The evening world. Newspaper, October 21, 1922, Page 14

* don’t. WHO'S WHO E PARKER, tired of IN THE STORY. the monotony of poverty and the small town.and determined to marry a rich man JUDGE RICHARD HOWT town and Julie’s employer DON MATTHEWS, recent Julie. STEPHEN WINTHROP, a Judge Howells rker the T was 5 and Julie slipped her The cover over ypewriter cover was old and crackled She had needed a new one even longer than she had needed a new machine Julie smoothed her hair neatly under her gray toque, slipped on her Jacket and fastened the cheap squirrel fur piece at the one correct angle. Then Don Matthews pushed open the door from the outer office. In his sagging Norfolk jacket he looked shabby and likeable and boyish. He earned, perhaps, $10 a week more than she did. In fifteen might achieve a tenoe. Fifteen years! ull With a sort of wistful she avoided him, “Don't, Don,” whispered. ‘‘Please don’t say any thing this evening. I—I'm really in a hurry head hurts." Her clumsiness cxasperated her She ih tended to be kind; to evade him, not to “Ive got help Cally’s sick, and, uf course, ven’t got any girl. We never and it doesn't make any difference to mamma how many people blow in for dinner, Bob's always bringing people home and pa and Gertrude. It's—the limit.""| The bitterness of resentment over- shadowed even hh Don Matthews. rid to blow timag it years he reasonable compe- he began furtiveness she and my wound him to mamma to-night we hi do congeiousness of “L suppose I'm hor- up like this, but just seems though I as couldn't stand it the way the house ‘s messed up all the time, and we never have money enough to buy anything for it, and everybody wears made-over clothes and goes to bar- gain sales and” Don Matthews leaned against the grizzled volumes and smiled down at her, “Gosh, but you wring the heart,"” he jecred. ‘‘You've got one of the nicest, decentest families in the gountry, and you know it." Julie Parker shrugged her shoulders with annoyance. “Oh, as individukls I've nothing against them. They're Wonders, good-natured and clever and —alipshod. They don't seem to care Mat we'll never have a red cent and be able to live easily or beautifully, ‘They just take things for granted. 1 I"-— “You're tired, Julie," he soothed “A dig family in a small house doos qet edit thick, 1 know. Rad @ bureau drawer | ows until I went coliege.”" He jammed his hands deeper the Peckets of his jacket. “But there's @omething in beipg sort of fond of thy Beeple that push you down stair: Wer a long moment they looked at ech other, and the girl's eyes wewered. ‘I reckon I didn't choose a ‘Weey epportune moment to ask you to @hape the horrors of a struggling Jowyer's ostablishment,” he went on. “Eve got dern little to offer you, but Boare about you, Julie’—— ‘Please, Bee," she pleaded, ‘to-morrow or the mest day. I like you, you know that, rv The young man in the ,Norfolk Jacket took his meditine. ‘’All right."" He managed a very fair grin, "I Yeokon you'll be able to find me in the Never even ould call my into adjoining office any day for the neat —twenty years."’ “Don"'-— He was a nice boy. The Parkers Mked him and Judge Howells and @very one in town. His background Paraileled hers so closely, perhapy that it did not intrigue her imagina- tion. The Matthews, too, had ove-- Giowed a small house, quarrelled with, and. jostled, liked one another Den-had put himself through college, would make a place for himself ly—slowly HE Parkers lived on the corner Sh in o brown frame house that always though it gleamed le noted and slow looked as Lights and J undrawn, all paint! dows, that the binds Mneven lengths , Bulle slipped past the livink room hung at LLS, leading lawyer of the small Jaw school product, in love with New York lawyer, a classm of where Silas Parke at engulfed in day-old Chicago paper, to the bed room she ed with hey sister, Ger- trude, combing her hair, screwed around, brush in hand, and smiled at Jul “Would you mind if IL wore your new blouse this evening? You know,’ she explained, ‘we didn't get any laundry done this week." Julie frowned and hung Jacket. “Oh, 1 suppose not are you going out with?" Gertrude “Harry.”’ her Who up resumed her brushing “Well, I hope he thinks it becom- ing.’ Her tone was not cordial Gertrude remained unruffl d. “Don't be touchy, old dear. You've got all the looks. louses, I ought to get the Law of compensation’ “Nonsense! in There's no compensa family." Julie put last year's serge and went down the back stairs to the kitehen. Mrs, Parke ed and tion this on her ed up as she en “Hello, Julie! do the roast on the top The te smiled. We'll have t of the mental in. Julie looked Mrs. Parker twenty ato oven’s tempern- hard at might have t 0, She Juli tak her mother n pretty would be cht, if ti nice looking now, thor little smell of coat she would only A faint permeated the room and Julie rnifted my the Ame penfully family in North only jen that still ues a coal r she protested Mrs long spoon. all the Parker basted the ronst wit! This “1 don't mind i stove’s t exeept when wind's in the into place north She of “Julie, dear, minoen vred the roaster back ot the table There'll be six of us, Bob's bringing Sig home In the pantry Julie selects ran dom from the heterogenous 1 collection, There had been a time when, if the number of guests did m exceed five, she could find enough Plates that matched. ‘Nobody cares but me thought bitterly Mr. Parker strolled out Into the kitehen and stood, his legs apart, star- ing at the bubbling kettles. ‘fl could eat a barn door,” he complained af fably, Mrs, Parker smiled up et him “Well, you wouldn't like it. St, the potatoes are yeady. You room t curry them into the dining The Parker di ys were never re poxeful, ‘There onsned at each meal a great deal of agling, nevally good natured, as the butter to who should refill water glasses or go out for more he Parkers at tempted to serve dinner in courses up to Call A and the dishes were washed, the house became quiet. All the children except Julie had gone to the movies, and Mr. Parker had returned to the store, By the living room drop-light Mrs, Parker was whipping a shirt band on her husband's Sunday gar- ment, She always hummed when sho mended. For a jong time Julle watched her "Don't you ever get sick of that?" she asked finally Mrs, Parker looked up and smiled “Well, this one w she said seldom TER ao tray had t who h n carried dw bad col 8 pretty well gon “Sometimes they don't need more than a stiteh."* Julie's voice was hard with ance. “Oh, I don’t mean that shirt I mean all shirts—and being poor, and never having any leisure, or ymfort or beauty. Nobody's ever grateful you Mrs whipping, ‘No, you know Parker for slaving for them went on . I don't think 1 mind with je this because 1 happen to be fond of Silas Parker and his children. There was another silence while the ¢ ticked noisily. "Julie, you bette marry rich Julie cast a sidelong glance at mother, but Mrs. Parker's expres sion appeared guiltless, “Whe Well, t sa Heinie G She chue! “He's the richest man in Benton “Heavens, mother, even as a jok Reproach filled he 1 some one with ba and culture THE EVENING WORLD, SATURDAY, OOTOBER 21, EVENING WORLDS Mes. Parker smiled again, ‘That ounds like a fairly attractive Inven- or Here's wishing you luck, Ther epented of her humor, Tulle, dear, you're tired, Better get to sleep before Gertrude comes in, It does take such a long time to un- tut J was awake long after er inter hal erawled into the protesting hed be her. She lay very still, pretending ple slept First thought of Don Mat.hews marriuse with Don would be im possible at least for years, She was twenty-four and pretty, but there was one in Fenton she could marr No one, She tant, stupid, her mother would not repeat t) plaining sacri fe. She would arry ric than Heinte Gut stadt, richer than any man in This was not mood, she r med, ‘This wa: jomn 9 was after the in the te thyt Julie Par \ ensien clock had struck three went to sleup. With the daylight even that res did not yani whe discontent of years and 1 last to focus, She became sleepless and pals and dispirited UDGE HOWELLS was the first to read the danger signal, One day © watched her for a long time vy the vimoof hb ASHES nally he chuekled “That's the third time you've up that page, Julie, per’s expensive She flushed delicately, but a detlant anied in her eyes. ‘Yes, and thred times | left out the second para graph. Judge Howells, you better get a secretary who can keep her mind on quarter-section boundary lines. 