The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-01-07


the living Of 1t.
The former drink and laugh
and make love and offer forth
their God-given personalities
with an almost deperate extra
vagance. The latter accept a.
their right and proper due such
drink and laughter and nantes
tations of the tender passion as
the moment might spell, letting
temperament, or character, OF
whatever the word may be, fol
low its given bent.
At Stone House, human beings
expected good wine and anus
ing talk and girls of a certain
beauty. Also assorted small
Jokes of a more or less practical
nature-never very funny bu'
always entitled to a polite smile
"a roulette table for those ir
such a mood, bridge and swim
ming and tennis, and the rather
specialized pleasure of strolline
toward the stables and being pa.
tronized by the grooms.
And, of course, II was the rule
that everyone must, at some
time of the evening or another
pay his devoir to Colonel Mer.
riwether. 1t was not the Colo.
nefs habit to mingle with his
guests or participate in their
amusements.
The ducal throne, so to speak
was his high backed oaker
chair, behind his broad oaker
desk. The desk, in turn, occu'
pied the precise center Of his
library, and the library was q
handsome room with one of its
walls made out of French doors
The French doors gave upon the
terrace, which was of flagstone
and the terrace Zone step down.
dominated the lawn.
But the view through the
French doors was not confined
to terrace and lawn. 1t COM
manded, as well, the deeper enc
of the swimming pool, the stunt
ed lemon trees which guarded
the entrance to the tennis courts
and the garden of rose trees
which fell away at the left to.
ward the summer house.
1t was the Colonels custom tc
have upon his desk humidor OF
sound cigars, and it was hi.
Whim to have also silver.
framed photograph of the horse
which had last won admiration
in the community of Gull Point
Sometimes a hunter, sometime
a polo mount, sometimes sad
die hack or show animal-bu'
always different, and always the
product of Mitchell Grace, man.
of-all-talents, who could snar
a shutter as readily as he coulc
dismiss an unwelcome stranger
Likewise, the Colonel ordi
narily required a manservant tc
be present in the library, with
small portable bar from which
drinking matter of sound de-
sign (never the silly or the Ca
pricious) might be served. Nit
chell Grace himself was usually
in attendance in this room
watchful of the proprieties.
In dutiful observance of thu
custom of the country, Cynthi;
herself, upon the arm of FREQ
West, strolled at an early hour
through the open French win
dows to wish the gentleman Of
the house a good evening. They
were followed almost immedi
ately by several others of their
own generation, and then by
Captain Pugh and Mrs. Pugh
The dance orchestra in the main
hall was already playing-ir
the manner known, quite appro'
priately, as sweet.
Colonel Merriwether rose
and nodded Hospitality to hi.
guests, and shook hands witt
the men. He waved them towaro
chairs and setees, and resumed
his own chair, and beckoned the
manservant into action.
He said to Cynthia, II hear
that good luck fell your way
this afternoon, my dear"
why, Colonel" she cried
what a tactless thing to say
1t wasn't luck at all. 1t wa:
good old Fred here, swiping al
the ball like a Cecil Smith
Bless you, Fred darling. These
marvellous Whirlwinds can take
the Clovers any time at all. The
championship is going to be 9
canter, isn't it, Fred?"
Fred West blushed. And he
said, I'VE had a lot of breaks. ,
Colonel MerriWether regard.
ed the tip of his cigar. II stand
corrected, Cynthia" he said.
He was an unlikely looking
man. Unlikely, that is to say, to
be the father of Cynthia Merri.