The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-01-26
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
TRAINING HARRINGTON.
BY Lulu Johnson.

Crisp and bracing was the morn
ing as Harrington came on deck, and
he drew great drafts of the cold air
down into his lungs, assuring himself
that people who took vacations in the
hot months were fools indeed.
He even felt sorry for poor Fannie
who was left behind in the city. A
few weeks in this bracing air would
do her more bood than the five-dollar-
a-visit specialist who looked grave and
shook his head when he stood by the
bedside and declared that she must
have complete rest.
1t was true that Harrington himself
had wanted to take his vacation in
August, and when -Fannies collapse
had prevented his leaving then, he had
stormed and chafed and succeeded an
making everybody uncomfortable and
bloodthirsty to varying degrees, &C
cording to their temperaments and
fondness for Fannie. Harrington's
calm assumption that Fannie had no
right TO be Ill When he wished to go
on his vacation was irritating to the
h >.
Now. as the steamer moved slowly
between banks on which the green
was giving way to the first blush OF
autumn tints, the world seemed good
to Harrington. and he could ven
think kindly OF the little woman who
lay at home In a darkened room and
whose breakdown had been RESPONSE
bic for his delayed vacation.
In August he would have gone to
the shore, as was his custom, but in
the latter part Of September the coun-
try offered greater appeal, so he was
to srend a month with his sister.
The latter had remained content to
live farmers wife as she had been
born farmers daughter.
1t was afternoon when the train
pulled into the tiny station. The ride
had been hot and dusty, and after the
early mqrning on the boat, the worse
by contrast
Harrington met his brother-in-law
with the tolerant patronage that the
city man feels for his country cousin,
and considered that he had discharged
his obligation when he offered the 9TH
er a smoke with the explanation that
1t was a city cigar
81 guess most of them come from
the city" suggested Sam Dryer, with
a chucbIe, as he applied the matech.
I guess you're about the Goth chap
this summer that's given me a city
cigar with the air OF expecting me to
drop dead with delight because il
comes from the city"
~e"You don;S .ir-,e - srccke it if you
don't want to-" snapped Harrington
as the last vestige of the mornings
benediction fed.
81 don't mind" explained Sam, good
humoredly. I'm used to smoking
city cigars. That's LATE Spence's new
barn over there. Before he got it
done a pill man came along and paint
ed one end up with his sign, and L4afe
got hOppin'. He danced around and
told the man that was Just what he
built barns for, and the man said If
that was the case he guessed he'd
paint the other end, too"
We'll, what's the rest Of the story?"
demanded Harrington sharply when a
pause was not broken by speech.
81 was waitin' for you to laugh at
that" explained Sam. 1.-THE answer
is that he painted the hull barn, just
like you see it. Lafe's constable, and
he threatened to put him in the lock-
up II he didn't do the right thing"
Harrington cursed the evil fortune
that brought him into contact with his
brother-in-law and inane country