Evening star., 1921-12-26
Merry Quite Contrary" Discovers
John Can Be Contrary, Too!

n n ERR1AM LINDSAY tiptoed
M into her living room Sunday
afternoon. gave sympa-
thetic glance at her nappiug
husband, tucked the steamer rug un-
der his chin and stole over to put an
other log on the Ire. The house was
not really warm enough for the bleak
November day, but there was no coal
to start the furnace.
She seated herself rather soberly on
a low stool before the fireplace and
cuddled back against chair to watch
John. His six-feet-two looked very
big and long stretched out on her
great-grandma's sofa. She loved the
way his blond hair rumpled back
from his high forehead, she adored
the laughter crinkles at the corners
of his quizzical eyes. His nose, she
decided critically, was just smitch
too long. His mouth and chin were
still uniformed and boyish. But the
dark shad under his eyes and the
grim set of his jaws were not boy1sh.
Merry gave a plying sigh. For a
week past she had been cooking his
favorite foods, dashing to the door to
greet him with pretended exuberance,
cheering him every morning Wnen sne
started him off, surreptitiously tuck
ing carfare and lunch money into his
penniless pockets.
Rut It had been q difficult week for
them both, Johns first week without
a lob! A week that had made both OF
1hem feel old and sober. Each day
had started with the heavenly hope
r.
= hsantiful lob But each night had
hroneht him home still jobless.
All Sunday morning, with the aid OF
/. hattered typewriter, they had an
swered advertisements from the voiu-
minous Sunday papers. sunday lunch-
con had been delayeo because 1onh
had dashed into town for an engage
n,ant with a man-who had casually
forgotten the appointment.
IIe had come back to their wee sub
urhan home utterly disheartened. But
Merriam, like the good scout that she
was. had coaxed him to eat; kept his
hands busy with dishwashtng and
FrehuiIdtng, played her softest, sweet
est music to 1ull him to much needed
sieen. and scurried about quietly get
ting ready for a tea party.
without telling John, she had in
yited her richest and most influential
friends to tea. John thought that he
didn't like them. He had visited their
sumptuous country home in rather
adverse circumstances. Merriam knew
that. while the Blaisdells were the
understanding kind of folk who made
allowances, they hadn't a favorable
idea of her John. But she hoped that
charming self For John could be
very delightful host when he wanted
to be.
She wheeled her tea wagon to the
fire. Cups and plates and silver shin
ing, thin sliced lemons studded with
with crunchy cookies. Thorne Blais-
delrs favorite cigarettes and Nan
Blaisdell's pet bonbons were ready.
The kettle simmered on the hob.
Rags, Merriam's devoted Cairn ter
rier. sat on his hind legs to beg
sweets.
mo. sirv' she whispered. Not a
scrap for doggies! Why, Ragsy, it
makes me shiver to think what I've
spent on that tray"
Rags slumped in Respondent heap
at his feet. She rump1ed his ears to
comfort him.
She had tucked her bronze curls
into demure topknot and adorned
them with her grandma,s tortoise
shell comb. She was wearing her
frilliest. most luxurious -lookinR frock.
a delectable trifle from last years
trouSseau. brown lace with golden
gauze sashes. And. her slender feet
were encased In her best beaded
bronze slipperA
"Rsgsy." she whispered. as she tied
a yellow bow on his collar, please
buck up! We want to look just as
perky as we possibly can! The
poorer we get, the richer must keep
US looking! It's wicked to look proud,
when everything is all right. Ragsy,
but don't yOu ever let yO11rSelf aneak
'fraid you're licked-cause that's fatal!''
She found sketching block and
pencil, with the brave ambition of
keeping herself occupied. But John
Rasn't Z Yerx interesting model lying