Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-09-27
IN THE SUBURBS.

doctor says we both need change CON
cluded Mrs. Perry Thornc, who was max
ing her first plea for country lie.
Il agree with the doctor that we need
change, of one sort at least, answered her
husband
Don't be nippant, dear l am in dead
dearest, and, Oh, Perry, know OF such d
dear cottage, one Of row
II dislike rows, said Perry. How
ever, If you are determined 20 lie a sUbur
banitc and with the suburbanites stand,
may as well agree 10 60 ! will at once
take lessons on the flying trapeze so that
may sometimes he able 20 catch train.
shall study 70 acquire that dazed suburban
stare that people who eat their breakfast
and dinners by lamplight assume assisted
by catching their quota OF sleep in depots
after they have missed their train.
oh, we won be there long enough for
that said his wife, "and, Perry, the air
IL just heavenly-so sustaining
That's good, a. we shall probably be
IL miles or more from grocery store.
Have you caught your house yet. Maud
oh, yes. Mrs. Smead has one in the
same row. and she told me about ours. II
Is the southwest corner house, while hers
is the southeast Isn't il strange, Perry
Smcad: wouldn't believe there was any
such person if had not seen him.
Nothing strange about it, a" growled
Perry in what his wife called his bull
dog voice. Il suppose you want TO know
him because he has the reputation of be
ing lady killer. "
Perry
Il am told by fellows we both know
that he prdcs himself on his beauty
Il hate beauty men, said Maud sooth
ingly they are all vain, conceitcd crca-
lures never would marry a handsome
man.
Perry mumbled something and went
away first giving his wife permission TO
do as she pleased about taking the subur-
ban house.
A week later both families were settled
in the row which fronted street and a
railroad track and was equidistant from
two depots
Mr. Smead did not take as kindly 70 the
change az Perry Thorne did, but he told
his wife thoughtlessly that one good fea-
ture of suburban life was having the
Thornes for neighbors.
Where have you ever met Mrs. Thorne'"
asked his wife suspiciously.
Don't know her from Adam. my dear,
but ism she your friend, and haven't
heard her praises sung ever since we were
married.
III m! We have calling acquaintance,
and now that we are to be neighbors / sup
pose you will meet. But you are so sus.
ceptible and she i so giddy Just know
you will set people talking. "
-, Great Caesar, Laura You give your
4, f.t,,,2 ,T 7
and she giddyi We must be made for each
other.
Mrs Smead looked volumes at her
handsome husband. but where is the man
who does not enjoy being bone of CON
tention among his women folk, and if
Smead had a special and particular virtue
it was that Of being good hatured
Mrs Smead, like the woman Of history,
had two treasures-her sewing machine
and her husband-and she drew the line
at lending either, and If people wanted to
call her selfish they might Fortified by
this law, she rented the southwest cottage
Saturday night The invisible bridge
spans the distance between the world Of
labor and the world of rest. The tranquil
air gave back no murmur of the multitud-
inous voices that had filled il with cries Of
sorrow anger or gladness during the work
days of the past week. 1t was the ante
chamber of the sabbath, a time 80 sacred
70 our ancestors that all work and all pleas
ure was suspended that the soul itself
might rest
A great throng Of people was hurrying
homeward, and all bore the happy burdens
OF Saturday night-new shoes for the feet
of the little burden bearers. new bonnet
for mother the sunday dinner-and
among them Perry ThOrne and Amos
Smead, who had struck up "a neighborly
acquaintance and were now fastening TO
the same train, going out to their subur
ban homes for their first Sabbath Of rest
They were both laden to the ears with
brown paper packages and had just time
TO make the train, after purchasing their
Communication tickets They went Looping
through the gates in approved suburban
style and caught on just as the train
moved out and then Perry shouted in
voice that sounded above the roar of escap
Ing steam:
"Weve left our Sunday dinners on the
window stand of the ticket Office You 90
on, Smead, and III take the next train
out
He swung himself chear off the train.
turned a somersault and waved "all right
to Smead, who mopped the cindcrs and
perspiration from his face and remarked
to the man standing next to him, in
friendly way:
mice way to spend the summer living
In the suburbsi'
" Yes, if you don't care what you say"
growled the man.
Then Smead took bit of pasteboard
from his pocket and began 10 study it,
Southeast corner Terrace row, Oak.
land
Smead asked his gruff neighbor IL he
got of at that station.
"No, l don't" said the man. "You
couldn't hire me 10 live in that swamp.
go out ten miles farther where you don't
have to sift the atmosphere 70 keep the
mosquitoes from choking you"
That sounded discouraging. but Smead
was not anxious 10 ride ten miles farther
on an accommodation train that slowed
up for every COW on the track and he
wrapped himself In speculative reverie
until the brakeman called "O-a- -l-a-n-dl'
a. II only the deaf lived at that station.
Mrs. Smead was waiting for her hus-
band, whom she expected on the 6 80 train,