| Show t t t. t i If t I r. r J r r r p. p I t ol C i 1 ti I 14 ft X j t t T J 1 h f t. t 1 j B J I Ff f. f rr y 0 1 r.- r. LI v. v 1 I lr CLA C t J 1 r t t i S S SES E SI gi 1 s' s 11 i. i G. G J J J I f bG y na K IlL I I Mie he Loved Lovea Ardently but Unwisely Wr J J Until She Realized Pits His t Utter r Selfishness 1 T ff- ff c oX FOR iton two t years years Julia Parish had managed man man- L aged tho the office once of Edward g It was a new firm rm with all the worries and obstacles p placed aced In the way of Ii a new flew firm and Edward fought them wit with g grim lm lines Jines settling about his mo mouth th and wit with that steadiness s of eye that is is found lound In men men men of of purpose c Prom From the beginning Julia Julla l felt Jt a kind of pride in working with Edward in the venture h he looked upon as a care career r. r She felt a satisfaction In being need needed d. d even though though It were In the s sense nse of mortar between foundation stones and she watched the firms firm's progress much as a guardian watches a IL worthy child And though her Interest In hi her work was sIncere sincere sincere sin sIn- cere to her herself ell she offered it It t as a ruse rue to cover her love for Edward Manning Edward was U totally unaware of f her It t never occurred to him that she was Interested In Interested tn- tn ter ted in himself He treated her ber berth in an ari impersonal businesslike lIke manner for lor he 4 thought of her as a secretary who attended at at- at attended tended to his office orece as as a valet alet would attend at attend at- at tend to his clothes cothes If It momentarily he heM M saw W her otherwise e. e it was only as us a n slim sUm young ung woman In her 20 with deep deep- set let eyes glowing from a thin small face tace and nd with an intense seriousness In her work vork He thought of no no women he lie had gone the pace In fn business that left him little vitality or money lo for play During Julias Julia's third year with the firm w there h hid had d come a d distinct advancement e In business Edward cam came back from a prolonged trip to find the situation In In the theoffice office oce more than satisfactory During his absence orders had poured In with astonIshing astonishing aston aston- rapidity and as he listened to k Julias Julia's S detailed report he smoked d numerous numerous numer numer- ous oils cigarettes in a a. nervous agile manner He was exhilarated keyed to excitement y Mid and at times he emitted little chuckles of presently his ha hand d went cown aown on nis ma cies desk esk in an enthusiastic thump I Jove Were We're forging ahead he lie said sald and rand andere were we're not in our stride yet 1 I think Id I'd bet better r ge get in tn an assistant to help you while Im I'm away V r Julias Julia's hand brushed back a strand of iF dark hair from her tired d face lace No No no nol she said in such strong protest that protest that Edward Edward Ed Ed- 1 ward looked at her In hi surprise aI manage alone she said I lean can un manage much better alone slope It would would- 0 hinder me to explain the system and the routine to some rome one at this Um time Please let us go on just as we are t But the work is getting too heavy for one It lt t- t would be different If you were Ii man man I I- I and he laughed a little h I dont don't want to kill a woman tj Julia felt a a vague tingling pleasure in tn his concern for her I 1 r raily ally can manage manage manage man man- age she went on cm earn earnestly when 1 l' l i cant can't Ill I'll let you know Id I'd mu much h rather l- l work overtime and keep the work in the theoffice 1 office Just bc between us usHer us- us wi Her loyalty touched Edward and his hand band slid sUd across the table and cov covered ov red hers The grip on n her fingers tightened ned nedas as he lie talked I wonder if 1 you kno know just how much youve you've done for lor our little old W firm It he said very levelly Youve kept tho weil tho-weil well the the home 1 ome fires fires' mighty bright while rye Ive had to be away on these trips of ml mine and that's been the important tl thing I dont don't know what Id I'd have have- haved d done ne without yo you I doubt if u theres there's an another ther girl who'd who work as as you u work I daresay youve you've given up your evenings and your j 1 su Sundays Just t to k keep ep the business u up p. p to date and y youre you're u e willing to go on doing it U in spite of th there not being need any I Ithe longer longer longer- The Llie ring of the telephone cut in and S he answered it U. Julias Julia's hand tingled with rhythmic pulsation It was their thI- first contact born bom om of something beyo beyond d n ces- ces sity sUy He bad had wan wanted ed to reach across the S table and touch her He had wanted to 1 1 eay oy what he had and in the way he b had d said it A throbbing came into her throat S and nd h her r lips trembled In In an anI exultant smile When be he had finished th the con con- she ehe was busy with some letters lot of to Tv Xv a correspondence get c nut rit a. a as 81 soon as 55 s' s possible He glanced at athis athla his hla watch Great ScottI I thought it ItI S was about 4 ocl o'clock ck and I its it's s nearly 61 I i He Be looked at her tentatively ly Are re you too tired to take a few