The Red Cloud chief., 1912-06-20
That Summer
Home

plot of ground outside OF town Win
anything standing on II In the way OF
a shack with roof over 1t, your
friends who don't possess such a piece
of property regard you reproachfully
as spring comes on. At inoprortune
times they thrust at you remarks like
these. Well, SUPPOSE you'll be leav.
ing soon for your place-lucky crea-
ture!' If we only felt that we, too,
could idle in the country all summer!
"You feel horribly apologetic. You
know that your envious friends could
buy hundred places such as yours
and dump them into the lake just to
hear the splash and never miss the
money, so 1t is q surprise to find your.
self regarded as wretched plutocrat
when the overwhelming reason that
led you to fee from town was that the
bill collector doesn't come around 40
often in the woods.
1.-TWO days before I am taking the
boat for Michigan I always get invita-.
tions to the opening dinner at the
country club. an automobile ride and
theater party. all to take place the
week after I am gone. A. I wad tis.
sue paper into the sleeves Of the new
gown I am packing and which I won't
have . chance to wear again all sum
mer I remember what II cost and
seethe with anguish.
1T IL dark when the boat pulls
away from Chicago and II II doesn't
rain soggily when I start rest a.
sured that II will be raining when
arrive in Michigan. II has to rain at
one or the other OF these times. be
cause I am wearing my best flower.
trimmed hat that Is too huge to pack
and I have Just had my suit pressed,
There seem to be acres Of my luggage
on the Michigan dock the next morn.
ing-trunks. new porch rugs, n sew.
ing machine and a kitchen stove-and
besides I have to wade around town
in the sand. buying groceries and nails
and mops and matches, before plung.
ing into the calm country ten miles
from anywhere
"The boatman who comes for me
does not seem exactly overwhelmed
with the Joy I rather expected him ia
show on seeing me again. Huh he
groans. Have you got lead in these
here trunks?'
Some time am going to make an
exhaustive study Of the psychological
causes leading baggagemen Invariably
to be overcome with surprise because
plrnA hn kAA tSN,
on one finger. They always are sc
righteously annoyed at this discovery
1T Is raining as usual when ! an
shunted off at my own dock with my
luggage. This is particularly good 70,
the ironwork on sewing machines ant
stoves and Is fine for the contents o.
trunks. The cottage seems oddly
yelled and investigation shows thu
yelling to consist of unbroken spidel
webs and sheddings from the beec'
trees. II does not seem possible tina
there are SO many spiders In thu
world.
"The strong-armed scrabwoman VIII,
was to meet mo 10 beautifully absent
but the full tragedy Of this grow
slowly as I raise window shades an,
see the thick dust on every inch o
everything. There are more cobweb
inside than outside and at the sight o
the pantry I shed tears. Spiders rusl
from everything I touch. In q sort o
desperation I open the box couch 4
find q work dress. whereupon Q rattl
Of beech nuts and cherry pits follow
the hauling forth Of the top layer
Then something furry and agitate
darts out and sit down on the foo
and shrek. II was chipmunk routc
from his winter lodgings and he no,
darts nervously and Indignantly ur
der bookcase. would Just as 500
live In the same house with a mar
eating tiger as with chipmunk!
"'No.' said the men who brough
up my soaked belongings from tn
pier. Mary won't he here. She move
away. No. there amt nobody els
you can get to scrub No, We don
know any man you can get to clea
the yard and Ak the pump-ever.
body's busy planting the crops N,
there amt no one In town who want
Job. No. you can't get no lettuc
nor berries nor garden truck--the
Amt ripe yet. don't you know that "
This when people back in Chicae
are rioting In asparagus and straw
berries and head lettuce and cucun
bers!
, "Ther may be hundreds OF BIRD
l outside amid the lovely greenery
: June, but l don't know It, for al
wrestling with unaccustomed bac1
breaking tasks inside the house. Il
Z o'clock that night eat some stol
bread and butter and cheese and
I banana and tumble into bed more dea
: than alive. There Is dust in the a
+ and It is pitch dark and outside Il
b tree frogs are dolorously singing.
\ Back In Chicago my brutal frient
q who envied me are dining on luxuri,
r and just starting out for an evening
s spin down lilac.scented boulevard
through the PARKS.
"SCm OF N ipu drCpy Jar,v,,,v. - A,