The Marshall republican., 1912-09-27
Coming Back
to Town

II was early morning and the Bark.
tons stood In the door Of their sum.
mer cottage talking things over. The
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. w~orked-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 OF the great,
throbbing city. And the Barkton cot.
tage lacked running water, hot water
and a lot OF other conveniences.
The more they thought II owe the
more clearly the Barktons recognized
that they ought TO go back to their
fiat 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.
It's n shame" muttered Barkton
while they were packing up. This
thing OF going back 20 the city &c
listen to the toot OF auto horns when
you're trying TO sleep and to breathe
SCOT instead OF air is enough to make
you weep. How I hate 81 Then this
packing up and moving 10 town and
packing up and moving back to the
country isn't making n hit with me-
Perhaps we'd better Just close ur
the cottage and stay In town" sug
gested Mrs. Barkton. "If we come
back 10 the country it1l be for sc
short n time that there's hardly any
use in &C."
you've struck the combinatlon!'
said Barkton. with much sarcasm. &c
back 20 town and sit around In 0
stuffy fat when we have the whole
autumn ahead OF US heyf Well. not
II I know II. or course ] might have
known that you'd rather sit half SUMO
Gated In n fat and stare at n brick
wall across the court than be out In
the open drinking In the fresh all
and the gorgeous autumn scenery
wouldn't your
Whats that7 Well come bach
to the country II I prefer Il. chr oh
yes. and you tuning and frettfng about
Il, I s'pose. and wearing that abused
patient look you put on when you're
doing something that doesn't Just &C
inclde with some wild feminine ideai
OF your own. Yes. you can Just bet Q
pint OF assorted hairpins that were
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. II you want TO stitch
around n fat 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 tt
the fiat Barkton arose leisurely-ii
was on hour later than usual. for he
didn't have TO allow time for the triI
to town-and strolled into the bath
room. He took n brisk bath and ther
got out his shaving implements. He
turned on the hot water faucet, coated
his face with a luxuriously warm prep
aration Of iather. took the chill on hii
razor under the faucet and then be
gan to shave.
Say, this hot water helps some
he observed to his wife. 'Tve beer
blaming II on the razor. All ! need
ed was something warm to timber my
beard up a bit. Say. this waters good
and hot!"
Five or six days later the Bark
tons guests went on their way. Wher
Barkton got out OF bed the next morn
ing and walked into the adjoinint
room he found Mrs. Barkton busiiy
|, folding a lot OF things and placint
them In two suit cases that lay oper
on the spart bed.
'whutchuh doing?" inquired Bark
ton sharply. Going where? Bach
to the country Is that so? Then
you're going back alone, for I'm no
In on Il. This place here looks pretty
good TO me. Looks pretty good.
a y Maybe some Sunday I'll take Z
run out to the country and fool AROUND
Till night. but outside Of that I'll Jus
postpone any more country life I'll
next spring. and you can take those
shirts Of mine out Of that suit case
n you win and let me put EN- baci
In the chinonier where they belong
"This country foolishness a b'
overdone. I've got up In the morn
ing and washed and shaved In tina
cold water out there at the cottage
Just about as often rs l care TO thii
year. Just kindly get this back-to-the
country notion out OF your system
without any unnecessary delay"