The Bozeman courier., 1927-11-11
By
Marion VGlensi

able signs Of prosperity in Alec Farraday
something deeper. He had never for
gotten Julia Sloan. Tears caught in her
throat.
"I can't believe itr' he was saving.
Imagine meeting you like this-Count-
esS--" Then he smiled. "You see, I'm
not exactly used to it."
Please" Julia was saying, please,
Alec, I'm just Julia" Then she caught
her breath-for, of course, she had never
| called him Alec back in Northfeld. She
justified herself with little laughing
sentence. Don't you know any one from
home is long lost relative?"
Alec Farraday flushed as if he under
stood. There was another second of si-
lence; then he said, Are you alone,
| Countess? You see, I'm hopelessly Ohio!
! What I'm trying to say very properly is
if you aren't dining with any one,
can't we"
ct am alone-quite alone, Alec" Julia
broke in evenly. "And I'd love to have
dinner with your
I'D never have hoped for such luck
! Julia" He smiled shyly. "And I don't
suppose I'd ever have had the courage
to present myself properly to you in
Florence. knew your address, of course.
| Northfield saw to that. But real count
| esS-"
Julia felt a sweet, sudden warmth
touch the cold, sharp pain in her heart,
as they crossed to the corner table close
by window, looking out over the silver
and blue water.
You're not travelling alone?" asked
Julia.
"Alone," said Alec Farraday.
Then Julia laughed. 1t felt somehow
wrong and strange for her lips to be
curving to sudden, free laughter.
Funny, how we're asking each other
thatl' she said. ST suppose I'm trying
to discover whether you have married."
Smiling, Alec Farraday shook his head.
tits such a serious business these days,
Julial My sister, Clara, has Just been
married, though-to Joe Baker, perhaps
you remember him? Old Doc Bakers
son. They've built out on Summit road.
You wouldn't know it. There were al
ways some pretty places out there-but
now it's fairly gorgeous. They've built
the new Country club on the hill"
Through the simmer Of color, the
smoke filed, perfume laden atmosphere
there came to Julia a sweet, clean breath
Of the autumn woods along Summit
road. She saw again the deep lawned
wide white houses.
81 wish you'd go on" she said, 81 love
to hear Trombone"
But you never come back" he chal-
lenged quietly.
Julia shrugged. mo, never go back
She lifted her hands with little gesture
of futility. why should II"
I'VE were all very sorry" said Ale'
quietly, when we heard Of your hus'
bands death. It waS-the WARP"
, And Julia, dropping the white lids O.
her eyes to hide the lie, said slowly, eye
: the war" But looking up, tears glis
tened on her lashes. Then she lifted he
, hand in a gesture Of dismissal. Let
! talk about Northfield," she begged.
And so, while Julia Sloan and Ale
: Farraday talked and smiled and liStenet
. to the music Of Venice rise softly from
blue and silver water, the table between
+ them became a thing of magic. 1t mad
a mockery of the years that had passet
1 and the fragrance Of its flowers wa
r the fragrance of August nights long age
|; A dozen years were as the passing of
y summer night. She felt the quick beat
r ing Of her heart-her heart, which wa
r at once warmed with sweet memorie
= and chilled with haunting fear. Fea
+ that he might discover how very poe
o she was-how very lonely, and wretcheC
and to be pitied. The one thing whic
" Julia Sloan could never bear-pityl
Z AS they fingered over coffee, Alec Fal
q raday leaned across the table and sal
% abruptly, "Julia--Im just a plain Amer
e can tourist. I want nightly to flo;
! around in one Of those gondOlas undt
n the moonlight. Would it be very sill
II thing to ask you to do? mean-woul
= it bore you to death?"
o To be concluded next week
l. Copyright 1927 by Marion P. Valensi