The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-24
Continued from Yesterday

She ard Mis-; TLland sat down ex-
 !'austed and wei satisfied, Ut seven
 clcck, tC a scri.ppy Htt." supper in
 the filtered Ing roora. on,s i:r-c-
 tor had .rf, .huoaIrtes Il -:iic- vic
 lets; a child's soiled hair ribbon, still
 tied, lay on the floor; the chairs were pushed about at all angles.
 Give me some more coffee. dear, and open that box of candy said
 Miss Poland luxurionsly. "We'll sleep late and go to high mass at room in her pew. And then we might go over to Sausalito and say Merry Christmas.' They'll all be scattered; Jim tells me he and my brother have an operation al twelve. poor wretches! And I suppose Bar bara and little Sally will be off somewhere Sally always tries to keep them together for Christmas Eve, but in my opinion they're all bored by this tree and stocking bus mess. But of course Ned ard his e'i- traordinary wife will be all over the
 I've not been in sausalito. except once. for eight years" Julia said re- fectively.
 go. tomorrow" Miss Toland reached for a cigarette. yawned as she lighted it. But Julia's heart began to beat fast in nervous anticipation.
 Mrs. Toland received them very graciously the next day. and Julia was at once made to feel at home in tEe pretty house, which was lit- tered charmingly today with all sorts open fires. Barbara was there. and the crippled Richie, but Sally had gone to a Christmas concert with her devoted little squire. Keith Burroughs and Mrs. Poland presently took Miss Sanna aside for a long distrisscd con- fidence. Theodnra it seemed, had had stormy argument with her father on the subject of her aimirer, ID 6oTT 6nf fnTea and yesterday had left, in defiance of all authority. to meet him for a walk, and lunch with him. She and her father had not not spoken to each room. Julia met Ned's wife, a pre- tentious, complacent title gabbing village belle. and was dragged about by the younger sisters to look aS eV- erybCdy'S presents.
 Must be a long time since we saw you here, Miss Page" said the old doctor smiling at her over his glasses, as he carved at luncheon.
 ''I was here two years ago, one af- ternoon," Julia smiled. "But I think haven't seen you since The Anna zons'-eight years ago!"
 Flight years" Barbara said, struck Mother, do you realize that it is eight years since I was in that play with the Hazards and Gray Babcock and the Grinells? Isn't . that awful?
 Julia went through the day in sort of deep study. This was the en- chanted castle that had stood to her for so long as the unattainable height of dreams; these were the envied in habitants of that castle. Everything was the same, except herself, yet how incredibly the change in her affect at home here now, could answer the table pleasantries with her ready, grave smile, could feel that her in terest in Constance and Jane was 1S,.Iv book from the drawing-room table with the confidence that what she said of it would not be ridiculous. She could even feel herself happier ly to what Julia said of the settle ment house, and sighed as she listened.
 After luncheon Richie took her driving over cold country reads, be adored her, though she never dream ed it, because she neither offered to take the reinS nor asked him at in tervals if has back was tired He was finishing work at the school If medicine now and although he could never hope to be in regular practice. his thin, bOny face was very bright as he outlined his plans. Julia list goodbye to him at the boat with a sense of genuine liking on both sides Miss Toland was waiting for hcr on the upper deck, her long nose nirped | and red in the cold air.
 Well he saw that you didn't miss | it, after alp said she, with a welcon- l ing light for Julia in her sharp ayes l though Sha did not smile. ''Sit | down! I've been hearing nice things l about you. my deart I said to Sally. l 50 there Is something in old maids | children, eh'2'' Miss Poland chuckled: | she was well pleased with her pro- teGee Julia settled herself comfort | ably beside her. She liked to watch l the running gray water. and to feel | the cold December wind in her face | The thought of Mark was always with | her, poor Mark! so much more in her | heave dead than Hvingi But today | his memory seemed only a part of the | .ender past; it was toward the fu- | ture that her heart turned; she felt | young and strong and full of hope. |
 In the new year Jim began to come 1 pretty regularly to thS settleur r.t l house. Sometimes he stayed but for |