letters No sh he said Eald II flU you'll let Jet me run nm I out for br a cup of coffee coTe first I didn't have much lunch today today today- He was looking at her appraisingly a as I though he were seeing her for the first time and Julias Julia's color color- rose under tinder his bh T scrutiny Suppose hes he said ld with a musing mus mus- lug ing smile we WB celebrate te tonight z and have dinner together would send zend dinner in for us m. 4 n HEitt mood broken by the ring of the thc a. a telephone was recaptured in an in in- 1 Res Reserve was as abandoned for a time I and pleasant Joviality came in its stead S c The letters left unanswered the desk deak remained in disorder for the night and the remnants of dinner were piled on the tray tray and and covered with their napkins to be returned to the tho restaurant in the morn mom mom- ing ng S. S Edward to took took Julia home bome It was 9 o'clock when walked d into Julias Julia's little apartment and It It was hours afterward when wien Edward left S Outwardly the tho change in Julias Julia's life was not perceptible Long ng hours at the theoffice office office- sh short rt hours at home The Tb routine W would uld h have ve been dull and unending had hadnot hadnot S. S not her love for Edward cast casta a a. glamour I 55 over it But the glamour was more imaginative native than actual actual- for lor Edwards Edward's p primal lr thought was in his wor work Their evenings together were were always alway spent id in Jull Juli Julia's Julias s 's apar apartment nt S She r reveled in the tile that could not Dot be spied i f. 4 I T hi 4 i 0 11 L f J J I f 1 li i r I q h r 3 r a. J i S I t i S I S 'S j 2 I 6 i. i i j S z at 5 I SI S.- S. I 4 i L S. S 4 7 5 L'- L' r S 4 5 r t S I IC C I 4 S S b v Have you rou e ever er Hit been upI up I to the top of the S i. mountain 1 he he asked upon she wanted nothing more than his arms about her her her and and his caresses But time has a trick of effacing g glamour amour and with their continued meetings the clandestine charm began to fade It became necessary eventually to en engage engage en- en gage an assistant for the office f for r the work was becoming too heavy heavy for tor Julia even though she stayed overtime Edward fo found nd a young man to help her and durIng during during dur dur- ing the summer it was possible for her herto to go out of town for an occasional week week- end A cousin Bertha Holland with her husband husband hus hus- band and tWo Jwo children lived in Pennsyl Pennsyl- vania vanla Their small cottage age was' was wasat at the foot of a mountain which began m its ascent from their back yard ard The country was a pleasant change and although Julias Julia's week-end week was nothing more than simple meals and tramps along mountain moun moun- tam tain p paths and long cool nights of sleep she camo came back to New York refreshed With the growth of the firm Edwards Edward's economy was less compulsory He Joined a prominent country club and Sundays w were r spent In playing golf He looked up friends whom he had purposely avoided because of lack of 01 time timeA and h he began going about Naturally his s evenings with Julia became less frequent t. When she remonstrated he told wId her that it WI was ne necessary to meet other b business sl less men for forthe forthe the good of his firm that tha social contact was a a form of desirable advertising and he went on to to say that she the should not be unreasonable Unreasonable 1 l The word awakened her to her own pitiful foolishness She s saw w the thc futility of her position Edwards Edward's s regard t for r her was transitory At l night came the ravages of dejection and In imagination she saw him at gay exclusive places s where charming women made much of him an and men envied him his popularity Wherever he moved heas he was as the center and the favored one and she recalled Incidents of f fascination which only added stabs of at pain to her already breaking heart EDWARDS EDWARD'S removal to toa a hospital J came unexpectedly Acute appendicitis devel developing de de- de- de vel ping into septic poisoning kept him there six w weeks eks After Arter all possible danger had p passed ed Julia went nightly to see him and to keep him Wm in touch with the deel de de developments el of the business His Ins utter dependency upon her at tb this this' time and aud andt the dull appeal in her ey eyes s brought him bim a surge of shame H He had l hurt urt her as a a. reward for her help he be had thrust her devotion aside asid Id as something something some some- thing no longer desired Her generous loyalty was like a continuation blows and he felt guilty because he could r. r rn longer maintain a personal J interest t rest in her and he ha was too selfish or r too honest to t be e deliberately deceitful When Im I'm out of here he 5 said ld one evening evening- you HyoU must take a rest You ou probably probably- need It very badly Im all all' right she Bhe saId said listlessly Her disregard of self sell In hi her faithfulness annoyed annoyed an annoyed an an- an noyed him Wm but she wa not a aware are o of I it IL It was early June before Edward Edwar was las strong enough to go to the office for a few hours a a. day and J Julia JUa Ua went to th the mountains again but only for lor a week