. Happy enough" Julia said, with her grave smile. She took the deep wicker chair next his, on the porch and sat looking down the curve of the drive to the roadway beyond a screen of trees.
 Heavenly afternoon" she said Just what are we doing" Well, as near as got 1t from Greg, Jim informed her a little un- certainly, i've go first to his place, and then split up into about three cars there; Mrs. Peter and Mrs Billings will take the eats, Peter will have a whole hamper of cocktails and things. and we go up to the ridge for a sort
 of English nursery tea, think" Doing it all ourselves?" Julia sug- gested, brightening.
 Well practically. Although Gregs cook is going ahead with a couple of maids in the Peters car. They're go- ing to broil trout or something; any way, I know Greg has been having fits about seeing that enough plates go, and so on. I know Paula Billings is taking something frozen
 "Oh, Lord. what a fuss and what a mess!" Julia said ungratefully.
 well, you know how the Peters always do things And then after tea, if this glorious weather holds we'll send the maids and the hampers Jo01 o11 1 f n nand's."
 ''Fernand'si Forty miles, Jim?"
 "Oh, why not? If we're having good timer"
 Well, I hope Peter vane and Alan Gregory keep sober, that's al1!'' Julia said. "The ride will be lovely, and it's a wonderful day. But Minna Vale always bores me sol"
 'fWhy you little cat!' Jim laugh ed, catching her hand as 1t hung loose over the arm of her chair.
 They've no brains." complained Julia seriously; they were born do- ing this sort of thing, they think they like it! Buying -buying-buying- eating dancing -rushing-rushing It's no life at all! I'd rath- CT pack a heavy basket, and lug it over a hot hill, and carry water half a mile, when I picnic, instead of roll ing few miles in motor car, and then sitting a nice camp-ch4ir, and ices and toast and broi1ed trout!"
 Well. if you would, I wouldn't" Jim said good-naturedly.
 'I wasn't born to this," Julia added thoughtfully; "my life has always been full of real things; perhaps that's the trouble. I think of all the things that aren't going right in the world, and I can't just turn my back on them, like child-I get thinking of poor little clerks whose wives have consumption-
 "Oh, for heavens saker Jim pro- tested frowningly, biting the end from his cigar with a clip of. firm white teeth.
 'It isn't as if I had never been poor" Julia pursued uncertainty. "I know that there are times when a new gown or a paid bill actually would affect a girls whole life! I think of those poor little girls at St. Anne's@'
 "I would like to suggest" Jim said inctsively, that the less you let your mind run on those little girls from St. Anne's, the better for youi If you have no consideration for my feelings In this matter, Julia, for your own I should think you would consider such topics absolutely-wen, absolutely in poor tastei"
 Silence. Jim puffed on his cigar. Julia sat without stirring. feeling that every drop of blood in her body had rushed to her head. The muscles of her temples and throat ached. her eyes saw only green-and-go1d dag gle. her wet little hands gripped the arms of her chair. F|
 ffTt fS all very well criticize these people," pursued Jim sententiously. after a long silence, although they have all been kindness and gracious ness itself to you They may be shall low, they may be silly; I don't hold any brief for Minna Vane and Paula But I know that Minna is on the Hospital Board, and Paula a mighty kfnd-hearted, good little wo- man, and they don't sit around pull ing long faces, and wishing they were living South of Market Street."
 Julia sat perfectly still. She could not have battled with the lump in her throat if life had pended upon her speaking. She felt her chest strain with a terrible rush. of sobbing, but she held herself stiffly and only prayed that her tears might be kept back until she was alone.
 "Heloi Here's Greg" Jim said C0eSr1u11y, alter anOIher silence. Ana here, truly. was Alan Gregory, a red faced, smooth-shaven young man, all ready slightly hilarious and odorous of drink, and very gallant to beautiful Mrs, Studdiford. A great silky veil must be tied over Juia's hat; sure she was warm enough Might be late, might get cold, you know
 Shall I get you your white coat, dear?'' Jim asked solicitously-
 "Oh, no, thank you, Jim!"
 Then they were off, and Julia told herself that men and their wives often quarreIled this way; it was common enough thing to have some woman announce, with a casual laugh, that she and her husband had had a "terrible scene," and weren't speaking" Only, with Jim it seemed so different, It seemed so direfully, SO hopelessly wrongi
 She felt a hypocrite when they joined the others, and when she pres entity found herself laughing and