New Britain herald., 1926-07-12
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Duol- 'tSS icGIOOl lO SO OuL LOT IuuCu. He always looks at her and finally Merry tries to flirt with him, but without success.
 From her older sister. CASSIE. Merry learns that he is ANTHONY IGAINHS, a young lawyer. Cassie says he's friend of her employer, MORLEY KAUFMAN, with whom she is in love.
 One night Merry goes to the circus with JIMMY, her youngest sister, and DERRICK JONES, a college boy who lives next door. A lion lbreals loo in the tent, and in the med rush for the entrance Merry finds herself with Anthony Gaines. He takes her home and kisses her against her will. She doesn't want him to start out by kissing her, be- cause she really cares for him, and wants her friendship with him 10 be som thing L.~re than a continual i"petting party" When she tells Tony about her nuG.crous other love af. fairs, he is disgusted with her. and makes D his mind never to see Ter again. But he cant stay away from liner, and they make up their quarrel, He goes out of town on a business "trip, and several days pass without Merry's hearing from him. During his absence, Mcrry's father dies sud- denly. On the day of his death. Mer- try sees BILL HEPWORTH. whose father owns the wholesale grocery where Dad worked, holding HELEN. the oldest of her sisters, in his arms. But she forgets the incident in the ger ,ral excitement.
 A week after the funeral Tony comes to the house one night MONS. who has never met him, dis covers him in the front hall kiss ing Merr.. and demands to know what he means by it. Mons had often forbidden Merry to let men make love to her.
 NOW GO ON VIII THE STORY
 CHAPTER XI
 Merry was 100 surprised 10 speak. She just stood there with Tony Gaines arms around her and blink ed at her mother in the sudden daz- zing glare of the hall light
 She had never seen Mons look ing so angry. Her face was ghast- fly. and her eyes were mere points Of brightness in it. rhe was shaking from head 10 foot as if she had chill
 Who is this man. Mary Ann?" she asked, arely moving her pale lips. But she was not looking at Merry as ~ho said it. She was star ing straight at ~ony Gaines.
 And it was he who answered her.
 He was blushing a singularly bright shade of pink above his spotless collar. But his eyes met Mo : SO arley and frankly, and his voice was smooth and pleasant.
 My name is Anthony Gaines, Mrs. Lccke," he said quietly. "pidn" Merry tell you was con- ing here one night last week to see you?"
 Mons nodded grimly, and waited 1 for him |, 20 on.
 'T couldn't. I was called out Of town" he explained. in that same pleasant voice. 'sso I came tonight, instead. I just got off the train few minutes ago. IT want to marry Mer.. and l came to talk | to you and her father-"
 He got no further. For at the very mention of Dads name, Mons face crumpled up and her head went down into her hands. Crying in that dreadful, silent way Of hers, she hurried hlindly past them and up the stairs.
 Distress and puzzlement were written on Tony's face as he watched her out of sight. ! "What's the matter?' he asked, turning to Merry. and suddenly he saw that she, like Mons, was all in black,
 My father-my father died last week." she told him, struggling to keep back the tears that were flooding 10 her throat and eyes.
 "Td better go homo. l can see your r.other some other time. said Tony. "Youll want to run upstairs 10 her anyway" He made a move toward the front door. But Merry chung to him, Ter fingers straining al his coat sleeves as she held him close to her.
 "No, no! Don't go:7 she whis- pered, drawing long fearful breath, "I won't let -ou go, now that you're here. Oh Tony, Tony you don't know how I've missed you. I was afraid you were never coming again."
 | Still clinging she drew him across the threshold of the front door, and out into the darkness Of the spring night.
 They sat in the yine-screened hammock at one end of the porch, where Merry had spent almost every evening last summer with Derrick Jones.
 But l never felt about Derrick the way l do about Tony Gaines" she told herself. She leaned back 1 in his arms and touched his face with gentle fingertips as if she wanted 10 make sure that it was really he who was here with her, and net I errick Jones.
 Tony" she said grayely, "I was afraid you'd made up your mind to stay away from me. ! was afraid you thought I wasn't worth bother ing about. But-you do like me, don't you?"
 She asked 1t wistfully. II was the first time in her life she had ever asked any man that question But she cared so much for Tony Gaines that she never felt sure of him fo two days at q time. No woman ever does feel really sure of the man ~le loves.
 q don't like you-I love you, and you know it, To . answered. In the darkness h.s hand found hers ard crushed it until it hurt
 whats more, l always will" he