Evening star., 1922-09-27
The Twins Play Postman.

TIME Lindsay twins. who were
not yet four, didn't mind how
far they rode when they mo-
tored, provided aley o><Id sit
on the floor of the car with all eas
toys they wanted.
This particular day they were not
going to ride very far, but they were
going to ride slowly. for their mother
was going to help her father take
poor old Peter, who had been her
fathers faithful manservant for
many years, to house in the coun-
try. where they hoped he would re-
cuperate from a paralytic stroke that
he had had in June.
Peter was old and trembly, and it
was all too evident that the twins
would have to ride on the front seat
with their mother. They behaved
like lambs the first hour, but then
they grew very restless. Not even
the halt for picnic lunch could quell
their exuberant spirits. Their pretty
mother. whose heart was heavy with
many troubles, was rather impatient
with them.
They frolicked madly while their
grandfather carried the dishes so that
Peter could stow them in the picnic
kit.
Peter was distinctly fearful. He
had crawled about wearily trying to
serve them until he had had to SIT
down exhausted for his own meal.
Merriam had protested at his serving,
but he had insisted.
Maybe, Miss Merriam" he had
uuavered. Its the last time that re-
ter can ever wait on you or yours.
I'd like the children to remember
that once l served them"
What nonsense, Peter. Merriam
tried to buck him up. You'll be back
home as good as new before long,
with both of those imps bosstng you
know just how you will spoil them;
peter, Peter, pumpkin eater!
Ricky sang saucily as she danced
about while they helped him to the
car. Peter, do you know sumpin !:
Do you know that US lives in a pump
kin shell? Not really, truly shell
but a yaller-house one-doesnt US;
Merry? Oh! oh. Such a nice idea!
Let's all go riding right there, all
of us, and see our Daddy Boy"
They had lunched under a wonder
full old beech tree. Merriam went
back to pick up the twins sweaters.
For a moment she leaned against tne
tree anu CioStu hei 20. IL
rather frail against the silvery bark.
\ brown velvet tam topped her
bronze curls She was wearing a
rust-brown coat and a checked sports
skirt. and her dusty oXfords were as
scuffy-toed as her children's.
The child looks positively shabby,
her father thought angrily. HIS hearI
ached for his unhappy daughter:
He tried to hush Ricky's insistent
chatter about her Daddy Boy"
"Sakes alive.' he protested, Fred :
matter with your granddaddy's
house? I thought you liked it,"
Il like the postman bringing nice
poster cards from my daddy.
Her grandfather sighed.
Ready. Merriam:' he called. 'fe-
ter and I are
She opened her eyes. She moved
toward the car slowly. She was
fearfully tired. body and soul. 1t was
another slow ten miles to the house
| where Peter was going. But she
drove home very rapidly. She
thought perhaps that good hot BATH
and an hour on the sofa would brace
dance that evening. She didn't know
just how she was going to live
! through 1t, but she knew that she
| would have to go. because she was tt
! be the guest of honor
! 1t had been an emotional strain tc
| tell Peter goodbye. Merriam and hel
| father both felt in their hearts thai
serve them again. And he had beer
part OF their lives since the time
when Merriam was small as Ricky's
present size.
| Ricky sat with her grandfather GO
| ing home. but Dick was cuddled be-