Evening star., 1921-11-24
"wHAT MEN WILL WEAR"

N N ERRIAM LINDSEY didn't nave
M to read What Men Will
Wear" in the theater pro-
grams. she just looked over
the men she played around with; all
Of them, except her husband. dressed
appropriately. Which embarrassed her
not little.
Don't fuss, dear" she tried to- put
things casually. but I've made up
our minds we're going down to the
Grahams this week end
Leila Graham had been brides
maid Of Merriam's the year previous
and had since married a wealthy Wild
like for Leila.
Makes me squirm when she looks
at me-" he declared.
SILLY! She just thinks you're good
looking! I should think she would!'
Merriam's contented giggle hinted at
agedness and restored Johns good
humor
Burhe became imm mediately grumpy
when he learned they would motor to
the Graham's with Richard Slocum.
John was fed up with accepting ia
conscious that prior to Merriam's
marriage Slocum had not ordinarily
visited his New York office oftener
than monthly. but since that time he
seemed to lose no pretext for such
occasions.
John was trying to be his amiable
self in these trying days. but he was
awakening to the fact that marrying a
rich mans daughter is not simple
matter. The first few months had
seemed easy; they were SO in love
then that just food and shelter to-
gether seemed luxury.
But gradually Merriam was being
dragged back" as her old friends
put it, to the jolly life to which she
was used. She was making many
new friends. John hadn't a reason
able objection. but he was hideously
standard he couldn't afford to keep
up with. He hated accepting their
invitations.
|. So young, good looking, with an
adorable wife and a spring holiday
before him, he sulked all the way to
the subway. Reaching for carfare
he discovered a note: he grinned in
spite of his Ill humor-notes were
one of Merry's most endearing habits.
ITO be opened right after lunch"
OF course. he opened it Immediately.
Dearest John" he read. "A little
bird told me you simply must go
shopping. Don't be stuffy about it.
But go! For items see diagram on
other side. l love you very much.
dear"
She had turned her deliberately
monogrammed stationery endwise to
make a chart with absurd sartorial
sketches.
For mornings
New sack suit plain shirt with cuffs
attached. darling). double-fold collars.
soft hat, reindeer gloves. chocolatylook-
Ing shoes. Also a Norfolk with knickies.
tweed suit. shirts with collars attached.
rubber soled shoes. golf stockings.
For afternoons
Nice white nannels an everything to
For evenings
What you have, but q new vest. new
collars, new shoes. and a tuxedo for the
stag dinner Friday.
And she enclosed $500.
He was so angry he couldn't think
coherently. He and Merriam had had
the money question out before they
were married, and she had agreed
that the only sporty thing to do was
to live on what he earned. Shed
been a dear so far about doing that.
But he couldn't guess what q struggle
it had been for her.
She had actually been lying awake
nights to write that letter. Thought
she was being tactful and diplomatic.
her father was mama from heaven.
For months she had been worrying
about Johns remaining in Richard
Slocums employ. She had a shrewd
plan in the back of her little head to
inyeigle Graham's firm into making
her John an offer.
But, OF course. John didn't realize
half her motives. Her naive generos-
ity he overlooked entirely. He felt
that his Merry had failed him, that
if she was ashamed Of his wardrobe
she must be ashamed of him also.
So because he was young he went
about all day with a boyish lump in
his throat, hating himself and every
body. He would have died before he
would have spent Merry's money. By
late afternoon he was in whale of
a temper. Slocum. debonair. followed
of smart luggage. blew in in fine
spirits.
We'll go up for your duds and
Merry as soon as l phone" he cried
and joked with the phone operator
who was connecting him with his
florists. Get this straight" he or
dered, "Tll stop for them in about
half an hour. Two corsage bouquets.
And in separate boxes. Snappy look
ing boxes. One of sweet peas or any
old thing that will jolly hostess.
One" his voice grew unconsciously
tender. "of orchids--stick a few miles
Of fluff on the orchids"
John knew instantly that those
were for Merry! His Merry! For
whom he couldn't AFFORD flowers of
He staiked out Of the ONCE in blind