The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-27

poured him his first cup of tea. sh, aid:
 Jim, I told you that l haven bought much about marriage for my self. I suppose it's funny that shouldn't for they say most girls do But perhaps it was because the bio. 5raphies and histories I began to read when I came to the settlement house were all about men: how Lincoln rose now Napoleon rose, how this rich mar sold newspapers when he was a lit tie boy, and that other one spent his first money in taking his mother out of the poorhouse. And of course mar
 riage doesn't enter so much into the
 lives of men. It came to me years ago that what wise men are trying to din into young people everywhere is just this: that if you make yourself ready for anything, that thing will come to you. Just do your end, and somewhere out in the queer, big, in comprehensible machinery of the world your place will mysteriously be- gin to get ready for you- Am talking sense, Jirn?''
 Absolutely Go on!' said Jim.
 Well. and so I thought that if I took years and years I might-well, you won't see why, but I wanted to be a lady," confessed Julia, her lips sn1il- ing, but with serious eyes, And, Jim. everything comes so much more easily than one thinks. Your aunt knew I wasn't butt I happened to be what she needed, and I kept quiet, and lis tened and learnedi''
 And suppose you hadn't happened upon the settlement house?' asked Jim. his ardent eyes never moving from her face.
 "Why, I would have done it some how, some other way. I meant to take a position in some family, and perhaps be trained nurse when was older, or study to be a librarian and take the City Hall examinations. or work up to post office position! I had lots of plans, only of course I was only a. selfish little girl then, and I I would disappear, and never let my own people hear from me again."
 But you softened on that point, eh ?" asked Jim.
 "Oh, right away!' Julia's wonder full eyes shone upon him with some thing unearthly in their light Because God decides to whom we shall belong, Jim" said she, with childish faith, and to start wrong with my own peo- pie would mean that I was all wrong everywhere. But my highest ambition then was to grow, as the years went on to be useful to nice people, and to be liked by them. I never dreamed every one would be so friendly! And when Miss Pierce and Miss Scott have asked me to their homes, and when Mrs. Forbes took me to Santa Cruz and Mrs. Chetwynde asked me to dine with them, well, I can't tell you what it meant!"
 
 and better, in every way-than all the rest of them put together," said the Jim.
 "Oh, Jim!' Julia looked at him over her teacup, a breach of. manners which Jim thought very charming. No" she said, presently, pushing her own thoughts, "but I never thought of marriage! And now you come along, Jim, so-so good to me. so infinitely dear and I can't can't help caring -" And suddenly her lip trembled, and tears filled her eyes. She looked flown at her teacup, and stirred it 
 "You angei.' Jim said.
 ke-me-cry-" Ju- ia begged thickly. A second later she looked up and laughed through ears. And I feel like a person who aas been skipped over four or five grades at school; don't know wheth- 1T I can be a rich mans wife!" she aid whimsically. ''I know I can go ,n as I am, reading and thinking. and 1uiet when I have nothing to say, but but when I think of being Mrs. James Studdiford-'
 "Oh love to hear you say it!' Jim eaned across the table, and put one warm big hand over hers. My darling fttle wifef'
 The word dyed Julia's cheeks crin1- on, and for the long hour that they fingered over their tea she seemed to i'm more charming than he had ever ound her before. Her gravity, with ts deep hint of suppressed mirth, and Ter rnirth that was always so delicate md demure, so shot with sudden ,athos and seriousness, were equally xuuisite; and her beauty won all eyes rom the old waiter who hovered over heir happiness, to the little baby Tn he street car who would sit in Julia's ap and nowhere else Jim presently eft Julia to her Girls Club, consolinS 1 himself with the thought that on the | olIowing night they were to make heir first trip to the theatre together. 1
 But when. ,at half-past seven the lext evening, Jim presented himself It the settlement house, he found Julia llone and obviously not dressed for he theatre. She admitted him with a kiss that to his lovers enthusiasm was strangely cool. and drew him into the reception hall.
 '"Your aunt had 10 go out with Miss Parker" said Julia. But she'll posi- iyely be here a little after eight"
 "My darling, didn't come to see Aunt Sannar' Jim caught her to him. But, swethetrt," he said, "how hot your face is, and your poor little hands Ire icy! Aren't you wel1?"
 "No, I don't believe I'm very well." Julia admitted restlessly. lighting the shaded lamp on the centre table and mapping off the side lights that so revealed her pale face and burning eyes.
 Not well enough for the theatre? We'll, but darling. I don't care one map for the theatre" Jim assured her ,agerly. "Only I hate to see you so nervous and tired. Has it been hard