The herald., 1917-06-21
JOHN AND MARY
BY HELEN MERRITT.
paper Syndicate.)


Mary came running down the stairs,
her face beaming. She had double
cause TO be happy-she was going out
to spend the evening with her lover
and she had new and beautiful gown,
AS she entered the reception room.
John rose to greet her. She paused
before she reached him, and, letting
the long cloak slip from her shoul,
ders, stood revealed in all the bravery
of the new finery.
Don't you like it?" she faltered.
He might have been diplomatic in
his reply. But that was not John {
way.
So he blurted out bluntly, No.
don't"
Tears rose instantly to dim the
brightness Of Mary's blue eyes.
Why" she asked, after a long
pause.
But specific explanation was quite
beyond John. he did not like the
dress. He simply stood and gazed
disappointingly at it, and under the
shadow OF that look Mary broke down
and wept openly. Then, without an
other word. she ran from the room.
Then a half hour had passed and
Mary had not returned to him. He
rang the bell and requested the maid
who answered it to say to Miss Mary
that he was waiting.
When the maid returned she handed
him a note. Ii was very brief. He
read amaZedly: Il am not going out
with you-now or at any other time
Mary"
Besides being straightforward to the
verge OF brusqueness, John was stub
born. He felt that he did not de.
serve the punishment.
And the breach thus opened wild.
ened steadily as time sped on.
Mary's maid went TO her mistress
one day and asked: Miss Mary, what
had we better do about the rough
laundry this week? Old Mary hasn't
been to get il"
Young Mary turned languidly from
the book she was only pretending to
read.
Perhaps she's sick" she suggest.
ed. IN go over to her place and see
about It,"
1t was a sad enough spectacle which
confronted Mary when she reached the
poor home OF the laundress. The few
bits OF furniture were piled up ready
for removal. Old Mary was sitting be
side John, her rheumatic old husband.
The story was soon told John S
rheumatism would not permit him to
work steadily any longer. 1t was star
walton or the poorhOuse.
Young Mary thought rapidly, and
the end of her bordering brought glad
relief to the face of old John.
III take Mary home with me-" she
said authoritatively. There's little
room over the kitchen she can have.
She can help the cook when she is
able, and she'll be we'll looked after"
An hour or two later, leaning on his
stick and shutting his way to the road
leading to the poorhouse, old John was
halted by a CHEEKY greeting:
Hello John! What's up with you?
You haven't been around lately to do
the lawn"
The old man repeated the tale of his
misfortunes.
1t was Johns turn TO take the role
of good fairy. He knew how these old
folks had always dreaded the poor
house.
You won't have to go to the poor.
house." he told the old fellow. You
come around to the garage with me.
There's a room there the under gar
dener used to have. You shall stay
there. The cook will feed you. When
you feel like doing bit of work, why,
do it,
So it happened that old Mary, COM
fortably ensconced in Miss Mary's
kitchen. received a message which told
her that old John had escaped the
poorhouse. 1t gave her the address of
the garage.
Time passed. One morning Mary's
maid came to her room with a serious
face. old Mary's too sick to get up"
she announced dolefully.
Miss Mary wrote a note at old
Mary's dictation. 1t said: Dear,
John, l am sick, maybe dying. l
want you. Come at once. Mary"
The note was sent and when it
reached its destination it threw old
John into panic. Mr.. John was away,
but the chauffeur advised the old man
to go to his wife at once.
Leave the note on the boss desk"
he suggested. Then he'll know why
you had to go in a hurry
Mr.. John came back from business
trip, tired and utterly discouraged
But suddenly the whole face of the
earth was transformed into a thing of
joy! For there on his desk he found a
note in Marys handwriting. 1t bore
a nh, oh