Evening star., 1922-06-21
Politics Begin at Home.

An ns%5ss .ass s'ss:ss sas. sas 'sn: s:;
EiEH because her big blond hus-
= $50 band did not talk about an
Idea he had once advanced he was not
still thinking about it. Usually he was
thinking deeply. She hated TO believe
that he was seriously considering CIV
ing up his position in the Blais-
dell organization to go back to the
tiny upstate village from which he
had come before she married him.
She didn't want to be a snob, but she
was very unhappy over the prospects
of spending her days as q village
druggists wife. That was exactly
what she would be II John carried out
his vague intention of going into
business with his father.
Shrewd little diplomat that she
was, she had carefully avoided re-
ferring to their first and only dis
cussion OF this possibility. during
which she had tempestuously asserted
that she wouldn't be buried in that
hateful little place where there's
nothing to do but go to the movies or
church and have your perfectly proper
mother and your three perfectly prop
or sisters criticize everything 1 do and
say and wear"
"You may have to-" he had warned
her.
Il won't" she had defied him.
The argument had followed a spirit
ed tilt wherein John had issued an
ultimatum that Merrys old suitor.
Richard Slocum. should not be al
lowed to call upon her. Merriam real
ly felt that Johns back to-my- home
town" idea was a half-threat on his
part. She did not in the least realize
how troubled her youthful husband
was about petty finances. p. -.... -.
John had been brought UP very sim-
ply in family whose wants were
modest. Merriam had been the only
child OF a wealthy and indulgent
father. Her ideas of necessities SEEM
ed to the Lindsay family nothing less
than luxuries. The years Of their
married life had been a perpetual
struggle to reconcile Merriam's stand
ards of living with Johns income.
It's bad for US to live so near all
these extravagant friends Of yours" he
told her once in a moment of deSpond-
ency. Anything that / can give you
seems nothing compared with what they
spend. What 1 earn would go twice
as far up home. I'm actually earning
almost three times as much as my dad
did at my age. I've often heard mother
Merry's small hand had crept over
his mouth.
JOhnSy, Sne nad interrupted, i II
burst into tears if you begin telling me
about your mother! 1 know she's the
most perfect woman the world - ever
known. and in spite of that can't help
liking her. She's a saint and u dear and
she's led model life, but. Jonhsy, she's
missed a lot Of fun I'm not going to
miss. I couldn't stand It if l thought
I'd have to go all my lie the way she
has. managing to live on Iext to nothing
at all feel In my bones that I shan't
have to- like to pretend that these are
the onliest years we'll ever do it 'spect
you to make just scads and scads Of
money for me to spend perfectly reck-
lessly on you and the babies and me-
want a peach Of a mouse with ducky
old garden all around it and slashing
big car and a cozy little one and enough
amIable slaveys around to take care OF
'em all, do. This little old Pumpkin
Shell is rather sweet right now. but
don't want to grow old and gray in it."
She had been perched on his knee
as she painted this luxurious picture
of their future. a moment later she
rad found herself standing in the
middle of the room with door being
banged in her face.
Which had sent her flying after him
to drag him back to assure him that