The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-14

how hard you're squeezing me, Moth ar!" she added. Can I come out here in my wrapper, and have breakfast with Regina ?''
 ''Yes, let her, Julia!" Regina urged. Come on. darling! Bring your bowl up here to my end. Do sit down and eat something yourself, Julia.''
 This is the way to enjoy break fast; not twenty feet from the stove!" Julia said, pouring cream into her coffee. Was Geraldine stirring when you got up, Regina?''
 Not stiri" Regina said cheerful ly. "She and Morgan were talking last night until two-I looked at the clock when she came upstairs! What they have to talk about gets mel"
 "Oh, my dear, engaged people could talk forever" Julia said leniently. They were househunting yesterday, there's always so much to talk about"
 Ut seems to me that the people who don't marry have the ra ost fun," Re- gina said. Look at Muriel and Evvy, the money they make! Evvy going East for the firm every year, and MurieI getting her little twenty-five a week. And then look at Rita, with four children to slave for
 "Ah, well, Rita's husband doesn't work steadily, and she hates house. work-she admits it!'' Julia protested if she would"
 Rita gives me a great big pain,' said her younger sister absently.
 "A boy named Willis had sword, and he hit a little boy with it, and Mrs. Calhoun said it was a wonder he wasn't killed!" contributed Anna suddenly, her eyes luminous from some thrilling recollection.
 "Fancy!' Julia said. Eat your oat- meal, Baby, and run upstairs and get some clothes on!" she added briskly. You'll catch cold!"
 But there was no severity in the glance she turned upon her daughter. Indeed, it would have been a stern heart that little Anna Studdiford's first friendly glance did not melt. She had been exquisite from her babyhood, she was so lovely now, as she emerged from irresponsible infancy to thought full little girlhood, that Julia some times wondered how she could pre- serve so much charm and beauty un spoiled. Anna had her moh ter's ash- gold hair, but where Julia's rose firm and winglike from her forehead, and was held in place by its own smooth. thick braids, the little girls fell in rich, shining waves, sprayed in fine mist across her eyes, glittered, gol- den mop in the sunlight, and even in the shade threw out an occasional gleam of gold. Anna's eyes were blue, with curled thick lashes like her mothers, but in the firm little mouth and the boise of her head, in the quick smile and quicker frown. Julia saw her father a hundred times a day. Her skin had the transparent porcelain beauty of babyhood, there was sug- gestion of violet shadow about her eyes, and on her cheeks there glowed the warm colour of ripe apricot. Even the gingham apron and sturdy little shoes which she customartly wore did not disguise Anna's beauty. Julia trusted more to the child's wise little head than to the faint hope that her own precautions could ward off fattery and adu1ation. The two had been constant companions for more than four years: Anna's little bed close to her mothers at night, Anna's bright head never out of Julia's sight by day. If Anna showed any interest in what her mother was reading, Julia gave her a grave review of the story; if Julia went to market, Anna trotted beside her, deeply concerned as to cuts of meat and choices among vegetables; and when baking was afoot. Anna had a tiny moulding board on chair, and
 
 deep enjoyment of the born cook.
 Once or twice the child asked for her father, accepting quietly enough the explanation that he was in Ger many. and very busy.
 Aren't we going to see him some time, Mother?"
 Not while Grandma needs Mother so much, dear!" Julia would answer easily.
 Easily, because the busy months with their pain and joy, their prob lems and their successes, had seemed to seal away in a deep crypt her mem ories of her husband. Julia had been afraid to think of him at first. she could not make herself think of him now; his image drifted vaguely away from her, as unreal as a dream. He was as much a name as if she had never seen him, never loved him, nev- CT suffered those exquisite agonteS Of grief and shame with which the first year of their separation was full. Jim's child had taken his place: the purity and sweetness of the chiIds love filled Julia's heart; she wanted only Anna, and Anna was her interpreter for all the relationships of life. Anna first made her draw close to her own moth CT: Anna was e once her spur and har reward during the first hard years a- Shctwen Street
 Anna had gone upstairs, and Regina was finishing her breakfast when Chester came downstairs, followed by the still sleepy yet shining-eyed Ger aldine. Geraldine was to be married in few weeks now, and had given up her position in an office, to devote all her time to housefurnishtng and sewing. @
 I'm awfully sorry to be so late" smiled Geraldine, 'but we talked until I don't know when last night!' She poured herself a cup of coffee; the meal went cheerfully on- Presently the bedroom door opened. and a stout handsome. middle-aged woman came into the kitchen.
 Julia was used, by now, to the trans formation hat had come to house and al rden. that had affected every mem Ter of her mothers family in the past four years. But to the change in her