Evening star., 1922-02-07
MIR, CUYLER CONTINUES TO PRE-.
SENT HIS COMPLIMENTS.
n ERRIAM LINDSAY was ha

n n ERRIAM LINDSAY was hav-
M ing frabjous time. In
spite Of the fact that it was
wildly slushy day outside
and she had been marooned indoors
with fresh young cold, she was en-
joying herself immensely. Half an
hour previous she had been bored al
most to the point of tears. >but half
| an hour previous she had not been
entertaining good-looking male
caller.
She was .primly aware that she was
a happily married young woman; that
theoretically happily married young
women should not let themselves be-
come interested in strange men call
,, ears. But the young man had an
nounced that he knew the Lindsays'
friend, Prof. Sheldon. and Merriam
telt that was a rather good introduc-
ton for anybody.
This particular caller was a charm
ing chap--a curious combination of
poise and ditiidence. When he had
first arrived she felt that he was just
a teensy, weensy, least bit forward
ibou, making himself at home. But
from the moment when Susan Sue
wheeled in her well filed tray he be-
, came almost as shy as a schoolboy.
Merriam >had to urge him to partake
of the simple refreshments. She had
to ask him twice before he would
admit whether he took sugar or
cream in his coffee.
But presently they We're again
chatting pleasantly, impersonaliy, and
with Il growing interest in each
other
He picked up Merriam's knitting.
handing it with droll gesture of
awe. He had already begun an elo-
quent discourse anent the gentle art
before Susan Sue had brought in the
coffee. He commented most enter
! taininGly upon the antiquity of the
craft.
Think of the romance of that ia
nous garment of Penelope's. destined
never to be tiniShed.'
Merriam felt frightfully unedu-
| Gated. She said 50; not in just those
words. but with a gentle sigh that
hinled il would be altogether Won
derful to hear about the famous ro-
I nance. Personally, she was so in
| experienced knitter that she rather
| which her caller was Grating about
was doomed also to be unfinished
| But she smiled up at the handsome
| Mr.. Cuyler
"Why?" she asked archly.
! He hitched his chair closer to hers
/ he put uOWn his cup oHc put 10" II
! her knitting.
! Can it be- he asked in gently re-
| proving tones. that You haven't
fheard about that?'
| Merriam shook her head.
| He lowered his voice. His fair
! hostess was almost afraid he was
about to relate some riSque bit OF
gossip that ought not to be repeated
! 1t made her deliciously nervous to
| have his grave eyes fixed SO stead
| fastly on hers.
| Penelope" he began didactically
! was the wife of Odysseus. hero OF
! Homer's immortal epic. The Odyssey,
! which was probably written by the
/ blind bard after he had already eStab-
| lished his reputation as a poet with
! his possibly better known poem. The
! Had During the ten years wander
| ing of her-er-husband. odysseus
| she was besieSed with suitors for
i her hand"
! Merriam nodded disapprovingly.
! Il know-she was one of those pre-
! h list oric vampS.
| A faint grin lurked about the lips
! of the raconteur. He concealed il
! quickly He resumed his tale
| AS the years slowly passed anC
i they became more importunate the
! ,actful lady began to knit sweater
! designed for her husbands use. bu'
! she finally agreed that on the day il
! was competed. II ne Snoutu not nave
| returned she would choose from
! among the suitors.'
; How perfectly scandalous!'. Mer'
! Ram was properly Mortified at the
! tickle creature.
| "Ah, but there was where she wa:
1 displaying ingenuity. For each nigh
| in the solitude of her chamber SHE
| unraveled ali that she had knit dur
! ing the day" He paused impres
sively.
Merriam giggled.
You certainly have to hand it tt
en-" she remarked slangily. The,
mayn't have had votes, but they die
have wits. didn't they"
They sure did" Mr.. Cuyler agreed
! "And probably they, like you moderI
women. recognized the Importance O.
being fully informed on-er-event!
i-of their own day. and-er-others.
Something about Merriam's seriou!
gaze seemed to very much discon
cert him.
Sonnet hing about his nervou!
speech now stilted. now colloquial
made Merriam's gaze grow NOR,