The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-20

choked Barbara. "Of course we don't
 know. He fell. right here in the gar
 den. Think if he'd been on the road,
 Julie, or in the street. That was the first thing Mother said. Mothers too
 wonderful! Hichie was here, they
 carried him in. And he wrote Cons and Ted's and your name on a piece
 of paper. We saw he was trying to say something, and gave him the pa- per, and that's what he wrote! And Aunt Sanna in New York.''
 Stricken, and beginning to realize for the first time what an empty place would be left in the Sausaito
 group when the kindly old doctor was gone. Julia hastily dressed herself for the hurried trip. She must see Jim now; there was a sort of dramatic satisfaction in the thought that he must know the accident of their meet ing at last to be none of her con- irving. And she would see Richie, too; her heart futtered at the thought. She sat on the boat, dream fly watching the gray water rush by, dreamily ready for whatever might come. The day was dull and soft: boat whistles droned all about them on the bay; from Alcatraz. shouldered through an enveloping fog, came the steady ringing of a brass gong.
 Long drifts of fog had crept under the trees in the Poland garden, the rose bushes were beaded with fine mist, the caves dripped steadily. Ju- ia began TO be shaken with nervous anticipation of themoment when she must meet Jim. Would he meet her at the door. or would they deliberate ly arrange-these loyal brothers and sisters-that the dreaded moment should not come until they were all about her? She gave a quick ner- vous glance about the big hallway when a fearful maid admitted her. But it was only Barbara who came forward, and Barbara's first word was that Jim and Richie were not there; Dad had sent both on errands. His mind is absolutely clear" said Bar bara shakenly. She herself was wait ing for an important telephone call. and occasionally pressing a folded handkerchief to her eyes. The two women kissed, with sudden tears on both sides, before Julia went noise lessly upstairs. Constance and Theo- dora were in their mothers room. Mrs. Poland with them. The mother had been crying, and was now only trying to muster sufficient self-con- tro1 to re-enter the sickroom without giving the beloved patient alarm. Ju- lia's entrance was the signal for fresh tears; but they all presently bright ened a. little, too, and Julia persuaded Mrs. Toland to drink a cup of hot soup. "the very first thing she's touched all day!" said all the girls fondly.
 Only Janey was with the invalid when Julia went into the sickroon1. a. silent, white-faced Janey, who star ed at Julia with sombre eyes. The doctor lay high in pillows. looking oddly boyish in his white nig'htgown in spite of his gray hair. A fire flick cred in the oldfashioned polished iron grate; outside the window twi- light and the fog were mingling. The room had some unfamiliar quality of ordered emptiness already, as if 1ife's must be cleared for the com Ing of the great Destroyer.
 Julia knelt down by the bed and laid her hand over the old mans hand. To her surprise he opened his eyes. They moved from her face to the clock on the mantel, as if he had lost count of time. and had not ex- pected her so soon.
 How are you, Dad ?' she said, with infinite tenderness,
 He's better" Janey answered. Aren't you, darling? You look bet ter!'
 The doctors look, with it's old be- nevolent twinkle, went from one girls face to the other.
 'know-too-much' he said, with in his eyes the innocent tri- umph of the child who will not be de- ,eived. Quite unexpectedly. Julia felt her lip trembIe, tears brimmed her eyes. The invalid saw them, felt one drop hot on his hand.
 ''No-no-nU!" he said, with pity ing gent1eness. And, with great ef- fort, he added, "Seen-Jimmy?"
 "'Not yet" staInmered Julia, saaken to her very soul.
 The doctor shut his eyes, his fin- gers still singing to Julia's. After perhaps two full minutes of silence, he whispered: good to him.
 Julia could not answer. Barbara | found her, in her own room. half | an hour later, crying bitterly. It | vas then quite dark. The two had | long talk, ended only when Con- stance came flying in. Dad seemed better, much brighter, was asking or Richie, wanted to know if Ned lad come.
 Constance and Barbara went back 0 the sickroom, and Julia went downstairs to find them. She enter d the almost dark library. where Richie and Ned were sitting before | hem; Julia knew in an instant who t was. Her heart began to hammer, fer breath failed her. A murmur If friendly low voices ended with Ter entrance; the three dim forms ose in the gloom.
 stCon?" asked Richie. Julia touch d a wall switch, and the great lamp m the centre table bloomed into udden light.
 NO, it's Julia-they want you. sich," she said. "and you. too. Ned ,on says he's much brighter. He sked for you both.''
 Hello, dear, I didn't know you 7ere here," Richie said affectionate- y, kindly eyes on her face. "But rou mustn't cry. -u!" he added entity.
 II saw him. Julia said, min led emotions making speech almost sTSntt there any hone. |