1 can't. Judge Howells possessed clous gift of understanding and cureless and impractical, the gra- Shabby he re mained one of the shrewdest lawyers in the town and one of its most de citizens, “You're fed up, he demanded. he swung around on her chair and faced him. “Judge Howells, you know everybody, Can't you get me a post tion in Now York He did not hingh at her, for petuons earnest of youth 1. nt ase, Right away Morrow, HEXt wee r agony uspense know what tter, eon t ek it here any long: “Well, we'll see.) le drawled Phat evening Judge Howells wre » nd Stephen Winthrop of the { Winthrop and Sears, Wall New York. He and Stephen ) n at law school i eldum wrote each ot 1 yeagh th a frie pirit Stephen Winthrop a sald he didn't need a nl imself, but he'd find a plac n his offlee, and w distinguished judiciary cor to New York, ands th and ' Wo owas at ntimate letter for man svt nd so Important to write, and t er admitted that. But he hated to have her go. “Golly, Jule, New York's a big vil lage." He was more stirred than he cared to admit. ‘Still, I reckon you'll learn to firid your way around. Julie's departure assumed the 4i- mensions of a ceremony, Everybody did for her all the thoughtful, tender, commonplace services that knit to- her the separate members of a amily into an indissoluble unit. The whole family helped pack her trunk and its cheap varnished ld closed down some particular treasure cherished by each one of them. How loyal they were, and how pitiful! ‘They would give her all they had, but they could not give her contentment BW YORK! Julle was confunea N and stimulated and depressed in a constantly cries of moods. She had a room in the West Seven- interlocking ties, four flu! at the home of ts up Mrs. Weldon had once lived in and to the re Weldon widow Sally Bent the ind now she kept room ntious, brownstone from gloomy, ouse she had inherited ber husband's mother Por thr at the offic ¢ days atter her installation she did not see her em ployer to Wasl on, and an efficie roomed tice in Step en Winthrop had gone » well Ther ssign quiet orc and the di i desk and a task. the liness of office patch with which the ted her work was She conducted lelig wished Judge Howells might see this establishment and, even as she wished, she felt an unphrased longing for Umping typewriter with its cracked cove! At the end of her fourth day Ste phen Winthrop came into the room where she was working. He was tall, slightly stooped, and groomed with the impersonal excellence of # man with 4 well trained valet. She supposed he could not be more than thirty-nine or forty, but his face had the haggard look of one a little disillusioned and too much Indoors He smiled at her her and held out his hand. ‘Hoxv's my old friend Dick Howells? And how, may I ask, did ou come to leave bis amiable pres for this machine?” His gesture included uite of benutifully fur Nished, beautifully appointed office: Fulie jod back at him, u end the Judge is very well, and, f Ken uecessful son Inv devoted to him but psitated a moment, “L must confess I find plew ure in this ‘machine. He sat down in the desk c "Do you? Why Julie shrugged her shoulders. “Oh, yn story and I'm not mu ration She looked yer new serge and with the ir oppo good at pretty in he glow of country color stil on her cheeks, “L have a weakness Tor ‘machinery.’ like things that are well eared and smooth running--ond teautiful She stopped, a Little em On the good old principle that we never Uke whi we've got-—I don't 1) had beep a long time since Stephen Winth ' talked so frankly t ‘ yvorman “My whole life is Whe th id at last as though he ow thoroughly well rant mi Mittle marsin left for aneiuer 1 yeu. ite ou. Hie held out hie ° Tilustrated “I'm glad you're here, Good- Miss Porker.’* hand. night N a month Julle had adapted her- self to the new routine, but she found Jt In the end scarcely less monotonous than old position with Judge llowells. Then Win throp's secretary left and the efficient office man r transferred Julle tem- porarily to fill the vaeaney, Winthrop was surprised on arriving at the ‘ © next ning, to find her in his A und the quick look of pleas- u face did not escape her. “You won't like me as well as Dick Howe sid abruptly But Vil promise never to keep you after hours, He did, didn't he? She laugl “Oh, not often, 1 don't think he ever considered me amiable enough to impose on, I'm not ke the rest of my family."* ‘DON'T, DON,’ SHE WHISPERED. THING THIS EVENING HEAD HURTS,” “ Winthrop was curious, 1 whole six wecks continued curious and not a little impr ed by this slender, wilful girl from th country with her gray eyes and her delicate, soft skin, Stephen Win- throp’s life had been too crowded and too dev i to a career to leave much leisure over fur rotnance. He had hever been in love since his fr man year at Hurvard He searcely realized he wos lonely He did not penlize that le had found in Julie Varker something more than a well geared machine—until his former seereta returned Sud niy he knew he didn't want her to go out of hi vred to meet her in the office, to tallc to her at her. He plctured the dreary economies of her existence, the dreary economies of her future Why couldn't he give her things? Why