Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-07-10
The House on
the Conner


How happy and delighted mothers are
to see their daughters married, but
when the son marries they constantly
bemoan their fate. Kenneth's mother
Wept for three days after our we'd
ding While my mother was all smiles
and never let chance slip by to say
in her proudest way, My daughter,
Mrs. Kenneth Dunlap just as if she
had achieved a great triumph in hav-
ing a son-in-law."
"It may be the same old story of
daughter remaining a daughter for
the rest of her existance, but a son
forgetting his f1lial duties after he be-
comes benedict. At any rate you're
married now for better or worse"
well, she doesn't like me any the
better, Lydia. We are as antipodal
as the north and south poles"
mot very pleasant" interrupted her
friend, "but the distance is so great
between you and your husbands rela.
tives that there's no danger of your
conflicting often. Is that the reason
you rented this bungalow on the other
side of nowhere?"
eyes. but don't breathe it to a soul
what a rank hypocrite I am. Ken
meth hasn't the faintest idea of the
reason and I wouldn't have him learn
Of the state of affairs for all that was
in the heavens above or the earth be-
low"
men are so credulous. Does he adj
mire you for living on the outskirts of
the town.
Surely; Kenneth is most lavish in
his praise Of my willingness to live
SO far from the shopping district and
for the different inconvenience of the
neighborhood. He doesn't realize why
I find the air so salubrious, why | rave
over the little vegetable garden and
never murmur why the maid leaves"
Here comes your husband now"
said Lydia looking out the window.
Married life agrees with him. He
looks as happy as bird"
| Kenneth bounded up the steps OF
the house and into the room, greeted
his wife affectionately and shook
the hands Of their guest heartily, en-
| phasizing how glad he was of the
chance to show their hospitality.
"You look ready to explode" said
his wife. whats the news? From
your looks it certainly must be good
news.
Kenneth nodded his head.
Dearest, don't try to guess; you
couldn't. I ran nearly all the way to
tell you"
! Don't keep us in suspense" plead.
ed Hermina "Have you inherited a
fortune?"
Kenneth, how lonely you must be
in this little suburb. Every time
passed that vacant house On the cor
ner I thought if only Hermina had
some of her own family living there
What has that to do with our good
fortune?" asked Hermina impatiently
AS she finished Kenneth gave one
long low whistle, which expressed al
degrees of surprise and amazement.
"But the people who have rented
that house are not the ksad you refel
to. They're our relatives. Ny moth
er, father and sister"
"Your parents have taken tina
place." calculated the astonishe'
young wife trying to look pleased.
isn't it splendid that mother vii
be right here to assist in all you
domestic troubles? 1 wager she'll b
here more than at home" he adde
enthusiastically
IT suppose she WILL" said Lydia
| with keen look at her hostess.
"Only last week your mother sal
she couldn't see why we lived so ia
from town; said she didn't consider
, frame house healthy; that the marke
was too far distant, and lastly, tn
rent was so exhorbitant that only ez
travagant young couples could affor
to pay it,
sYou see the railroad company
going to build a new depot and need
the ground" explained Kenneth
where their house stands, so the.
paid them an enormous sum if the.
would vacate Immediately"
''Why did they decide on that pa1
ticular house?" questioned Hermina
when they 'pho1ed the news Il
me, 1 suggested that one immedi
ately."
did your mother consent immedi
ately?"
Eyes, when mentioned how de
lighted you would be to have them Il
the vicinity, and repeated that vol
remarked the other evening when we
passed by, that green house with the
shade trees in front Of it would bs
ideal for your folks"
''Pll be back in a jiffy. Just going
over to the house to look it over,
he answered 'TIl bring the family
back for dinner"
"You poor grill" said Lydia, sym
pathetically, as Hermina's face show
ed her chagrin and disappointment as
soon as her husbands back was
turned. did you ever hear of the
science of propinquity?"
mo, never"