New Britain herald., 1926-08-03

ally. You were engaged to Tony Gaines -. as fine a young man as any woman could wish for a son-in- law! And you lost him because of your carrying-on with Erskine, didn't your"
 Merry did not answer.
 And Erskine has been promis- ing to marry you for over a year." her mother went on. You'd have been married to him long ago If you'd known how to manage him. If you'd kept your head up. But no, Not you! You've borrowed money from him. you've been drunk with him, you've kept that diamond bracelet that I told you to send back to him! You've made yourself cheap and common from the begin ming to the end! And now you're going to cap the climax by being dragged into a filthy divorce easel"
 She paced up and down the little lamp-lit room, wriggling her hands as if she were beside herself.
 My daughter - breaking up an- other woman's home!"" she moaned as if she were talking to herself.
 q keep telling you that I didn't break up her home!" Merry cried. T tell you never knew that that par Tor snake had wife, until the other night! I don't want him"
 You don't know what you want any more!" Nom broke in, frantical- ly. You've got so many men on the string that you don't know one from the other any more!"
 You make me laugh! I wish did have them!" Merry snapped at her. But she paid no attention.
 When you feel blue, you think you're cracked about Tony Gaines!" she said, spreading her hands ex- pressively, as she talked. When you're in your sober senses, Bill Erskine is the only man on earth for you - and when he's not around will do. Even another wom- ans husband, or the man who's go- ing to marry Muriel Kaufmanl Any body! Just so long as he's a man!"
 What about yourself?" Merry asked her, stung by her words. You're getting married, yourself notice, before Dads cold in his grave"
 Mons swung around on her with l threatening look.
 Don't you tell me what I'm do- ng!" she warned her. "Tm making ! respectable marriage with res oectable man, I'm not dragging my rood name through the mire. You get upstairs to your room."
 She marched out of the room her ;elf, without waiting to see if Merry obeyed her or not. And a second afterward she could be heard tele- ohoning for a taxicab.
 When she came down again, with ler hat and coat on, Lillie Dale vas just coming in.
 Where are you going, Sadie?" Merry heard her ask, and Mons something in low tone.
 Then, she appeared in the door vay of the sitting room. where Mer- y was still huddled on the floor in ront of the fire.
 What hospital is that woman n 2" she asked. and Merry told her.
 She drew deep breath of relief. 'he was sure that, somehow or 'ther. Mons would get things out. Mons always did. Ter methods of dealing with people were the methods of a steam roller.
 But Mons did not get things out, as Merry had loped she would.
 She had no chance to do any hing in the matter of Nonie Pur- els divorce. For Nonie Purcell was ying unconscious in Christian hos 'ital between life and death.
 All the first day Merry worried. )n the second day she did not wor- y quite so much. On the third day he thought about Nonie and Les Purcell only three or four times.
 For trouble never stayed with Merry Locke very long. It might hreaten her. like the sword of 0amocles ready to drop. But she orgot. anyway.
 It was her nature to forget un- pleasant things. She lived from one to the next, with the care rec lightness of butterfly winging trough the sunshine and rain of manageable summer.
 "I wonder if Purcells wife had fled her case before she took the Lillie remarked thought 'ully one noon when they were making their cocoa and sandwiches in the room behind the shop.
 T guess not" Merry answered, easily. "or I'd have heard about it."
 Then a shadow crossed her love- y face.
 Gosh all hemlock, wasn't she fool to take acid!" she exclaimed. spreading piece of bread with pimento cheese. "It must have burn ed her face terribly. wonder if she'll be scared"
 AS Merry saw It, that would nave been the most dir misfortune. To lose a husband was bad enough. But 10 lose ones beauty! That surely would be the blackest of misfor- tunes! She stroked her own satiny skin with the tips of her soft fingers.
 "Mmmm-I'd hate to have any, thing happen to my looks" she sighed, and lifted her cup of cocoa to her mouth.
 On the other side of the table Lille was watching her with cold eyes. There was a queer little scorn- fui twist 10 her lips.
 Honestly" she blurted out at last, 'you have about as much hu- man feeling as a Persian kitten, Merry Locke. guess the only thing that you ever think about is your looks, and the men who fall for them"
 That afternoon she sent Merry to order some new ster- ilizers for her combs and brushes.
 ft A.