Evening star., 1921-11-28
All Play and No Work Makes
John q Jealous Bow,


who had been brought up in
a modest frame house in an
upstate village. It looked its hospita-
BILE self to Merriam. who had visited
there many times since she was
tiny girl. The pillared porches and
tapestry brick wings had been added
in recent years, but the walnut-pan-
eled halls had been built by the Blais-
dells' grandparents.
'"This is Nan and you'll love her."
Merriam chartered as she presented
John to their hostess. But John. who
was awed by the lady's brusque man
ner and elaborate jewelry. felt as
though he could never even like her.
He thought she was laughing at him.
She wasn't. She was laughing at
Merry. holding her at arms length to
inspect her and pulling her back for
| ."Slowpoke! Why didn't you get
here in time for the 'fore-dinner
swim? And there were wild ducks for
dinner and Uncle Chefs burgundy
oh. OH" she glanced over her shoul-
ieft~ 40 ''A' '''s =" -"
It was forming on the right also!
Nan Blaisdell's half-grown sons and
| some boisterous guests of their own
ago were charging from a corridor.
ITS Merry Quite Contrary.
| And from the game room on the
right several older men, billiard cues
in hand, were orowding into the hall.
MY frst' sweetheart" Thorne
Blaisdelrs white head belied the pos
1 his wife's arms stand back! One at
a time, gentlemen" he kissed Merry
resoundingly.
It seemed to John that he was in
troduced to forty folk instead of the
score he met in the next ten minutes.
! he had never met any Of them before
! save Merriam's cousin Cecily and his
employer, Richard Slocum.
A glowing little figure. Merry let
There were three distinct groups
the youngsters. whose phonograph
was noisfly jazzing-the men. who
seemed to be playing pool mostly
| and several women who had risen
perfunctorily from two bridge tables;
A lone man, much harassed, stood
with them.
All three groups We'd with each
other for Merry. Thorne tried to kid
| nap her. His eldest son struggled for
her Richard showed them away.
The next dance Is mine!
| Merriam teetered demurely on her
toes. She looked carefree. but. her
heart was sick at the unhappy look,
in her beloved NJohn's eyes. She
adored being the center Of the stage:
She had missed this sort OF thing an
the months she had been married,
She wanted to frolic with the young
sters, But Johns look was like that
Of q small boy who is being punished
unjustly.
4 ~ - lAA "a n
bridge player: MIND If I take your
| John found himself being propelled
by his host in the direction Of the
billiard room. He did not Join in
thei. Kelly pool: % b9t sat :, breeding GOD ns as
the cost Of polo ponies and good
hunting dogs. They made him feel
like boot-laoe peddler. He grew
sulleier and sulkier.
sters broke up the pool game. Hal.
who was nineteen, and Jerry, who
| was seventeen, had organized fancy
dress party. In absurd impromptu
costumes they dashed through the
bridging were as gay as children, and
Merriam was the gayest OF them all.
In a pseudo-Spanish costume that was
absurd with: her red curls. q battered
hat dropping over one ear, earrings
q gaudy table cover draped about her
1.-THE form, she ratified kitchen spoons
for castanets. From the hallway
doomed the solemn peals Of the play
er-organ. Tho impish youths had
l.speeded its music to quick tempo.
Choose your partners for the Span
ish omelette" cried Hal. 1T will be
led by Senorita Merrita Peachyeata"
Richard appropriated Merriam be-
fore John, could reach her. The only
partner left for him in the frolic that
followed was Cecily, who soon drop,
ped breathlessly to the stairs to fan
herself and. say: . =
isn't Merriam ever going to quiet
down? She's bigger hoyden than
The dance stopped with flourish.
Newspaper-made megaphone In hand,
! Jerry cried: =
Ladies and gentlemen: The con-
cluding number Of the evening viii
fyin' ride Of senorita Merrita. the
worlds greatest slideress! Positive
IL unaided and alone she will now
sii.ide- Kelly.slide down our hitherto
unbreakable circular stairway!" -