New Britain herald., 1926-08-13

any more, to me. l nave married Bill Erskine or anybody else to get out of it."
 There was a breathless pause. Mons wrung out the dishcloth and hung it up. She walked across the kitchen and put the pans on the stove to dry.
 | Then she came back.
 Now, Merry, look here" she said sternly, I've had just about enough from you girls. about my second marriage. I'm tired of the way you and Cassie and Jinny and even Lil- lie Dale, treat Ed Hefflinger! He's my husband and this is my house.
 Merry did not wait to hear the rest of her tirade. She walked out of the kitchen and rushed up the stairs, vowing to herself that she would never spend another night under the roof of Mons house. Then she thought wildly ot leaV- ing town, too. Of going somewhere where no one would know her, or anything about her.
 But all the time she was think ing about it, she knew she never would go. She would stay right here and let life carry her along, like leaf on the bosom of river.
 It was not in her nature to dare and to adventure and to pioneer She was a drifter. The way that was easiest, that was her way. And she knew it.
 | She had gone into the beauty shop because it was near home and the work was easy She had drifted along with Bill Erskine for months and months, because a showdown was so unpleasant. She had drifted into little love affair here, and an other one there, because the current l. had showed her into them, and then picked her up again, and showed her along again.
 April of the next year found Merry Locke doing the same things that she had been doing the year before.
 Lillie and she were still running the beauty shop in the same shift less, happy-go-luck way.
 They were still living under the roof or Mons comfortable, gloomy house.. Promising each other from week to week that they would get a little flat of their own in the near future where there would be no MT. Hefflinger. But they never did it.
 Merry had new admirer.
 His name was George Leet. and the worked in the wholesale house where Lillie bought some new equip ment for the shop. That was how Merry happened to meet him.
 He was. as Merry cheerfully said, nobody Ito wave flags over." He was tall and thin and serious. Not the least good looking, and anything but a good talker.
 He had a little roadster and his idea of a wild time was to take Mer- ry for dinner in quiet restaurant and then to the movies afterward.
 The chances are that Merry liked him because he was so utterly dlf- | ferent from Bill ErsKlne'
 She never thought about Bill, II she could help it. He had dealt suca a blow to her vanity that she was still hurt and half-ashamed when ever anyone mentioned him. ...
 On thc first Monday afternoon in April Muriel Kaufman came preez- ing into the shop about four o'clocK.
 Merry glanced up in surprise when she saw her opening the door. It was months since she had seen Murlel' She had not seen much of Cassie or Muriel or any of the people who knew about her and Bill Ersklne' ever since his marriage. Purposely she had kept away from them.
 Hello, Mary Ann Locke" Muriel greeted her with airy cheerfulness. Flows tricks?"
 "Fine," Merry came back at her inst as cheerfully, giving her a smile that was just as dazzling as if she felt like smiling. What brings you here to our lowly emporium v
 Muriel swept off the little black silk hat that was pressed down over her dark hair.
 'This," she answered, shaking her head. q wondered if Lillie would have time to give me a marcel I'm going to meet Cabby at five, and haven't time to go way down town" ,. Lille came bustling up from the rear of the shop. She made 1t a point to be obliging to such people as Muriel and Cassie, always. Peo- pie who have money and rlcn friends.
 "Why, of course, can take you Miss Kaufman" she told Murlel, l with her wide smile. Tive an ap- nointment at four thirty" She turn