The Prescott daily news., 1912-08-16
Coming Back
 to Town

It was early morning and the Bark tons stood in the door of their sum- mer cottage talking things over. Tho September air was still raw and har- assing to the marrow. Even at that moment relatives were heading toward the Barktons city home to do some visiting, and the Barktons were won dering what they would better do The good fresh country air was all right for them, facing a winter In the city's grimy, wOrked-Over atmosphere but there is nothing appealing about the simple, suburban life to those who come to spend part of their vacation taking in the sights oS the great. throbbing city. And the Barkton cot tage lacked running water, hot water and lot of other cOnveniences.
 The more they thought it over the more clearly the Barktons recognized that they ought to go back to their fat and not drag their visitors out to the cottage Then after their company had sped along they could return to the country and remain until the chill autumn winds would drive them back to the city for the winter
 Its a shame" muttered Barkton, while they were packing up. This thing of going back to the city to listen to the toot of auto horns when you're trying to sleep and to breathe soot instead of air is enough to make you weep. How hate 1t! Then this packing up and moving to town and packing up and moving back to the country isn't making a hit with me"
 Perhaps we'd better just close up the cottage and stay in town" sug- gested Mrs. Barkton 'Ii we come back to the country it'll be for so short a time that there's hardly any use in it"
 . You've struck the combination" said Barkton, with much sarcasm. "Go back to town and sit around in a stuffy flat when We have the whole autumn ahead of us hey? Well, not if I know it. Of course I might have known that you'd rather sit half suffo- cated in a flat and stare at a brick wall across the court than be out in the open drinking in the fresh air and the gorgeous autumn scenery, wouldn't you?
 Whats that? We'll come back to the country if prefer it, eh? Oh, yes, and you fuming and fretting about it, I s'pose. and wearing that abused, patient look you put on when you're doing something that doesn't just CO., incide with some wild feminine ideas of your own. Yes, you can just bet a pint Of assorted hairpins that we're coming back to the country for an- other month and don't let that get away from you, either Or, at least I'm coming back If you want to stick around a flat just when we're enter ing on the real choice season of the whole year, go ahead But don't count me in on any system of that sort"
 The morning after their return to the flat Barkton arose leisurely-it was on hour later than usual, for he didn't have to allow time for the trip to town-and strolled into the bath room He took a brisk batt and then got out his shaving implements, He turned on the hot water faucet, coated his face with a luxuriogsly warm prep aration of lather, toCk the chill off his razor under the faucet and then be- gan to shave.
 Say, this hot water helps some, !" he observed to his vife i've been blaming it on the razor. All I need ed was something warm to Timber my beard up a bit. Say, this waters good and hoti"
 Five or six days later the Bark tons guests went on their way When