The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-07-16
A
Compromise
By MRS. RACHEL L. OLMsTEAD

IauII-ue IL very uDreNSOnlDle. HE
defect in hi character is especially
noticeable IN the choice of n place K
spend our summer vacation.
Last year Frank and | discussed fol
two months this question as to where
we should go for two weeks. Frank
wished to go to some secluded spot In
the mountains where he could take g
rest. He works very hard. and fourteen
days is all the recreation he gets dur
ing the whole year That being the
case, l couldn't see why he should
want to go to a poky place where be
wouldn't meet any one, with nothing
to see and nothing to do all day long.
| am shut up at home all winter
with no maid and couple of little
children, and | can't get out at all in
the evening because they must not be
left alone. The consequence is that all
the nice dresses and things | buy are
for summer That's the only season l
can wear them. Now, isn't 1t provok-
ing that when the summer comes
must go to some out of the way place
where a calico gown would do me as
well as silk one?
Last spring when it came time to
engage board for our outing. after dis
putting for two months where we
should go. Frank maintained that since
he must have his rest In his own way
we had better go to different places.
He would get rid Of the continued
clatter the children make and the an
noyance Of having to correct them ev-
cry time they misbehaved. ! could
go to a seashore resort, where, as he
put 1t, I could show my fine clothes.
That's all the sympathy wife gets
from her husband--just as II there was
any use to buy nice things for no one
to see.
Well, Frank went Off to one horse
town in the mountains, stopping at
hotel near by. i went to large sea-
side city where there were thousands
of people coming and going every day.
1t was very nice to be in the whirl.
but unfortunately struck a spell OF
bad weather. For three days there
was nothing but rain and fog. Then
chill northeast wind sprang up, and
l thought I should freeze. The chill
dren. who had anticipated so much
pleasure playing in the sand and run
ming in bare legs in the foam. couldn't
20 out at all. and was obliged to
devote myself to them all the while. l
couldn't play nurse and wear good
clothes; besides. the weather was too
cold for my thin dresses.
So there was.
I had been on the coast for three
days when | received letter from
Frank saying that he was doing
splendidly in the mountains. The
weather there was fine. the air was
bracing. and it seemed as IL he drew
In strength with every breath. He sup
posed and the children sat all day on
the beach with the warm sun pouring
down on us (when 1t wasn't too hot)
watching the beautiful blue waves roll
In. He could almost hear the children
laughing and shouting as theyran about
In the sunshine. And he could fancy
me dressed In those clothes had been
all winter preparing for the occasion
looking as pretty as peach mingling
with well dressed people.
Wasn't 1t aggravating?
/ just made up my mind that I'd
wait till the first week was up and |
IL the weather didn't mend I'd pack up
and join Frank. There wasn't any use
In my staying where / was on account |
Of my clothes when | couldn't wear
them. and IL I were with Frank he
could relieve me of the children. He
would have had a weeks absence from |
them and would now. doubtless be glad
to take them out walking and driving
and boating.
Well, the weather didn't improve
that Is, it cleared up for one day. then
the clouds came again and it was
worse than ever. Every day studied
the weather reports. and when on the
sixth day there was a prediction that
another storm was collecting In some
out OF the way place In northwestern
Canada l teegraphed Frank that was
coming and took the next train.
We reached his place of rest In the
evening and drove to his hotel In beau
tiful moonlight, But the next morn
ing we awoke with the rain coming
down worse than anything / had seen
ut the seashore. And what do you
think Frank sald2 He accused me of
bringing the bad weather with me.
Well, here was with my costumes
hat I'd had so much trouble to pro
,ure still In my trunk. The only com.
'ort in this was that even IL the weatb
n had been fine nobody wore finery
md IL would have been out Of place
Tom did help me with the children
playing games with them, and when
.ver there was n temporary let up be
ween the showers he would take
hem out for walks. The boats were
90 wet for rowing and the roads too
muddy for driving. What were my
ceilings when l read In the papers
hat at the seashore where had been
{ had cleared up the day after left
md the gaiety was booming!
One day before we went home we
lad sunshine. and this was all the
pleasure l got on my outing. We
greed that we would not try the sep
ration plan again. So this year we
Iecided we should go together. We
Iisputed over it the same as last wear.