couldn't she give him comrade- ship and sympathy and understand- ing? Was this the old story of the office romance repeating itself? He thought not. He had never consid- ered her as an employee. She was a friend of Dick Howells, and Dick Howells was a friend of his In March proposed to her, It Was as reticent, as inarticulate @ pro- posal as Don Matthewe’s had been. ulie,"’ he said, “I can make life whole lot easier for you. I can give Mfc. He manoeu- you all the“things you have wanted and never had, And—I love you. Phe shy, sertous look in his face convinced her of his honesty, She ac cepted him. They were married in the Lite Chur Around the Corner, Judge Howells came on for the ceremony, youd Jutie’s sister Gertrude, Winthrop could not Spare the tme then to go to Kenton, and Julle shuddered at ie thought of a wedding in the Ben mm household Julie Parker was thought to hi done well. Gertrude’s descriptions of Winthrop's motors and apartments furnished conversation at the Parker dinner tables for months. ‘Thad a huneh Julie would marry rich,” Mrs. Parker sald. he has a iy of knowing what she wants and concentrating on it, IT hope him. It makes a difference And she looked at her own work- hardened hy ( the fest eks Julle was FE: i had net ever estumat ber own mind, st 1 H nportance of a charming ent hment, She a vith teh Musty her starved jopging for (he beauty of material things. Winthrop’s apartment seemed too solemn and impressive to her, so she chose new paper and hangings, She discarded much of the heavy furniture and arranged the new with amazing deftness. Her tables at dinner represented the satisfaction of an exacting and devoted tasts. Most of the day she fitted about as happy as a humming bird. Stephen Winthrop’ eyes glowed as he watched her. He was giad he could give her the things that obviously brought her so much satisfaction, Her new gowns were charming. She had become very lovely, though her cheeks did not possess the same delicate health she had brought to New York. If he tissed the ihtimacy and comradeship he had pietured to himself, he did ‘PLEASE DON'T SAY ANY- I—I'M REALLY IN A HURRY, AND -MY ot put it into words, He strug not to believe she was cold to him. He caved for her so much he was conyineed that the force of his own affection must awaken a response in her As the © of his su pr ess, perhaps, Stephen Winthrop had few friends, He had always been too busy to de- vote any time to purely socia' pur- suits It was to only a limited social circle that he could introduce Julie, nd he wondered whether she did not miss the comradeship of her own age “Julie you happy he manded one hing as they motored home after the theatre. She looked up at him, 1, "Why shouldn't 1 have everything. I don't ever to worry about what's to become of me She stopped suddenly, This was cold comfort to give a mau who loved her, She slipped her hand into his. ‘'You've been awfully good to me, Btephen,"” She had no way of knowing Stephen Winthrop's heart turned to lead. Eventually Julie completed the al- terations in her husband's apartment, and she discovered herself the pos- sessor of long hours of leisure, She read a great deal, walked and visited the art galleries and museums which to Julie Parker of Benton had been only names. As the days passed she grew thinner and the color left her cheeks, She wondered dully what could be wrong. Was she not living her life as she had planned? Wasn't she happy One after valet was husband's ro for «inner oon when Winthrop's way, Julie went into her n to lay out his clothes Vor a long time she put- tered around, rearranging drawer already meticulous. In the neck: band of one of his shirts she discov- ered a tear, and, almost with a f ing of triumph, she brought her sow- ing basket and went to work, With a feverish haste she mended. She de- lighted in the finding of some un- ned socks. Twilight crept {nto the m, but she did not turn on the As she sat there she began to bout Winthrop. What did he do day? She knew he was busy, that he was, often worrted, but she felt as remote from all his interests that first day she had entered wonder ull his office She wondered sudden whethe she loved hin: Could one low 1 On as detached, as absorbed his work as Winthrop? Without Jul sensing lis ayy proach, Winthrop entered the room snd switched on a light. ‘*Hello,”’ he suid. He was glad to ber, sbut that gladness did not cause the hag- gard look to leave his face. ‘What you doing?” “Fussing He came across the room and sat down beside her. ‘Do you like this sort of thing?" She smiled drolly. ‘Used to hate it. But, I don't know, to-day {t saved my life."" He looked at her quizzically. ‘That sounds serious. What's the matter, Mrs, Winthrop?" She waited a long minute before she answered. ‘‘Maybe, just being Mra, Winthrop, Stephen, I haven't enough to do. “No?? He took her hand and smoothed It gently. “I thought may- be you'd earned some leisure.” “Karned?" She laughed, a little bitterly. ‘‘My mother earned it, but did she get it? The things you get in this world are the things you don't deserve. What's the matter with the system?" “Ask me something easy, Sweet- heart. For instance, do I have to dress for dinner?"