Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-09-26
OUTCOME OF A SUMMER VISIT.

Mrs. Caswell looked at her husband.
as he sat absorbed in his weekly agri-
cultural paper. Her endeavor to seem
unconcerned kept only her features
calm, for her hands fdgeted with the
darning cotton in her lap. She opened
her lips twice to speak, but closed
them without utterance. At last she
hazarded this observation, in a tone
that her liege lord wisely interpreted
as diplomatic:-
81 had a letter from Cousin Olive to-
day"
Which one is that-the rich New
Yorker?"
Eyes. And what do you think. How
ard, she wants to come here for a Wis
it! It's been a perfect age since we
have seen each other. We used to be
regular chums in the old days.
How long does her highness pur-
pose to remain"
"She didn't say definitely, a few
weeks, was the way she put it.; | sup
pose it depends upon the kind of a
time she has"
Mr.. Caswell laid down his paper.
my dear" he said, you declared
that it would be too hard for you to
have mother here with us during hay
ing time. | can't see that a city cousin
will want less waiting on. 7 refused
her on that ground. and it will hardly
seem consistent in us to have someone
else"
Mr.. Caswell took up his paper once
more. Their was a red flush on his
wife's cheeks. The truth was that Mrs.
Caswell had had a long talk with her
sister about the projected visit of her
mother-in-law. She suggested that 1t
seemed to her another form of the old
story of the camel's putting his head
into the Arabs tent. "She likes How
ard better than the rest of the boys,
and she naturally wants to live with
him, Sue, but, OF, course, I can't allow
that. I've enough Of a family of my
own to tend to: and ever IL I hadn't,
mother-in-laws are so apt to interfere
and tattle, and make trouble anyway
between husband and wife"
These had been her very words, her
memory was painfully correct. She
had told Howard that she was all tired
out, that she thought 1t very, very in
considerate of him to urge or even
wish such a thing when he knew how
hard she always had to work during
the haying season; and she had cried
a little at the time. Now it seemed to
her very unkind in him to fling 1t in
her face hat way. Men were always
so horribly consistent" There were
tears in her voice when she spoke
again
"Of course, 1t will be hard for me.
Howard, but she Is the only wealthy
relative on either side Of the house;
and il seemed as II | ought to be will
ing to make a sacrifice for h a k of
the children at least. Who knows but
what she might take a fancy to one OF
them? And ii does seem as IL the mon
ey ought to be kept in the family"
Have you answered the letter."
Mr.. Caswell tossed the paper on to the
table, and looked at his better half
somewhat sharply.
The color came again into his wife's
face. The answer had been written,
but 1t was not sent yet.
Mr.. Caswell stood up. IF you have
it settled already that is the end of the
matter. | suppose. But | will say this
much, Helen: | don't mean to be a des-
pot. You do the work and. of course,
/ you have a right to ave what guests
you like, and let them stay any reason
able length of time, But it does seem
as IL a man might ask his mother to
see him without objection. The flial
relation isn't entirely absolved by the
marriage tie, and If you made out you
were tired Just as an excuse for not
asking M~other-then all l can say is
that | am disappointed in you"
Mr.. Caswell left the room. His wife,
though triumphant, felt rather asham-
ed. This, however, did not keep her
from eagar planning for the entertain
ment and comfort of her guest. h
would have to have the piano tuned,
and they must get a new hammock. 1t
was too bad that the horses would be
in such constant use, and they ought
to nave a new buggy-the old one was
a perfect rattletrap. 1t was really dan
gerous to ride in 1t. Howard wouldn't
blame her when he saw what an inter
est Olive would take in the children.
She wondered which would be the fav-
orite,-and she must be making them
both some new clothes-a child's ap-
pearance depended so much on his
dress, and they hadn't a rag fit to be
seen.
With these thoughts running
through her mind, Mrs. Caswell sealed
and stamped her letter. and called
Philip. a delicate dark-eyed boy of ten,
10 take IL 10 the pOSlOilce. llS ilupoi
tant, Phil, and must go tonight. Be
sure to hold it carefully so you don't
get it soiled."
The days that followed were so full
of business that Mrs. Caswell failed to
notice a slight GOODNESS on the part of
her husband. He readily met all her
demands for needed necessaries. 1t
was evident that this outlay was re-
garded by his wife as an investment
that would shortly double the princi-
pal. There is Just one thing more
that | want that is rather difficult"
she said on the eventful morning,
when her guest was expected to ar
rive. 81 wish you would manage it for
me, Howard, you can deal with him so
much better than |. OF course. Tom
must eat in the kitchen. He eats with
his knife!"
$50 did your father, and mine, Hell
en-"
But you will speak to him, won't
you. | don't dare. He's so proud, l
should be sure to give offense."
However, Tom saved them any
trouble in this direction. Tom was a
xrNt,n0 falIOw urhA mn uynrlin0 hic