week- end cud Usually she was wai was alone with her cousin and her ber fan family ly b but t on her first evening a young man from from- the nearby village stopped in and and stayed fo for supper He was tall and nd muscular lar and had a a. pleasing pleasing pleasIng pleas- pleas Ing Ing- swinging grace when h walked and he talked d in a hesitant manner that Julia knew was caused by her being there He lIe seemed in awe awo of her and ana watched her with sidelong glances and he played with the children hi fri a way that show how showed d em em- When he had gone Julia said Does he Jive near here Ralph J. J Jones nes said her CO cousin l. l Oh yes he lives in the town with his folks They own a good bit bit-bf land around here herB Ralph is a stone mason Hes He's got a a. Job on the big hotel they're starting next month on the thc top tap of the mountain A hotel on the top of the mountain Yes a summer summer- resort winter too maybe Th They're going to call It an Inn Its It's going to tobe to-be be a swell place It'll take tate i- i i'd d f i ir ii t v Arr Mi L M t more than a D. year to build bund it I guess It'll b be a good Job and a steady one for lor Ralph Ralph is considered a catch around here Hes looking good-looking Ji Julia Ih said sald Her cousin coUIn laughed He probably thinks youre your looking good-looking too Ho looked at you enough What he thought of her didn't matter mat mat- ter She Sha quite forgot about him But the next morning shortly after ler breakfast breakfast break break- fast he was was back again I brought some wild grapes he said to Julia I didn't know If you'd ever tasted any His simple consideration pleased J Julia lla and she liked his eyes so steadily on her He lied had more poise than the night before and he talked In a slow rambling manner of various varIous' happenings in that part of the c country Have you ever been up to the top of the Ule mountain he asked her Oh no Im I'm too afraid of snakes snake and cra crawling wUng things He laughed as a little boy laughs at a little girls girl's cowardice Ill give you a dol a-dol- dol dollar lar for every snake nake you see Want to see how much money money you ou can make AN A N HOUR afterward they were ere mak nak making ing leisurely headway toward the mountaintop in Sometimes he lie held out his hand to help her over a crag or a a fallen tree and she felt the strength of his muscles as she leaned on on him hint l for r a moment t. She liked him tolerantly and was amused by his obvious us liking for or her There was something romantic walking through the woods with him listening to his voice and ready J laugh ugh and seeing his frank admiration for her He reminded her of or herself Edward Edward- When they reached the top Julia stood stood- breathless looking out over ver Ver the panor panorama m You like ike it up tip p here bere dont don t y you u R Ralph lph said watching her She nodded and he told her with a kind of pride of the plans for the thO Inn Ive never had hada a a. j Job b on a building as s big big big-as I as this one he said be niceto nl nice niceto e et t to work on on something big and see aee it grow Julias Julia's eyes became sad for thc tle second time this morning he had reminded her of herself hersel with Edward When Julia Julia returned to fo the office she found circulars rs from several sever 1 summer summer r re resorts sorts lying on Ion her d desk kAre k Are these yours she asked the office of of of- flee fice assistant No but perhaps you'd better keep them I saw the boss looking at them after you you left He ma made e a reservation at one ono of ot them for next week I se sent sert t te the e t telegram legram Here Ill I'll ll sho show you OU the h one The circulars circular's photograph was WM ofa of ofa a great great rambling structure of stone tone with lichen creeping about its turrets and win win- dows It reminded her of the description description tion Ralph had Elv given n her of the inn on the mountaintop Perhaps some iome day hed he'd visit this inn that Ralph would help build I By liy y- y putting mortar between foun foun dation stones Ralphs Ralph's place and nd hers were similar and she s saw w that from now the divergence of Edwards Edward's way from hers would slowly widen There came came a day when the assistant Indulged in a bit of gossip Ho said to Julia The boss has baa surely got a b beauty au y for fora a girl Julia looked up sh sharply How tow do you know she asked quietly Ive seen them together four lour times in succession Just lately too They're so devoted that I wouldn't be surprised Uwe if U we had a Mrs 1 Boss soon Julia tried to reason herself out of agi- agi agi tation She had suspected as mu much much- h- h those flowers at the hospital for Instance e and the tho natural logic that no man of 38 finds companionship with men m only Julia went again to her cousins cousin's in August They w were re glad to h have e her A j they were proud of off her and as she was wasso va vaso aS aSso S 1 so removed from their mode of living they thel were even flattered In her wanting tc to come to them You should month Bertha Berths stay a n m I 1 said on the tho d day y Julia arrived Perhaps I will stay a month Ralph has been asking fo for you Bertha Ber Ber- tha said with a smile Hes ml mighty glad I 1 S that that |
