The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-21

I saying that it is a great shock to come l home and find you talking tha. way Julie. I-God knows I'm bad enough | but I don't think deserve quite this!' added Jim gently.
 A long interval of silence, for Ju. lia busy interval, followed.
 When am I going to see Anna 9 Jim asked, ending it.
 Whenever you want to-" Julia said pleasantly @tIve familiarized he1 with your picture; she'll be friendly at once; she always is. Some day when you are going to be here, I'll send her over for the day. She loves Sausalito, and I really believe she d do poor. Mother good.''
 And when shall I come and see you-to talk about things?" Jim asked | humbly
 My dear Jim." Julia answered pr1skly, I cannot see the need of | our meeting again; I think 1t is most unwise--Just nervous strain on 1 both sides. What have we to dis cuss? tell you that I am perfectly | willing to let you have your way. It's too bad. it's a thing I detest- divorce, but the whole situation is unfortunate, and we must make the | best. of it''
 Jim's stunned amazement showed
 
 the fixed glassy look in his eyes. What will people, think of this, Ju? Every one will have to know it 1t will make deuce of a lot of talk!" he said, trying to scare her. Julia shook her head, with Just suggestion of smile Much less than you think, Jim,'' she answered sensibly. Society long ago suspected that something was wrong; the announcement of a di- Vorce will only confirm it. wen have the whole crowd of them buzzing about our heads" Jim said, determined to touch her seren- ity by one phase or another. "Oh, no, we won'ti" Julia return ed placidly- 'The only circumstances under which there would have been buzzing would have been if I had tried to keep my place in society I dropped out. and they let me go with out murmur. No buzzing from San Francisco society ever reaches Shot well street. and as for you, you'll be in London"
 How do you know I'll be in Lon don?" Jim growled utterly nonplussed
 Julia gave him a bright look over a letter, but did not answer, and the man fell to worrying an envelope again. Moments passed, the autumn tWlugnt Tell, Ju1a began to stack her letters in neat piles.
 Presently she quietly rose and quietly left the room, without a word without a backward glance. Jim sat on in the dusk. staring moodily ahead of him, his eyes half shut the fingers of one big hand drumming gently on the table.
 A few days later he went out to Shotwen Street to see her. Julia met him very quietly. and presented the little Anna with the so1icitous inter- est in the child's manner that she would have shown had Jim been any casual friend. Anna, who was lovely in a pale pink cotton garment little too small for her, looked seriously at her father, submitted to his kisses, her wondering eyes never moving from his face, and wriggled out of his arms as soon as she could.
 My God! Shes beautiful, isn't she?" said Jim, under his breath.
 ''She looks very nice when she's clean and good," Julia agreed prac- ticalIy, kissing Anna herself.
 May Gods a bad word," Anna said gravely to her father, isn't it. Mother?"
 'I wouldn't like to hear you say it," Julia answered. ''Now trot out to Aunt Regina, dear, and ask her to SlN0 you your H De there immediately"
 she's exquisite," Jim said,4 when the child was gone. "You all over again. Jul!"
 She's smarter than I was. Julia smiled dispassionately. "Ive taught her to read-simple things, of course; she writes a. little, and does wonders with her numerical chart. She's very cunning, she has an unusual little mind, and occasionally says some thing that proves she thinks!'
 A silence followed. Sunshine was streaming into the sitting-room; mas turtiu1ns bloomed in Julia's window boxes; the net curtains famed softly to and fro in the soft autumn air. In the city, a 100 whistles shrilled for noon.
 "I hardly knew the place." Jim said, searching for something to say. You've made it over-the whole block looks better!'
 Gardens have come into fashion," Julia explained; 'the Mission is a wonderful place for gardens. And the change in my mother is more marked she went on, with perfume tory p1easantness; you would hardly know her. She is much thinner, of course, but so bright and contented, and so brave!'
 D l Jim suggested. Julia looked troubled.
 "I hardly see how" she said re- retfully. As things are I can't ex- actly ask you to lunch. Jim. It would be most unnatural, and they they look to me for a certain princi- pIe." she went on- ''They know what these four years have meant for me; I couldn't begin now to treat the whole thing casually and scheerfulfy."
 'T don't expect you to-" Jim said quickly I'm not taking this lightly. I only want to think the thing well over before any step is taken that we might regret"
 Again Julia answered him with only a tolerant, bright look. She stood up and busted herself win the potted fern that stood on the centre table, break ing off dead leaves and gathering them into the palm of her hand Jim, feeling clumsy and helpless, stood up. And ha watched her a sud-