New Britain herald., 1926-07-19
of life to her. She loved 1t.

| There was a flash of silver, as he took flask from his pocket and hid it under the edge of the table cloth. He beamed at Merry in his cheerful, smooth way.
 She shook her head at him.
 "I never drink" she said.
 He stared at her for minute and then winked solemnly.
 Don't try to pull the Miss h. nocence stuff on me, Little Sister" he warned her amiably. T wasn't born yesterday. Pass your glass"
 But Merry shook her head again.
 NO. I really mean what I say" she told him ,'I never take drink"
 She knew that he did not believe what she said.
 Nine times out of ten, the girl who will let man kiss her the first time she meets him is the girl who will take drink, too. And Merry had certainly let Bill Erskine kiss her that first Sunday when she met him.
 Well, I'll say this for you--you look fresh as daisy" he said to her at last, but l spent all day on dusty Pullman, and I'm dead tired. Nothing wears you out like riding on train"
 Merry thought over her own day. Up at seven. Breakfast at eight. Iillie Dales beauty shop from eight-thirty until six, answering the telephone every 10 minutes.
 "I ought to be tired" she mur- mured. q work. hard all day, too"
 Bill chuckled and looked down at her hands that were crossed on Ithe table.
 Not with those fingers" he said. touching the nails that were like pink coral. "Those aren't working hands.
 Merry flushed. q work in a beauty shop" she said. Don't you remember that I told you so the other time I saw you"
 He looked blank. He didn't re- member.
 Come on, be sport! Have drink" he insisted, picking up the glass beside her plate.
 Don't make me drink alone that's no fun," he added.
 But for the third time Merry shook her head. Smiling straight into his eyes she took the glass out of his hand and set it down.
 I'm sorry" she said.
 Bill swallowed his liquor at one gdIp, and began to sing a little song under his breath. As he sang he looked around the room, his eyes pausing on the faces of the women near them. He smiled at one or two of them.
 Just a little drink" he sang softly.
 Just a little drink
 "Or two.
 Any little drink,
 Any little drink,
 Any little drink,
 Will do.''
 He stopped suddenly, and jerked his glance back to Merry.
 Little Sister," he said shortly. you're a bum sport. Come on, let's go! I'm sick of this!"
 Without a word Merry got up and followed him out of the crowd ed, smoke-filled room. She laughed at him as he stood in the cloak room waiting for the hat he had checked. He was scowling darkly.
 You're a crab!" she told him Iblithely. No wonder you're bachelor! No girl would marry you, you old sorehead!"
 When they were halfway home he surprised her by sliding over the seat towards her, and taking her in his big arps.
 Little Sister" he said, "1 apol- ogize to you! You're darned nice little kid and l shouldn't have urged you to take a drink"
 He kissed her.
 I'm going away tomorrow, but I'll be back soon," his heavy voice went on in the warm darkness. "Tll write to you, too. And would you like it if l sent you some more flowers?"
 "Flowers?" asked Merry. Her voice dragged on the word.
 q guess you'd rather have candy" Bill said quickly.
 She shuddered daintily. Never give a girl candy, Bill" she said, it makes us fat. Don't you know that?"
 She stopped for an instant. There is one thing that I really would like" she began, and then stopped again. "Oh, but l mustn't tell you what it is" she said shyly.
 "Perfume?" asked Bill. "Silk stockings? Gloves? Books?" Books, oh, you make me laugh, y trilled Merry. I'll tell you what ii is that I want. I broke my string Of pearl beads the other day, all over the sidewalk. l feel so bare , without them" her hand stroked the whiteness of her neck. If you really want to give me something give me pearls.
 If he can afford white violets in August, he ought to send me pret- ty respectable string of pearls" she thought, when she had left him and was going up to the house alone "One with a platinum clasp. l should think" There was a light in the lower . hall. ... . "Is that you. Jimmy" Mons voice : caled anxiously from upstairs as (. Merry unlocked the door. "No. Moms," she called, 'it'S l Merry" She went out into the l kitchen for a drink of water stil thinking about Bill Erskine. The violets were a little wilte6 2 bunch on her breast now. She un' . pinned them and tossed them ints the waste basket under the sink. When she came back, Mons wal e standing in the hall. The ligh