New Britain herald., 1926-07-21
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lLAD LILO Il i1hois
MERRY LOCKE, as pretty ant
gay as her nickname, has been
flirt ever since she was sixteen
boy Crazy" was what MONS hel
mother. called her when she wa'
in high school.
At 20 Merry fails in her stenog.
Iraphy course at business college
and when her father dies she
takes a job in LILLE DALE's
beauty shop. AT that time she
is having the first real love
affair of her life. She is deep
lily and sincerely in love with
ANTHONY GAINES, a young
lawyer. Tony wants her to marry
him. But Merry tells him that
none of hW love affairs have ever
: lasted and she's afraid that even
this one won't. So they decide to
wait for six months before they
marry.
Then. one night when Tony
breaks an engagement with her.
Merry lets Derrick Jones, college
boy who lives next door, make love
to her as he often has in the days
before she met Tony. Later on,
when Merry confesses this to Tony,
she explains that she did it to
get even" with him for breaking
an engagement with her. But Tony
doesn't get her point of view on
the thing and he stops seeing her.
| Finally he shuts up his law office
and goes to Montana to live.
N[erry's oldest sister, HELEN
marries BILL HEPWORTH. CAS-
SIZE. the second oldest, marries
MORLEY KAUFMAN. a rich
broker for whom she worked for
many years. JENNY, aged sixteen
the youngest Of the sisters, takes
Derrick Jones away from Merry
under her very nose, and Merry
finds herself without beaus, for the
first time in her life.
So when BELL ERSKINE, a
bachelor friend of Morley Kauf-
mans, pays her attention, she is
pleased and flattered. he is a
travelling man, and he sends her
all sorts of lovely gifts from the
towns that he makes" on his trips.
THE night before Christmas she
asks Bill to lend her a thousand
dollars 10 buy herself share in
Lilies beauty shop. She explains
that Morley kaufman's sister,
MURIEL, thinks it's smart" for a
girl to own her own shop, and
Merry yearns to be smart above
all things. After some argument
Bill writes check for the thou
sand. The next morning Merry
answers the doorbell, thinking
that Bill is calling at the house.
(NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY)
CHAPTER XVII
On the porch stood a small,
freckled messenger boy, holding a
green pasteboard box that was al
most as tall as he was.
Mrs. Locker" me asked. squint-
ing up at Merry with white-lashed
'eyes.
Miss Locke" Marry answered.
and took the box
But the flowers in It were not for
her.
They were poinsettias-a whole
dozen of them. And among their
gorgeous red velvet blossoms and
dark leaves was tucked a tiny
envelope with Mons name on It.
Mons! Somebody's sent you
flowers" Merry called, carrying
them out to the kitchen. "Poin-
settias, with stems a yard long!"
Mons was sitting at the table
by the window, peeling potatoes.
She looked up as Merry came into
the warm, sunny room.
"Now, who do you suppose was
fool enough to send me all those
expensive flowers?" she shifted.
Fatty, / suppose"
"Fatty" was what she always
called Bill Erskine, behind his
back. She had refused point-blank
to invite him to Christmas dinner
today.
Merry had been furious with her.
about it. But she was glad now
that Bill wasn't coming until late
in the afternoon. She felt so sick
and dizzy that it was a relief not
to have to dress.
Yes, they are from Bill" she
said, opening the little envelope
for her mother. merry Christmas
for Mons" he says.
Mons lip curled scornfully.
He flatters himself-calling me
Mons" she said, with a grim
laugh. "Tn bet he's pretty nearly
as old as / am! I'll tell him so, too,
some time when / happen to be in
the mood for plain speaking
She got up and began to haste
the two chickens that she was
roasting in the oven.
Il just wish / had the money he
paid for those silly flowers." she
said over her shoulder. Put them
in that pail under the sink, Merry.
We haven't a vase in the house
half big enough for them
She turned scarlet-faced from the
heat of the stove and surveyed the
poinsettias with cold and calcu-
lating eye.
Il never knew man to throw
money around the way that Frs
kline doesl" she remarked. HE
must have all of it that he needs"
He surely has," answered
Merry, thinking of the check that
was folded in her handbag up
stairs.
Suddenly she drew quick
breath and a look of horror swept
over her face.
"Ye gods and little fish -hooks"
she cried. II haven't bought any
Christmas present for him! /
meant to get something for him
and then / just forgot it, I guessl
Oh, my soul, what will ] do?"
She made a movement with her