ttle maid who, supported by Anna
Belle, could not weave a fairy-land in this fresh paradise.

"Won't you be seated?" said the broker, waving his hand toward the chairs.
The others obeyed as he took his place. "Let us know a little, now, what we
are doing. What did I understand you to say, Harry, is your limit for
time?"

"Well, I ought, really, to go west to-morrow, father."

Mr. Evringham nodded and turned his incisive glance upon his
daughter-in-law. "And you, Julia?"

She smiled brightly at him. He observed that her complexion bore the
sunlight well. "Oh, Jewel and I go with him, of course," she responded,
confident that her reply would convey satisfaction.

"H'm. Indeed! Now it seems to me that you would be the better for a
vacation."

"Why! Haven't I just had a trip to Europe?"

"Yes, I should think you had. From all that Harry tells me, I judge what
with hunting up fashions and fabrics and corset-makers and all the rest of
it, you have done the work, daily, of about two able-bodied men."

"That's right," averred Harry. "I was too much of a greenhorn to give her
much assistance."

"Still, you understand your own end of the business, I take it," said his
father, turning suddenly upon him.

"Yes, I do. I believe the firm will say I'm the square peg in the square
hole."

"Then why not take a vacation, Julia?" asked the broker again.

"Harry is doing splendidly," she returned gently, "but we can't live on the
salary he gets now. He needs my help for a while, yet. I'm going to be a
lady of leisure some day." The broker caught the glance of confidence she
sent his boy.

"I'm screwing up my courage now to strike them for more," said Harry. "It
frets me worse every day to see that girl delving away, and a great
strapping, hulking chap like me not able to prevent it."

His father looked gravely at the young wife. "Let him begin now," he said.
"He doesn't need your apron string any longer."

"What do you mean?" asked Julia, half timidly.

"Stay here with me a while and let Harry go west. I will take you and Jewel
to the seashore."

"Hurray!" cried Harry, his face radiant. "Julia, why, you won't know
yourself strolling on the sands with a parasol while your poor delicate
husband is toiling and moiling away in the dingy city. Good for you,
father! You lift that pretty nose of hers up from the grindstone where
she's held it so many years that she doesn't know anything different.
Hurray, Julia!" In his enth