The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-14
The Story Of Julia Page Kathleen Norris

were thin muslin sash curtains | these windows, and white shades had | been drawn down to meet them. Some 1 trailing English ivy made a delicate 1 tracery in dark green beside one win | dow, and two or three potted begonias l on the sill lifted transparent trembling l blooms to the The rest Of the | large room was in keeping with this | cheerful bit of detail There was shining gas stove beside the shining l coal range, and a picturesque Dit Of colour in the blue kettles and copper 1 casseroles that stood in a row on the shelves above the range A pine cup | board had been painted white, and | held orderly rows of blue plates and cups; there were several whlte-pa1nt- ed chairs, and two tables One of these was pushed against the west wall, and was of pine wood white from scrub ping; the other stood on blue rag rug by the eastern windows, and was covered by a fringed tablecloth in | white and blue Near the outer door, with a window above it, was a white enamelled sink in a brigrS frame of hanging small utensils.
 The sunlight twinkled here and there a polished surface, and flung a trembling bright reflection on the ceiling from the brass faucets of the sink. A clock on the wall struck sev- | en.
 As the lask stroke sounded, Julia Studdiford quietly opened the hall 1 door and stepped into the kitchen She | softly closed the door behind her. and went to another door, at which 1 she paused for a few seconds with her | head bent as if listening. Evidently satisfied that no one stirred in the bed | rom beyond the door, she set brtskly | if noiselessly about her preparations | for breakfast.
 | These involved the tying on of a
 crisp checked apron, and various ne | gotiations with a large enamelled coT-
 fee pot, an egg, and the dark grounds 1 that sent a heartening odour of cof-
 fee through the room. Bread was | sliced and trimmed for toast with de- i nghtful evenness and swiftness, a dou- ble boiler of oatmeal was lifted from | the fireless cooker, and the ice box
 made to furnish more eggs and a jar 1 of damp, firm butter.
 It was while making a little journey | to the back porch for milk and cream that the housekeeper first wavered in her swift routine. Below the back | steps lay a little city garden, so love l ly in the strengthening March sum- l light that she must set her bottles down on the step. and run down for a whiff of the fragrance of climbing
 roses, just beginning to bloom, of bridal-wreath and white lilac. Cob | webs, caught from bush to wet bush, sparkled with jewels; a band of brown sparrows flew away from a dripping faucet, and a black cat, crouchfng on | the crosspieces of the low fence, rose, yawned. and vanished silently. The | wall was almost entirely hidden by vines, principally rose vines, which
 flung long arms in the air. Presently | a woman in the next yard parted  antly:
 "Good-mornin'. Mis- Studdiford. Is
 just looking over an dee-spairin' of | ever gettin' my backyard to look like yoursi It does smell like one big bo'
 quet mornin's like thisi"
 l "Oh, well, there are so many of us | to fuss with it," said the young woman l addressed, cheerfully. My aunt and
 my cousins are nearly as crazy about | flowers as I am. and the other day
 that warm day. you know when we | had my mother out here-she was just
 as absorbed as the rest of usl'' She
 put a friendly head over the wall. "But
 don't see what you've got to com
 plain of, Mrs. Calhoun said she, 'es-
 pecfally you're just beginning! I
 see your geraniums all took holdl'' | Every one but the white Lady Washington" the woman said. How
 is your mother?" she added. | Pretty comfortable, thank you!"
 said the other. ''I imagine she may | have had a restless night, for both she and my aunt seem to be asleep, so
 I'm getting breakfast for my cousins
 and uncle myself! And I'm not sup posed to be out here at all" she add
 ed, with a farewell laugh and nod, as | she turned back to the steps. But | just couldn't resist the gardeni" | She picked up the milk bottles and | reentered the kitchen just as a trirnly
 dressed young woman came into it from the hall The newcomer was tall
 and If not quite pretty was at least
 q fresh-looking. pleasa nt-faced girl. 1 She wore a tailor made skirt and
 white shirt waist and a round hat cov-
 cred with flowers, and laid her jacket
 over the back of a chair.
 l Julie, where's Mar" said she, in
 surprise. Have you been doing every l thing?"
 ''Not everythfng!" Julia smiled "Rut
 Aunt May must have overslept herself;
 there hasn't been a sound from heir
 room this morning. Your suit tboks
 lovely, she added admiringly. j "Oh. do you think so?" askef the younger woman eagerly. She ltnter-
 rupted her task of putting plaffs and cups on the table. to come ell Ee and l for inspection. Like it?" asked she. Julia seriously inspected the rhine
 stone comb lat glittered there ] 'tWhy, I don't utterly dislike it, she
 said. in her pleasant voice.
 "But you don't think it's in good l taste. Julie?'
 Well no. not exactyl- Not for the office. anyway
 All right. then-that settles iti" i the young woman assured her. ''rn
 run upstairs after brea kfast and change. We had a glorious time last
 nightr' she went on, putting her head l on one side to give the table a critical
 glance. I'll tell you about ir. This has boiled up, hasn't it-it can be set ! tied ?''
 l "Yes, settle it" said Julie, butter ing toast. "and tell me-"
 But at this moment the hall door opened again- and 9 little girl of four and a half appeared in the doorway.