Evening star., 1922-01-13
"RATTING."

n n ERRIAM LINDSAY came
!" down to breakfast one De-
cember morning dolled up in
her best bib and tucker. Her
youthful husband drew out her chair
with a fiattering flourish. Even Susan
Sue. bringing in the pancakes, gave
a grudging nod of approval.
why the glad rags?" asked John.
Going batting" Merriam answered.
listlessly. Usually she adored a day
In New York, but she was too unhap-
py to want anything this particular
morning. She had had an interview
with her fathers lawyer the day be-
fore and was much depressed by that
gentleman's manifest feeling that her
father would not be found. "Ceclly
has asked me for lunch and the mat
inee and tea. l can't think what's
come over my pernickety cousin"
John kissed her goodbye anxiously.
BE awfully careful" he half en-
treated, half cautioned. IT'S a
beastly rain. Do you think you ought
to go?'
Susan Sue showed her solicitude by
battle about rubbers
Il won't wear them" sputtered
Merriam, with a feeble flare of her old
temper. Il shall just leave them out
But in the village taxi that John
had thoughtfully sent for her Mer-
riam leaned back in one of the sud-
den. unexpected glows of happiness
that sometimes came over her in
these anxious days. Her brown eyes
shut themselves to avoid tears.
"Everybody's SO plum sweet to me
because they know how my hearts
just broken about daddy" she thought
gratefully. "They take such good
care Of me and try to amuse me
even Cissie, who's never liked me at
all, tries to amuse me-
Cecily met her at the train
brusque Cecily, who had squabbled
with her ever since they were in
fants, but who had a sort of rough
tenderness for her pretty cousin.
Sure. I'll take her somewhere" she
dell had delicately limited that she
was neglecting her family duty. But
one couldn't have guessed from her
manner that she had gone without a
imuch-wanted frock to take Merry on
mild feminine spree.
Greetings, Pepperpot" she sang
out rather noisily. She did not even
mention her missing uncle She was
almost too bracing for Merriam's Ian
guild mood. And yet her firm hand
reached out during an exciting last
! act to cuddle Merriam's.. Happy end
ing stun, Olu uedI. SuC !"
| Buck up! Don't fret! Our family
| usually goes in for happy endings to
troubles"
But Merriam was visibly dropping
when they reached the tea table. She
| could not even feign interest in the
| smartly garbed crowd about them.
She was lost in revery when a touch
on her shoulder startled her.
! why. Putnam Graham!' sputtered
the brutally frank Cecily. how dare
| you come gadding into the Ritz when
, your poor. wronged little bit OF a
F.! Leila is off by herself In lonely old
Reno?'
! Graham. paunchy. middle-aged and
morose, settled down beside them
| even more melancholy than Merriam.
IF you only know how hard tried
! shock in my life as did the day
knew she was gone
Merriam nodded sympathetically
! She had always felt rather sorry for
blundering. stupid Putnam and had
pant second wife.
But Cecily lighted a cigarette un-
Iconcernedly.
"Cheer up. Put she bantered. BET
| ter luck next time: Pick a brunette
| for your next wife. maybe blondes are
too flighty. Remember what that bird
Voltaire said about tiff you must
! fall in love. why, fall in love with a
| woman older than yourself, and a
| homely one-only such are grateful
Graham did not answer her. He
fixed his mournful eyes on Merriam