The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-11
IN THE SUBURBS

IL ISM because am tired of our
nat that | want to live in the sub-
urbs, but the doctor says we both
need change" concluded Mrs. Perry
Ihorne, who was making her first
plea for country life. "And. oh
Perry, | know of such dear cot
tage, one of row. Mrs. Smead has
one in the same row, and she told
me about ours. It is the southwest
corner house, while hers is the
southeast. Isn't it strange, Perry,
that ! have never been introduced
to Mr.. Smead? | wouldn't believe
there was any such person if l had
not seen him"
IN othing strange about it,
growled Perry, in what his wife
called his bulldog" voice. ssI sup.
pose you want to know him because
ne has the reputation of being
lady killer"
sPerryw
Il am told by fellows we both
know that he prides himself on his
beauty"
A week later both families were
settled in the row which fronted a
street and railroad track and was
equidistant from two depots.
Mr.. Smead did not take as kindly
to the change as Perry Thorne did,
but he told his wife thoughtlessly
that one good feature of suburban
life was having the Thornes for
neighbors.
where have you ever met Mrs.
Thorne?" asked his wife suspicious
ly.
Don't know her from Adam, my
dear, but isn't she your friend, and
haven't I heard her praises sung
ever since we were married ?"
"H'm! We have a calling ac-
quaintance, and now that we are to
be neighbors l suppose you will
meet. But you are so susceptible
and she is so giddy 1 just know you
will set people talking"
"Great Caesar, Laura! You give
your best friend a great send off. l
susceptible and she giddy! We
must be made for each other"
Mrs. Smead looked volumes at
her handsome husband, but where
is the man who does not enjoy be-
ing bone of contention among his
women folk, and if Smead had a
special and particular virtue it was
that Of being good natured.
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.
A great throng of people was hur-
rying homeward, and all bore the
happy burdens of Saturday night
new shoes for the feet of the little
burden bearers, a new bonnet for
mother, the Sunday dinner-and
among them Perry Thorne and
Amos Smead, who had struck up a
neighbors' acquaintance and were
now fastening to the same train,
going out to their suburban homes
for their first Sabbath of rest. They
we're both laden to the ears with
brown paper packages and had just
time to make the train after pur-
chasing 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
4 of escaping steam:
"We've left our Sunday dinners
on the window stand of the ticket
Office. You 60 on, Smead, and LII
take the next train out.
He swung himself clear OF the
train, turned a somersault and
waved call right" to Smead, who
mopped the cinders and perspira-
ton from his face and remarked to
| the man standing next to him IN a
friendly way:
sNice way to spend the summer,
-: -, 4ho or burhe 2D
eyes, if you don't care what you
say" growled the man.
Then Smead took bit OF paste
board from his pocket and began
to study it.
southeast corner, Terrace row,
Oakland"
Smead asked his gruff neighbor