Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-01-13
Our House Hunting.

wouldn't mind II II we seemed to better our
selves, but / cant see that We do. II our
rooms are not dirty. the parlor Is II the
other borders are not noisy, there 10 sure to
be a piano next door, or u vocalist or French
horn across the street, or church bell around
the corner, OF something equally objectiona-
bic. Here where it Is clean and quiet, We are
half starved What do You sa, 20 a Hat,
Ethel!"
"Oh not hatw cry in horror. 81 saw
enough OF that at Aunt Mays. She had a
piano below her which went-wcil, all day and
. bsf the night; aud the gentleman above her
hal the habit of coming home In the small
hours ana dancing a double shuiii, II his
boots. Then the trouble with servants and
the way the elevator gets stuck ana the dan
gcr oi tire. Ga, Jack, not Hat. ahatoyer we
dol never, never CO AID com, dowh Que OF
Ia e d CA .ful fire escapes on lark night"
wei, then what would YOU think of
house In the conntryi" says JacG.
"A huus ia the cuuntrv' | cry. "But do
you really mcan iti Could we afford il, Jaca!n
Il really think We night says Jack, pom
der.ng. My salary is 10 be raised next
montl,, and take It Tor all IN ALL | don't be-
lieye that a small house IA IA country town
would cost much more than our board and
washing la the clty. Oily We can't go for
luxures, on know, litlle woman. small
house aud one servant Do YOU think YOU
could ret ai0ngt"
Get along! Oh, Jacll cried 1t would
be heSven. To 70 out Of this hot, dirty city
that | always did hate, ana TO have little
house all to ourselves, where | can potter
about "a much as ike, aud perhaps flower
gar len, just little b of a one, Jack. Oh!n
! gasp for breath, unable TO express the rap
turc which ILLS nv soul at the idea.
Jack looks Mt me, half laughing, half sad
aud wholly surprised. "Why, Ethel had no
idea You felt he that about il" he SAYS kind
lY. "Why did on never tell me that you hate
the ely so muchF
"Nhy should IP / say. II thought YOU
had to be here, snd-and-I don't haze the
city as nu,h as | love you, Jack. But you
aud the country togetherw Aud again /
pause and Gasp my hands in specchess
eostacy.
So it falls out that on one bright day, Jack,
having obtained leave Of absence from the
Office, We start together on a house-hunting
expedition. IL has taken Us long To decide
where to fix our abode, but We have at length
settled upon the town OF Mcddsid as ;he very
roc ETY. is COOL, and t IS near enough 10 the
city to enable Jack to 20 IN aud out every day.
All Things considered, and of course, provided
we can find suitable, house hiedi 10 seems
To be The yer, place for u, Jack has provided
himself with lists OF houses from several
agents and we charter hack at the station
and start upon our exploration.
Really these house agents appear to have
haI ,l.r L. 4aL- ha.s .fttfI. q.
told them what &c want; II small house with
modern improvements rent not TO exceed a
certain very modest sum The FIRST house be
fore which our hack pausns is very elabor
, ate affair standing in rather extensive
grounds. 1t has conseryatories, bav window 4,
veraudas and all manner of asncilul decora-
tious.
Jack" | whispered "however low the
rent may be- this VIII never do for us We
should be as hopelessly lost in it As two nice
IN a dog kennel"
Jack laughs. you need not trouble YOUR
self, nv dear" he says. eve will take the
next house on our list. The agent has evil
IDENTIFY made mistake"
The next is a small. plain four-square house,
which looks more promising until we discover
that 1t has no modern Improvements
"Any ranged ask, tim.dly.
81 said no improvements, answered the
tenant stiffly.
why Jack" gasp, AIS a rsuge a modern
Improvement Inever knew that before"
At which both Jack aud the tenant laugh,
and We PROMPTLY leave.
The next bonse has no closets; the one after
that has a cellar kitchen far below the level
OF the street damp and mustv for want OF
light and air.
II could never eat ANYTHING that came out
Of that kitchen" cryaCast
The morning is wear ~ on and no house
10 suit W. has been found vet
"I'll tell YOU what little woman" say.
Jack, 1--WE shall never get on at this rate
Suppose we separate. There are two lists
left; will take one, and YOU the other Then
VIC will meet ut the hotel at one o'clock and
compare notes over our lunCh, How nili that
dol"
1t will do very well. ] think; so n second
hack Is called, and Jack and | start on our
separate ways
There Is no use dwelling upon all my disap-
pointnents but at last, at last ! found the
very house which I have seen in INV dreams.
Small, snug, convenient; II Is. am convinced,
the very place for US Time is Just up as I
leave its door, and | drive to the meeting
place with heart swelling with satisfaction,
and a very decided hope IN my mind that Jack
has not been equally fortunate; not that be-
grudge him INV success, but this house suits
80 perfectly that am quite sure no other can
do "a well, aud the comparison aud discussion
between the two would be only SO much time
lost My heart sinks at the sight Of Jacks
beaming face as he comes forward to help me
out, and ] am quite prepared for hs first
words.
II have found the very place to suit us,
Ethel"
80 have l." say family; but Jack does
not stop to hear me.
Just such a house as We decided upon
small and compact yet with plenty Of room
for us In It."
at can't suit us as well as mine" cry.
milne has three good bedrooms on the
second floor"
80 has mine" snys Jack, "and another
little room besides, which would make q
capital deu for me-"
tJip. has . iarge Ifght closet uhtch wfil