* “Tired ?"* He nodded, but she did not need this confirmation. ‘Stephen, you need a tonic.’” N a week Winthrop suspected It | might be more than a tonic he needed. He had a queer pain in his eyes and back of his neck. Much as he hated to spare the time from his office, he consulted his doctor. Dr. James Spaulding took a long hour to the examination, but his diag- nosis. was short. ‘You've worked yourself,"” he said, “to the edge of the precipice.”” “Don't be 60 thundered, “All right,’ I won't,"’ he answered. “If you weren't so grossly successful, I'd tell you to throw over your Job and go to work on a farm. Not a big one—forty acres. Spray the potato bugs, bring In the peaches, mend the gasoline pump. You know Winthrop shuddered, ‘‘Sounds at- tractive.”” OTD a place fo! want to sublet for the summer “The summer!" James Spaulding eyed him squarely 1, that pain's pretty stiff, isn't lyrical,” Winthrop Look here, I know just the you—friends of mine who it not going to be “Til see," he tem- Winthrop was rushed into this. porized “You'll” decide now,’? said Dr, Spaulding, ‘or you can go to another doctor. You'll leave the office flat. You're never to discuss business or your symptoms, even with your wife Don't give your office a forwarding addres: You're to sta a rmer un- til I tell you you're well. Clear?" To break the news to Julie was more diffieult even than he had sup- posed. She would hate it, pitched way off on a lonely farm, But he would engage plenty of ser ts for her; she at least would know none of the drudgery he was letting him- self in for, How ridiculous life was! ‘After dinner he broached the sub- ect to his wife. Julie,” he began, could you bear packing off to the country fe a—few months? To the real country, I mean—potato bugs and red ants and gasoline engines that don’t pump the wate — ephen, you're He shook his head. “Ive got to cut down on this sort of thing.”” He swept his head tow: the beautiful vista. of the rooms ot to be simpler," He was pleading his case badly. “Julie, I'm sorry. ¢ If you don't want to come along—why, you might go home for a visit hings will break all right for me, I'm sure, in a few months.” “Oh! She wished he would tell her everything, but a curious shyness forbade her asking him, The bottom had dropped out of the Stock Market, she knew! How stupid ste had been never to have divined his anxieties. “We'll take along a bunch of ser- vants for you,” he palliated, “it won't be exactly pioneering.” ‘Don't be am idiot." “Phen, you don't mind?’ He could not guess the pleading that burned in his eyes. Mind? Her ilttle house of cards had fallen around her, She wanted to ask him how much money he had lost, what the chances were for the future; dut she could not frame a single question. This was retribu- tion. ‘Well,’ she sald at last, “I recom I know more about red ants and gasoline engines than you do, at that. We'll make wonderful farmers. “It won't be for always,"’ he prom- ‘or always? She wondered. Well, one had to take life as it came. When Stephen Winthrop sublet thelr apartment furnished, Julie con- cluded financial matters must be even worse than she had suspected. The income from the rent, however, was not meager. “We can be very dressy farmers on what our city tenants pay us,’ she said. She hoped he would go into details about his plans, but he only laughed. “You can be as fashionable as you like,"” he answered, ‘but I've got to go in for blue jeans and hip boots. When I dress for dinner I'll change to my carpet slippers."” He seemed even a little pleased at the prospect. She wondered if she could tolerate him unkempt and un- shaven “I suppose you'll put on a clean collar Sundays,"* she suggested hat all depends how long tt takes me to do the chores."* Then he looked at her again with a sort of shy tenderness. ‘‘I'm dead sorry T let you in for this. Are you sure you don't want to kick out—now?'’ | by ‘Will B. Johnstone; She shook her head. After all, had made a contract. HE farm Stephen Winthrop had ae rented lay ten miles from the railroad station in a sandy val« ley. The small frame house, hidden from the road by an unclipped hedge of box, possessed a homely charm. To the porch, off the dining room, the meadow came up, uncut. Bees hummed in the tangled garden and a great grape vine festooned the arch of the doorway. Inside, the house was filled with delightful, rickety, unpolished furniture, gathered af random along the countryside. But the kitchen was possessed by an ofl stove, which in turn was possessed by a devil. Julie caught herself wishing for the ancient and much maligned coal range of her fathers, For ten days life held only strug« gies, but out of the chaos of the dew serted house developed something that approached tranquillity. One day as she scrubbed the tiles in the dine ing room fireplace, Winthrop caugh® Julie humming. She had not ine tended to sing, she assured herself, she had not intended to be happy. Her mother, she remembered, al« ways hummed at her work—still, her mother had been contented, The health and enjoyment in her husband's face could not escape her. “Rotten, inconvenlent place you brought me to," she said; “but you know, Stephen, it has charm.” “As long as you're in it," he com- ceded “silly—"" And he kissed her. He was dirty and his clothes smeit of the soil, br she did not resent it Summer passed and they harvested the potatoes and the grapes and the peaches, Together they had sprayed and dug and blundered, Then Julle began an orgy of canning. “This sort of thing isn't getting me anywher she protested over and over to herself. “We're not making « cent and we never will on a place like this."? She resisted contentment with all the force of her intellect. Still, it is diMcult to retain despair in good health and hard work and a congenial companion. For Stephen had pecome congental and thoughtful and delightfully hum- ble. His gratitude to her for sewing the buttons on his overalls was out of all proportion to the service. No one had eyer done much for him be- fore who had not been paid for tt, ‘This was a new experience. He waa shy and boisterous and affeotionate— and he was !nordinately happy. NCE Winthrop journeyed back O to the city, but he confided te Julle nothing of the result of his going. A curtous shyness etill pos- sessed her. She would not ask him how much money he had lost and what his plans were for the future. Well, there was stil] grape marmalade to put up. And autumn was de lightful The first night cool enough to fus- tify the extravagance, Winthrop built a fire in the living room grate and Julle brought out her darning. For « long time he smoked and watohed her. At last he spoke. “Better not waste the old eyes otf thos He pointed to the woollen sox. “Perfectly good,"” she mumbled, bit- ing a thread, the face of “Vicarious waste to mend 'em,"’ he combatted. “TI can't wear them tn my el » over-heated offic “Your office!'? He nodded gloomtly, You—mean we're going back? 1” eyes searched his face. “My dear, you didn't suppose we could live in this rotten, sandy, forty. acre paradise the rest of our lives, did you?" He sipped his hand inte hers and thelr fingers interlaced. “Yes, I reckon I did. For a long time he stared at the fire. ‘‘You've been happy here, haven't you, doing all the stupid, im portant, commonplace things thad count. You've had a good time*—— “No,"’ she protested, I've always thought arranging hyacinths to ailver muoh more agreeable than getting red ants out of the refrigerator. “Until this summer!'’ ‘—Maybe.'" He laughed at her. “Admis th you're happy." “I won't be bullied.’ She emiled af him archly. “But I'll admit I'm neq President of the Despair Club.” most expensive summer of my Iife.’' That night they sat up very late for farmers, and told each other of the things they had been too shy or too proud to confide all, they had # long gap to “What are you going to do all your leisure time, Sweetheart,” he Dersisted, ‘unless you take in to scrubt"’ She smiled up at him enigmatioally, Well, I'm not completely fed wp arranging hyacinths in silver, Then, I think I'll give your exoellemt valet a very nice present and pack him off’ He smiled down at her grave. “There's nothing very revolutionary so far—"’ “Well, I shouldn't be surprised T did over the sunniest, gayest, nicest room in the place—with a friese of rabbits around the walls'’—— “Iulie""—— She smiled up, undaunted at hte earnestness, ‘Don't worry, | reckon i I can manage to be happy~-though rich," (Copy right--All Rights Reserved. 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