New Britain herald., 1926-07-09

then"
 Merry broke in with a little laugh. They get married now, too,' she chirped. There's a list of marriage licenses a mile long in the paper every day. People haven't changed, Dad. They're just the same as they always were"
 But Dad shook his head again.
 No, they're not Merry" he an- swered. "rhe young fellows aren't respectful to the girls the way they used 10 be. Maybe it's the girls fault with their drinking and smoking and carrying on, They don't dress the way they used 10, either-modestly." Merry sat very still on the arm of the old chair. Her eyes had be- come deep and thoughtful. She | turned suddenly and looked down at her father.
 Dad. ] want 10 ask you some thing" she said. ''What does man think Of q girl who's easy 10 kiss? You know what l mean. A girl who will lei most any man hug her up" Her father gave her q sudden, sharp look. "What makes you ask a question like that, Mcrry?" he asked.
 "Oh. don't know. | was just thinking-'' She started up and lis- tened,
 Through the open door tloated the sound of a car coming up the street. And at its sound her heart seemed to move violently in her breast. She got up.
 "Don't you worry about mo, over, Dad,' she said. smiling down at him with an effort "I never drink or smoke and look at my skirts. They're three inches below my knees. I'm an aneel." Shc did not see the anxious look that followed her out of the lamp lit room,
 The blue roadster was coming slowly up the street, close to the curb.
 Keeping one eye on the Jones house, where Mons was spending the evening, Merry ran out to meet if.
 It stopped. and Tony Gaines leaned over 10 open the door. Merry hoped in beside him.
 "isn't this fun?" she asked. "Sn"aking away like this?" Her gay little laugh rippled ont on the night air like the laughter of a happy child, She cuddlod close to Tony in the dark depths of the big car.
 She was sure that he had for given her and her misery Of the afternoon was erased from her mind as chalk marks arc rubbed from a blackboard.
 Merry was like that Trouble never darkencd her path long. As soon as ii Was over she forgot it and the sun slone once more for her.
 "Wcu, where do We go from here?" she asked, waiting for him to start his car.
 But instead of doing it, he put out his arms suddenly and swept her into them. not saying a word, just holding her so close 10 him that it seemed as it ho neycr would let her go again.
 A feeling Of warmth, of still hap pincss went over her like d flood of sunshine. She had never known any thing like fl -- never anything like the almost terrible joy of this mo- mont.
 To be here in Tony Gaines arms was no more like any of the love making she had known than q glow-worm's gleam is like the morn ing star.
 "Mcwy-Merry, she heard him whisper her name over and over He kissed her soft hair, hey eyylids and her temples. She lifted her face to him. then, so that h. could kiss her mouth.
 Shc opened her eyes and looked al ! his face, so close 10 her own. In the dim glow from the dash-light she could see the shadow that was i in his eyes. There was a kind Of i despair in them. | But Why?" she wondered l She drew herself away from him. pushing against his shoulders with i her small hands.
 Are you still making yourself i miserable just because l was fool
 enough to tell you about my puppy love atfairs?' she asked,
 He shook his head
 No" he said moodily, "If I'd stopped to think I'd have known 1 that a girl as pretty as you must
 have had love affairs, and plenty Of i them"
 He broke off and pulled her close
 to him again,
 You know what ails me-" he said grimIy. You know it drives
 me wild to think of anybody but me i touching you." i NcfIN signed. l SnouIdn [ have
 told you all that silly stuff about myself" she said wistfully. What
 do a few childish crushes amount
 to, anyway? All girls have them
 and they don't matter any more
 than q row of pins. Only l wanted
 to be honest with you, because I like you so much-I'm not always
 honest Tony"
 She saw his teeth flash white in
 the darkness as he grinned at her.
 "No?" he asked. You don't al- | ways tell the truth 9"