The Nome nugget., 1938-06-02
STUBBORN
 s Bv MEREDITH SCHOLL
@ Associated Newspapers. WNU Service.
VIRGINIA MACEY locke d \ / through the picket gate and
 W saw pair of overall-clad

legs protrudlng rom beneath the old ramshackle automobile. The legs, she knew. belonged to young Merrill Dana.
 She had known Merrill since he was knee-high to a stunted duck, get now she hesitated before ven turing through the gate. Today was Saturday, and on Saturdays Merrill stayed home and devoted his time to taking apart and putting together again, broken-down automobiles, which was his diversion from stubborn devotion to the business of musty law office.
 From past experience Virginia knew that Merrill was not inclined to display an abundance of joviality whenever his attention was divert ed from his pet hobby, but her business was pressing.
 "Hello," she said, stepping through the gate and standing over the legs. The legs wriggled
 Six feet and two inches of male youth emerged from beneath the car.
 A grease-besmeared and annoyed countenance stared at Virginia.
 ''Lo, Gin," said the youth, and waited
 Got something to talk over with you" Virginia said. Its about us. Father wants us to get married"
 Merrill grunted.
 Mine does too," he said unhap- oily.
 You got it too, eh? Well, what are you going to do; let your father tell you whom you're going to mar ry?"
 Not by a jugful. I'm not!"
 The youth sat upright.
 What does he think I am? Tell ing me whom I'm to marry!"
 'I thought you'd feel that way about it. I don't like the idea, either. Father said lot of things about family friendship, and how he agreed with your father when we were kids to marry us off when we'd grown"
 MerriPs eyes blazed.
 Well. he's a little late for that stuff! You can't get away with it in these modern times. I'm going to pick my own wife. Just because we've seen lot of each other since we got out of college is no sign we're in love-"
 ''Of course not. Fact is, was lonesome and you were the only man available"
 Same here. They've certainly got a nerve. Dad said he'd give me week to decide That's laugh!" The youths head disappeared be- meath the car again.
 See you tonight" he called. Dance at the country club"
 Virginia nodded indifferently and went back through the gate.
 A week later she and Merrill con- fronted their parents in the library of the Macey home. The conference had been called for 8 sharp. It was now 8:45.
 The elder Dana looked up and glowered as they entered.
 The elder Macey silently indi- cated chairs.
 You young folks began the lat ter, "can probably surmise why we asked you to come here"
 He paused.
 Virginia and Merrill stared inno- gently.
 Both of you." the elder Macey went on, have reached the mar riageable age And as you prob- ably know, it has for long been the wish of MT. Dana and myself that his son and my daughter should one day be joined in matrimony. Noth- ing would give us more pleasure than to thus have the two families united. We have watched you close ly. We find that you are happy in each others company. You are congenlal, helpful, Kind. In snort, we are convinced that we are mak- ing no mistake in demanding-re- questing-that our wishes be full filed"
 The elder Macey took long breath and sat down.
 The elder Dana nodded in silent approval and stared at the victims.
 Well. what have you to say, Mer- ril?"
 Merrill crossed and uncrossed his legs, glanced at Virginia, winked and regarded his father ludicrously.
 ''I say, father. that you two old cod-er-gentlemen are acting quite ridiculous"
 The elder Dana gloWered.
 Take care, young man! This is a serious business"
 Serious for you, perhaps, but decidedly absurd to me. Father or no father, no one is going to tell me who I'm to marry"
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