Evening star., 1922-06-13
Restless Is as Restless Does.

ITH her broken ankle
NN propped on chintz-covered
v pillows, Merriam Lindsay
sat in her screened porch
making a strenuous effort to get the
twins into clean rompers. In a panic
stricken moment she had called them
in from the sandpile because she felt
great need of their moral support.
They were in deliciously naughty
humor. Even wee Dicky. who usually
behaved like the angel his mother ad-
vertised him to be, had mischief
dancing in his eyes. He was dashing
about trying to dodge the comb with
which Ricky, the girl twin, was pursu-
ing his glorious mop of red curls.
Being a girl person, Ricky had been
trife more amenable to reason
ordained. but Dicky, still breathless
from pitched battle anent donning
clean undies. was valiantly resisting
any other garments
You're the wrigglingest wiggling-
est pair!' Merry cried as she tried to
adjust an orange bow atop Ricky's
II wants a bow" Dicky sidled
close to his mother. lured by the gay
ribbon. He looked so irresistibly
lovely with his pleading eyes lifted
that Merry ruined all chance at dig
nifty by STOPPING to kiss him.
You precious little gander!" she
teased. You've curls instead of a
bow! Boys don't wear bows"
Il will wear bow" He was a
trif1e edgy from too much play.
And Mr.. Slocum will think you're
a girl"
quisitely funny. He shouted with
laughter: Ricky's bubbling little
giggle echoed his
You're the gigglingest pair."
Merry found herself laughing with
them.
She was very much little girl her
self just that moment in her simple
gingham dress. Spring freckles were
family shadowed on her retrousse
nose, and her struggle with the
youngsters made her bronze hair curl
MOSTLY against her forehead. With
the easy nonchalance of youth she
had quite forgotten her sophisticated
mood of two hours ago.
Il ask you. Susan Sue" She looked
up to grin at the grumpy old dear in
the doorway. How can l pull any
grandstand mother act with these
I
even get their clothes on 'em"
We'll. restless Is as restless does,
whatever the age is that feels rest
!ess-like: Susan Sue was senten
tious. You leave them to me- I'll
quiet them down and give them their
suppers. If ever you was to try let
ting them see callers now. they'll act
up something awful. Restless folks.
young or old, hain't safe company,
they hain't."
MarrI,,,, rr,-o - ,,;1&,,
No. no." she answered hurriedly.
You go get their supper ready. I'll
dress them-I-Iwant them here"
She was sincerely regretting that
in lonely, angry moment she had
telephoned Richard Slocum. A sort
superseded her desire to punish him
for the we'll deserved lecture he had
thundered at her the week previous
when he was in an entirely jutifiable
oh. she hardly knew what she
wanted! When she was telephoning.
she had been actuated by a desire
to make him fall in love with her
again, but now she was so ashamed
of her mean motive that in contri-
ly maternal role. Perhaps that would
blot out from his mind the idea that
she was a flirtatious young. thing
whose only aim in life was to dance
ana play AROUND.
The truth that she wouldn't ac-
knowledge to herself. even, was that
nothing had ever hurt her pride more
than Richards making her feel that
he had lost his respect for her.
Pink with evaporation, she strove
to quell her mischievous youngsters.
Dicky, still sans rompers. was
snatching the bow from Ricky's hair
and Ricky was wailing out wild pro-
tests.
You little old imps:" Merry shout
ed above their clamor, as Richard
tapped at the screened door.
Very correctly groomed, rather
grave as to manner. he greeted her.
Merriam had a sudden mental picture
of how higgeldy. piggeldy her man
ner of life must seem to the critical
bachelor. Behind him his uniform
ed chauffeur stood with the crutches
for which she had telephoned. Rich
ard himself had two small packages
under his left arm and his right