Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-02-15
A TEMPORARY EXCHANGE.

took the road nOrJnWaTu, HS Ili0P
snow of the highway, packed ana
polished by weeks of good sleighlng,
creaked under therunners of their cut
ter" and the sun was shining glorious
ly over the wooded hills to the east
ward.
The Stones were going to spend
Sunday with Cousin Maria" Stone
second cousin, and the object of Mrs.
Stones admiration and envy. Sne
declared that there was no house ike
Cousin Maria's, and no domestic con-
veniences and advantages like those
she enjoyed; that nobody wore such
beautiful clothes, or had such good
things to eat, or commanded such re-
sources to "do with" as Cousin Maria.
In short. Mrs. Amasa Stone, who had
not been a great while married, and
who had one of the incest little farm
houses in the country, as well as one
of the best and most devoted husbands
in the world, was somehow victim
of that most disagreeable malady, en-
vious discomfort; and the immediate
occasion of it WISCONSIN Maria. If
she could only exchange places (per-
haps not husbands, but everything
else) with Cousin Maria, how happy
she would be!
Curiously enough-by that strange
irony of fate which we often see crop
ping out in human life-Cousin Maria
felt the same way toward Mrs. Stone.
She secretly, but sincerely, envied the
little woman with the big, devoted,
loverlke husband and the model farm
house overlooking one of the most
beautiful and productive valley farms
in New England. IF / could only
keep house like Cousin Ella" she
would sometimes say to her husband;
and then she would add to herself,
Perhaps / might If l had as nice
house and the things to do with that
she has"
Sincere and cordial envy does not
make people dislike each other, by
any means; and it was natural enough
that Mrs. Stone and her cousin, Mrs.
Holmes, should enjoy visiting each
other and thereby adding fresh fuel
to their mutual admiration. They
travelled back and forth on these social
exchanges a good deal, and their hus-
bands, who liked each other land each
others fare, by the way, were never
averse to driving over" for a days
outing. The two farms lay some
twenty miles apart, in different town
ships, and about midway between
them was a village, where the Stones
and the Holmeses each had a special
friend, with whom it was convenient
and pleasant to stop for dinner while
going a-visiting.
The sleigh bells rang cheerlly and
the miles rapidly fell away behind the
Stones cutter this February morning,
as they drove along toward Hydeville,
the half way village. 81 hope nothing
will happen to the stock or hens, over
Sunday" said Mr.. Stone.
oh don't worry about that" eX-
claimed his wife. You spoke TO Leo
nard, as usual didn't you?"
Yes. asked him to fodder once
day and attend to the milking. But he
lives quite little piece away, and if
it should come on to storm
storm Look at the sky" eX-
claimed Mrs. Stone. with scornful
laugh. 81 declare, if you aren't the
greatest man to worry over nothing"
1t was still gloriously pleasant when
they reached Hydeville, at II o'clock
and they stopped there two full hours
AS they again took the road. at
o'clock. they noticed that the sky had
become slightly filmy, but as it fire.
quently does cloud over thus toward
the close of a fine winter day they
were neither surprised nor disturbed.
At o'clock, however, the wind began
to rise, the sky grew more overcast
with modern conveniences,
out of the northeast.
What do you think about a storm
now" asked Mr.. Stone.
Drive along and get there as quick
as you can" was his wifes only reply
as she gathered the buffalo robe more
tightly about her
When they reached the Holmes
farm, at about o'clock, the wind was
bowling and the snow driving across
the landscape in sheets. Mrs. Stone
got out at the side entrance and plung-
ed shiveringly against the door, but
turned at once to her husband with a
look of surprise and CONSERVATION.
The door was locked! So were the
front door and the kitchen door, as
they speedily discovered.
They're away from home" an
nounced Mr.. Stone.
They've gone visiting" groaned his
wife. "Oh dear, do you suppose it's
possible they've gone to visit u.s."
Shouldn't wonder a bit" replied Mr.
Stone. Come to think of it. | heard
mans laugh when | went over to the
store in Hydeville that sounded like
John Holiness. But | couldn't tell
where it came from, and couldn't see
anybody that looked like him, so gave
it up"
Goose" cried Mrs. Stone. He was
probably over at Jason Soper's, where
they always stop-out in the barn. like
as not. If you'd only mentioned it!
Well, we must just make the best of
bad job. | know where Maria puts
the kitchen key when she's away. and
we might as well go in and take pos
session-as they will have to do at our
house, reckon
The key was found on a nail under
the stoop, and Mrs. Stone proceeded to
! take possession, while her husband
stabbed his horse. When Mr. Stone
came in he found tue lamps all lighted
| and his wife in high state of excite
ment and delight at the prospect of
using Cousin Marias nice things for
a while | guess it's all for the best. "
she announced, with unexpected
cheerfulness. For once in our lives
we will have taste of keeping house
with modern convenience"
1t was a tremendous snowstorm
that swept New England during Feb
ruary % and 26. Mr.. and Mrs. Stone
were snowbound for a week in the
Holmes house, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Holmes, as it happened, were similarly
! imprisoned in theirs. Roads were not
| broken through for five days. and no
| one knew how his neighbOr was far.