New Britain herald., 1926-07-27

tllelA Ni4tS nAN llaNA "4Nli tA4N NfN- ming meal.
 T can make some in five min- utes, if you want it, Merry" she offered, in a low-spirited way.
 But Merry shook her head. NO, thanks" she answered, "I'd rather have water. It's better for my complexion."
 "I had letter from Bill Erskine today" she said, after five minutes of silence, "The last time he was here. we had a little spat. and l was surprised to hear from him so soon."
 Moms lips twisted. He didn't say anything about getting mar ried did he?" she asked, with sar- casm in her voice.
 "Oh, Mons, don't ding-dong at ime all the time for not getting .married" Merry cried impatiently. The sudden anger that came over Iher like wave, was as much a surprise to her as it was to her mother. Tt isn't my fault that Bills father is sick. It isn't Bilrs either. He had to go down to Florida!"
 Mons miffed. He could have married you, and taken you with Ihim" she replied, mot that l want to see you marry him, Merry because I don't!-But I hate to see you wasting the best years Of your life, waiting for him to make up his mind whether he wants you or not Isn't that the telephone?"
 They listened. From the hall came a faint tinkle, followed by loud ringing.
 "I'n answer it." said Mons, and jumped up. Her face was eager and flushed. as she hurried out into the hall.
 "I'm going out for little while,' she said breathlessly, when she re- appeared in the doorway Will you stack the dishes, and put some thing on a plate in the hot-closet for Jinny?"
 Without waiting for Merry to answer she turned and went. Her footsteps were almost as quick and light on the stairs as Jinny's tread.
 When she came down again, she was dressed for the street, and she had dabbed some powder on her aristocratic nose.
 She poked her nose in at the dining-room door and glanced up anxiously at the cuckoo clock-the only clock in the house that kept time.
 ! Half past seven. and that child not home yeti" She shook her head. Now. where do you sup pose she's gone? I wonder if she really was upset because ] asked Mir. Hcfflinger to have breakfast with us this morning." | Why, of course. she was!" Mer- " let her have the truth. You know, it's not pleasant for her. or for me either to see@him taking Dads place in this house! You'll be marrying him rext, ] suppose" l Her mothers thin lips set them Fselves in an even firmer line.
 "Hmm." she snapped, What if [ do? I'm only forty-siX years old, I'll have you remember! I'm cnti- tiled to live my life as want 10 live it, without asking your permis- sion. or Jnny's either, l guess!- Goodnight"
 She turned and hurried through the hall and as she went Merry noticed that she had shortened her el-irt a fuI1 two inchpSi. i How silly a middle-aged per- son is, in love-" she said to her self, and then remembered that Bill Erskine was almost as old as Mons was!%'
 i She was sitting under the sit tfng-room lamp. thinking about Bill Trskine and trimming a new hat-shape that she had bought, when the front door-bell rang sharply.
 who's there?" she called, and the voice of&Derrick Jones' mother answered her,
 "Open the door Merry" she called in a high, excited voice, and the girl Iet her in.
 Mrs. Jones was a small, nervous woman who jumped about as If she were strung on wires. Mons often smoke of her as that bag of nerves next door" i Merry had never seen her so nervous and excited as she was now. She fairly shook. and her eyes seem- ed 10 fairly snap as she began to
 -I lFpnf waving her hand up and down, and nodding her head.
 "They've done it! They've done if at last!" she said. halfway be- tween gasp and shriek, they've just called mp to tell us about 1t! Think of it! And neither one oi them old enough to have any sense, or know what they're doing! Where's your poor mother"
 Mothers gone out" Merry answered quietly, What's happen ed. Mrs. Jones? Have Derrlck and Jimmy got married?"
 Didn't just finish telling you so?" asked Mrs. Jones, looking eX- asperated. "rhey just telephoned US from Cooper's Ferry to breaK the good news to MT. Jones ana me. At least they called 1t good news. It's pretty bad news II seems to me-Where did you say your mother ,was?"
 She's gone ont" Merry repeat ed. and then added as if to herself "Jinny must have fibbed about her are, again. She's only seventeen E"
 "Yes she's only seventeen, but she's wise as a serpent, for all tbatp Mrs. Jones broke in, She's heen after Derrick for months to get married--"
 And he's been after her to get married. tool" Merry came back at her. Her tone was low, but if was firm and convincing. She ,,.asnit ooinp to lct anyone say q