The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-06
THE COUNTRY
OF ANYWHERE

1t was the regulation plot Of freshly
clipped lawn. bisected by path the
sdges OF which were geometricaily pre-
else. A few rods up the street. far
enough away to be mobtrusive, yet
near enough to furnish Just the right
amount Of light was the regulation
street lamp. Even the regulation snb-
urban mosquitoes hummed noisily
about and were duly cursed and slangh
tered
Hardwick, stretched comfortably in
a steamer chair, blew smoke rings
thoughtfully in the still air. Yanetia,
seated near by in low rocker, idly
traced the shadow of the vine with the
toe of little shoe.
In the house across the street the
long windows on the lower floor We're
wide open. Through the stiffness of
the night came floating the tinkle Of a
piano and masculine voice singing
snatches Of Tosti and Neyins
Hardwick moved uneasfy in his
chair
Hang it, he burst out suddenly.
Il wish it had rained tonightv'
The girl eyed him curiously,
ut would have been easier for you,
/ suppose. she observed
Infinitely said he. This sort Of
thing gets hold Of a manthis quiet
and peace and eminent responsibility.
He leaves under disadvantages He's
homesick before he starts"
"And vet you are going back there
tomorrow she said
eyes" he returned bitterly, FIJI go
back tomorrow to my railroad and my
niggers and my homesickness."
'sAnd forget all about us up here aft
er week or So she said lightly, for
get us SO completely you won't even
write us a line"
Il wish might forget" be said fer
vently,
'sWhy?' she asked.
WELL said he, ''for one thing it
simplifies matters. Down there, when
you think about people you know, it
makes you very unhappy. You get to
imagining all sorts Of things"
"For instance she prompted as he
paused.
sLet's make it personal he suggest
ed. "When I think Of you, imagine
you married to some nice, respectable
suburbanite who comes out every night
on the 5:13 and finds you waiting for
him and fire burning in The hall fire.
place and dinner ready in the coy dim
ing room and
The girl interrupted him with q
hooking laugh.
1.-THE nice, respectable suburbanite
hasn't doomed on the horizon as yet.
she said.
Nevertheless he WILL" Hardwiek re-
turned That's the worst Of that God
forsaken country" be ended irrelevant
".
whats the worst Of itg' she in
qnired.
s'That it prohibits one from being a
suburbanite Of the aforementioned va
riety. YAM he said, rising suddenly
and standing by her chair, II never in
tended to tell you, but perhaps wen
both feel better If do. I went down
there intending to make my pile and
come back here to marry you. The pile
Is still to be made, and 1t looks as If l
were doomed to stay there forever, but
don't think it was because didn't love
you enough or because | haven't done
my best"
The girl looked up at his earnest face,
and something in 1t filled her with pity.
she had intended to reply lightly. In
stead her eyes fell, and she was silent.
"You understand. don't you?" he said
after pause.
mo. | don't understand she said
sharply.
She was aware he stepped back as Il
he had been struck.
II don't understand how-how you
could misjudge me go" she said.
''Misjudge your he cried.
EYES," she said. "That is just what
you have done. DO you think all my
hopes are bounded by house In con-
ventional suburb with conventional
lawn and all the rest Of it7"
Tie looked at her inquirIngly, but said
nothing.
She turned her head and looked across
the well kept lawn. When she spoke
her voice had softened.
Teddy" she said. shave you ever
heard Of the country called Any
wherew
"Tm afraid don't follow you" he
said stifiiy.
Listen" she said, and I'll tell you
about 1t. 1t Is very delightful coun-
try, Teddy, no matter what Its environ
ment- hot or cold, peopled or desert,
fruitful or barren. 1t Is always charm
ing to the girl who really cares, be-
cause 1t is his country and he IS there.
1t is lovable because OF him.
She stopped, half frightened by her
own words He stood quite still for q
moment, then suddenly bent over her
and took both her hands in his own.
"Dear little GIRL" he said, dear,
brave little grill You tempt me into
the selfish cowardice Of taking you
there"
she felt his big hands tremble; then
he stood erect.