Evening star., 1921-12-29
MERRIAM LINDSAY MANI
FACTURER.
DRIZZLING rain slanted against

4
riam Lindsay had spent some
Of her precious few remaining dol
lars for coal. and the first furnace
ire of the season was refusing to be
checked. She was curled in an un-
comfortable heap on the sofa trying
20 get much needed rest, but too
many unpleasant thoughts nagged.
She thought about her John, plodding
patiently about town in the rain
trying to find job; about the visit
her fathers lawyer had made that
there was still no word from that
long missing gentleman: about
doleful letter from her Aunt Alice
that fairly dripped prayers and sor-
and unmended stockings and the
nawn tickets she had hidden in her
bureau.
Rags. her Cairn terrier. was yowl-
ing disconsoiately in the kitchen OAt
cause she wouldn't let him run IN
The rain. And the beef stew. that
she hated. had burned. She was
far too miserable for tears. So she
just glloomed and gloomed and
Bronze curls tumbled. cheeks pale.
her frock far from immaculate. she
contemplated the worn sole of her
shoe. And automatically tucked both
feet under her and cuddled still as
mouse as the doorbell rang.
IT wouldn't go to that door,. she
thought "even if the Prince of Wales
or Doug Fairbanks or old John D.
himself were callingt'
The hell rang again. An impatient
umbrella handle tattoo added itself
to the racket. Rags almost barked
his head of Merriam continued to
curiosity overcame her as she thought
she heard the visitor retreating. She
tiptoed to the curtain. A gray eye
winked solemnly at her.
"Open that door and let me in.
I stand here freezing, wet to tn
skin-in-in|"
Philip Sheldon, instructor in Latin
in the Boys School in the next street,
who looked even moro youthful than
he was, entered with a grand flourish.
you're looking frumpy," he in
formed her cheerfully. Very seedy.
Don't blame you for not coming to
the door, but 1 have an important
chemical experiment to perform and
need your distinguished assistance"
shelly" she protested. as he began
pulling packages from his pockets,
'.you're trailing sugar all over my
clean house"
ANA He aus" cL GU SdiiHiS
"Woman, 1 crave fudge"
Merriam capitulated. She ran up
stairs to smooth her hair and don a
clean frock The kitchen resoundet
with Rags excited barks as Sheldor
fed him sugar. And Merry found her
self laughing as her guest regaiet
her with accounts OF the exploits o.
his unruly pupils.
'sWhat's been the matter with yol
two snobs lately?" he demanded i'm
pudently. "Never home when ] call
Or else see a whopping big limou
sine outside and dassent come in t!
shame you before your swell friends
of a sympathetic listener. "we'r, jus
| having more trouble than there is
You can't think what heaps ot
trouble! My dad is lost. and John:
| lob is lost, and
"You're thinking of taking in floors
to scrub and elevators to rum? NJ
interrupted f1ippantly.
"Why. how did you know was trying
10 think up something to do?' Merriam
"Tney always Co." Sheldon was calm
Every dear proper little wife whose
husband is out of a Job dnvents some
simple device that makes a family for
tune or discovers she is a great singer
or painter or sculptor or -
"Don't make fun Of me-" Merry was
tragic. I'm such a stupid. Not a
thing smart about ma l can't play
piaLo enough to play in the movies OF
give lessons. hate to sew. can only
cook four things. SO can't take in
boarders I can't do single useful
thing"
"You make fudge"
"T1lat's no use" She stirred it dole
fully.
'No use" he yelled. Look me in the
eye! How can you say it's no use
when T." he thumped his chest grand
/ ly, ''who am a village schoolma' am
with 1872 sweet-guzzling boys In per-
feet control. can force each and every
rascal. in the lot to buy all his fudge
from Mistress Merry. Quite Contrary
Fudge Manufacturer?
shelly" she shouted. could I?'
They began at once.
At I, when John. disheartened and
bedraggled, opened the door, they
were Still at it. The house fairly
breathed sweetness. Tables, pantry
shelves, dining table, sideboard, were
stacked with pasteboard picnic plates
each fudge filed and covered with an
inverted plate on which Merry had