New Britain herald., 1926-07-28

to her at the close of the day. H, was the only thing that did not fl into the picture.
 Every day letter came for hel from him. He was planning 10 spenC Christmas with her, mo matter wha happened" ....r That means, I suppose" she tolt herself, that he's coming, whether his father dies in the meantime ol not"
 She took out his last letter now, while she waited for John Benson There were two snapshots in it one of himself on a horse, and an. other of himself and a young girl They had tennis rackets under their arms and the background showed a tennis court.
 "Our little neighbor. June Hollis is teaching me to play tennis." he had written on the back of the picture.
 "So there's no reason why shouldn't step out with John Ben son or Les Purcell myself" Merry said to herself, and she went out to meet John, who was just coming into sight.
 They went for a long walk. Far out beyond the city limits, into the country where late September was hanging scarlet and gold banners on all the trees.
 The sun went down, the moon in the silvery green sky Of early eve ming.
 |, 'I suppose we ought 10 eat some where" John said. along about nine o'clock. "We start talking. and the time just flies, doesn't it?"
 They raced back to town. with the wind at their backs, and had waf- fles and coffee in the first restaurant they found.. ,..
 "I should be taking you to the restaurant in the Towers Hotel in stead of a dump like this" John said, opening the door of the little restaurant for Merry.
 But she shook her head. In the months she had known Bill Erskine she had grown tired of four-course dinners in hot, stuffy, oyer-elabo- rate restaurants. There was some thing piggish about Bills heavy meals that always started with thick cream soup and wound up with heavy desserts and black coffee.
 I'm enjoying this" she told John Benson, pouring syrup over her crisp golden waffles. "Just as I en- joy your stories about your ranch. Food doesn't make so much diff ference. does it?-especially when you're having a good time."
 Are you having a good time" he asked eagerly. But the next night he took he'd to the Towers Hotel for dinner. and bought her leathery white gardenias to wear on her coat.
 Then, on the next Thursday, his week was over. He was gone, ana everything seemed more dreary and dull than before.
 Jimmy and Derrick came home from their honeymoon on the first Sunday in October.
 They drove up before the Jones house in a yellow taxicab. For Der rick's old roadster had broken down just outside the city limits after three weeks of beautiful perform ance.
 From the sitting-room window Mons saw them come. and she dashed out onto the front porch.
 Here! Here! she called to Jim ny. Don't go into the Jones house! Bring your bags in here I'll give you some breakfast"
 Merry watched Jimmy come slowly across the Jones's lawn, and then cross the lawn of their own house and come up the steps to Mons.
 Defiance was written clearly in her leaf-brown eyes and in the set Of her square little jaw.
 'Is MT. Hefflinger here she ask ed shortly.
 "Why, mo-" Mons answered, Tn a voice. His shows opened again and he's gone for the winter. has Mir. Hefflinger 10 do with your coming into the house, for heavens sake?"
 Jinny's eyebrows shot up.
 "Nothing, except that I won't stay under the same roof ~lth hlin! she said, in that frank, positive way of hers. Eff you'll swear to me that he's not ever coming back here Derrick and l will live here with YOU. Otherwise - nothing doing!
 Mons opened her mouth to argue the question. Then evidently she thought better of it. She laughed.
 Don't be so high-and-mighty' Jimmy. I'm not asking you and Der rick to live here with mel" she said briskly. T just want you to come Tn and have your breakfast! You look as if you need a good hot bath, too!'
 Jimmy surely did look as if she needed a bath. Her hair was dank' and her hands were grubby. There was a long streak of black oil on the skirt of her fawn-colored suit.
 "We've been camping - Derrick and l." she explained. we bought a tent and we've been sleeping Tn It and bathing in rivers - oo-ooh! We've had the most gorgeous-grand honeymoon two people ever had?'
 You must have! You look lt!' Mons answered grimly and went upstairs to start the hot water run ming in the tub.
 When she had fed Jimmy and Der rick with the first well-cooked food they had had for three weeks, she settled the question of MT. Het- finger.
 He's paid his room rent up until the first of November" she told them, sitting opposite them at the breakfast table. And it's silly for me to think of turning him out, anyway, For I don't want you two in the house anyway. I don't believe in two families living under one roof-and the sooner Derrick makes a home for you. Jimmy, the better 1t will suit me-"
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