New Britain herald., 1926-07-10
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

NSh AHNJ NDAN " t' Nf 1D
 CHA TER IN
 Dad opened his mouth as If he had something to say. Then, on second thought. he shut it again. It was just as we'll not 10 argue with Mons when she was upaet-and no ore knew it better than he.
 Merry crossct the kitchen 10 him and put her arms around him as he sat down in the old rocker by the hack window. He looked very old and tired and pathetic to her, all at once.
 Mons gave the gifts on the table an angry it push.
 "It would be all right 10 give me things like those if we were mil 1ionaires." slo sniffed, but we aren't. And the money you spent on that truck would have paid my grocery bill"
 Dad got up from his chair and patted her shoulders.
 There. there, Sadie!' he said. with a good-natured wink ii Merry "I promfss never to give you an- other present as long as l hNe' Don't la a tantrum no" ana spoil our anniversary"
 Mons held herself stiff as poker for a second more. and 1hrn her face softened. She let Dad kiss her flushed cheeks.
 q didn't mean, to be snappy' she said with a sigh, ut sometimes | can't help wondering what would become of us if you got sick or died. T-e haven't red cent m the bank. and even this house IS right up 10 the hilt.' She sighed again-a deep Slsh that seemed to come from the bot tom of her lungs. "Sometimes wonder if we can afford 10 keep Jinnv in high school even.'
 "Now. .1st you never worry My sbin.s coming in cne of these days. and everything will he fine Dad answered her. hanging his coat in inc hallway that led to the dining room. Come along, Merry Let's on ont and see if those radishes are coming up.' n.
 Together they escaped TO 'he backward, gold and green in the sunsets glow.
 pads "ship" had been coming Ill for as long as Merry could reincm- her, and vet it never came. HIS salary was always too small TOT inc needs of the family. There never was m extra dollar to tuck away II thn hank. There was barely enough to keep the bills paid.
 "I wish Mons wouldn't scold you +1,o wav she does" Merry said 10 him as they stood, arm-in-arm' IooN- ing down at the neat HttIe 'eEe- z.. fable garden he had made Il '' "Hnsh," he stopped her, you ,,,nstn,t talk about your mother N1r ry, ~he's a good woman-a wonderful woman. And what sne eaid to .ae was all right, She knows bnu, money slips through my firgers. If always has. No, you mus, never say things about your mo'heF' 1yo.d all be living in the pooThonS@ if it weren't for her l.,
 Merry saw suddenly that ne loved her mother because she was n.h.t he was. Because she was utterly unlike him--firm where ne ne ras soft and yiell ag, careiui ah9 .,niet,. '.. u.horo he wrs spendthrift and r... ,,.os for me" she thought drcamily' pc -o,,ee I'm so unlike him!
 Al inc very thought Of him. .,arm wave of happiness went oyer ,cr And he WIS coming. tonlght' Coming to see her! In two hours he would be here!
 She left her father and went lhlo inc houe, tc t-kc one last look al he old-fashioned parlor. She haa ,eon dusting it all afternoon, and irving Q make it loo% more at'rac-
 Bnt ii was hopeless. As she stood il the doorway Iro"ning at if she wished that Tony were not coming She didn't want him to gee the old. shabby house. She didn't want him to meet Moms' who would be sure to ask him thousand questions about himself who his .. pie were, and what he lid for a ring, and ~hen he was oof-r. and where he had gone 10 college.
 And then shell go into the sit ling room and listen to everything