The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-01-27
Dogs Life.

Grant pushed open the log'eao'h uoo'
and stood aside for Broadhurst to enter.
fire was cracking in the fireplace ana
n the same old corners OF the cabins one
room doomed the same old beds,
aRaek in the Wisconsin woods az last,
ali lallowi" cried Grant, with clap on
Rroadhurst's shoulder. II never expected
when 1 stood up at your wedding three
wears ago that you and Ia get away on
another hunting trip together. say Dah'
how does il feel 10 be back! ,.
Broadhnmt's eyes beamed down az hS
friend at certainly looks like OLD times,
he agreed. by the way, Roger, h h0m
often do we get the Chicago man UP mere
Grant felt pang Of resentment as he
answered The question. For three years
he had been trying not TO regard Broad
burst's wife as an interloper. 10 nave
her dragged into this first moment OF
Rroadhurst's emancipation was too mueh.
Without further words, the two men
selI IN making their toilets, taking turns,
first M the basin ON the cheap ittle
washstand, then at the distorting mirror
which hung above a board shell on the
opposite side OF the room. pensVe
mood had fallen upon them u iasteu
through the appetizing fish supper over
al the hotel and all the evening.
But overnight the discordaht ho!e
stopped iangng, and morning usheled IN
a beautiful day Through spicy autumn i
woods the two men tnidged for miles,
with blue skies overhead and white blrehes
cleaning among dark pines along the
roadside. Broadhurst, IN hlgh Doots'
corduroy trousers and blue flannel shirt;
was his old self, big and glad and proud
of the number Of partrldges ne had
brought down. Grant grinned whenever
he looked at his friend.
THE quantity of food consumed by
Broadhurst at the little hotel that night
was surprising.
ia be willing to bet that you haven't
eaten like this for three years" Grant
hazarded.
Without replying Broadhurst asked for
the mail. Yes, II had come. broad ,rl
turned the envelopes over and over. Then
the gloom that had been his the night be-
fore settled upon him again. just as
surely it enyeloped Grant.
For awhile they fingered dreamily at
the hotel, trying TO swap stories with the
other boarders; after that they sat sol
EMMY on the porch OF their own cabin
and watched the sunset over the little
lake which stretched away from the very
foot OF their steps.
At last they went inside and poked the
fire and made a pathetic attempt at en-
joying it. Soon they skunk off to bed,
worsted. Something-and Grant said to
himself that he mighty well knew what
Il was-had undermined Broadhurst's
gladness and poisoned their good time.
Next day was a failure. Broadhurst
didn't care rap how much game he shot;
or whether he shot any at all. He had
no taste for hunting and fishing stories
at the hotel. He simply mooned around
disconsoate.
The mail was late that night. It was
too cool 10 lounge outside, so Grant and
Broadhurst went to sit by their own fire. |
As they were gazing modify into the |
blaze, Broadhurst suddenly sprung up. A |
step had sounded on the boards of the
porch. The boy from the hotel had
brought over the mail.
Broadhurst's letter had come. Grant
experienced n sensation of angry revolt
as he watched his comrade devour its
At the end of the sheet Broad
hurst turned back to the Beginning smil.
ing broadly. Finally he sat and gazed
into the fire. forgetting Grant.
"Wel?" said Grant. "Any news from
Broadhurst started. "ohl" he said.
Then he went on, firmly: NO use, old
chap! I'm going back to Chicago tomor-
row."
'"What! Was It It bad news"
"Oh no hut-wel, she misses me,
Here, read that, and you'll understand"
Grant suffocated one honorable qualm,
and read:
"Dear Boy: This mornings quotation
On my calendar is. Tt is very good for
strength 10 know that some one needs you
10 be strong According to that, baby and
! must be splendid for your strength, You
lear old giant! How do you ever pull
up that porch awning so easily? It takes
ne right off my feet and nearly breaks
nv wrists.
II miss you every minute. Yesterday.
when / was trying to move the sewing
found myself saying right out
oud, oh, for DAM Wasn't it funny? You
spoiled me, dear, As for baby, he's incon-