The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-08-07
The House on
the Conner

10 see their daughters married, but
when the son marries they constantly
Semoan their fate. Kenneth's mother
wept for three days after our we'd
ling while my mother was all smiles
md never let a chance slip by to say
IN her proudest way, MY daughter,
Mrs. Kenneth Dunlap Just as If she
aad achieved a great triumph In hav-
hg son-in-law."
ut may be the same old story of q
laughter remaining daughter for
he rest of her eXistance, but a son
forgetting his filial duties after he be-
zones a benedict. At any rate you're
married. now for better or worse"
"Well, she doesn't like me any the
setter, Lydia. We are as antipodal
!s the north and south poles"
mot very pleasant" interrupted her
friend, "but the distance is so great
between you and your husbands rela-
lives that there's no danger of your
conflicting often. Is that the reason
Tou rented this bungalow on the other
Tide of nowhere?"
Eyes, but don't breathe it to soul
what a rank hypocrite I am. Ken
aeth hasn't the faintest idea of the
reason and wouldn't have him learn
If the state of affairs for all that was
N the heavens above or the earth be-
iow."
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
find the air 50 salubrious, why I 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. 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 1 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 all
degrees of surprise and amazement.
'fBut the people who have rented
that house are not the kind you refer
to. They're our relatives. My moth.
,er, father and sister,"
"Your parents have taken that
place." calculated the astonished
young wife trying to look pleased.
isn't it splendid that mother will
be right here to assist in all your
domestic troubles? wager she'll be
here more than at home," he added
enthusiastically.
'T suppose she WILL" said Lydia,
with a keen look at her hostess.
"Only last week your mother said
she couldn't see why we lived so far
from town; said she didn't consider a
frame house healthy; that the market
was too far distant, and lastly, the
rent was so exhorbitant that only ex-
travagant young couples could afford
ito pay it,
"You see the railroad company is
going to build a new depot and needs
the ground" explained Kenneth.
where their house stands, so they
paid them an enormous sum If they
would vacate immediately
"'Why did they decide on that par
ticular house?" questioned Hermina.
when they 'phoned the news to
me, l suggested that one immedi-
lately" '
odd your mother consent immedi.
'ately?" s. ..'::s
! eyes, when I mentioned how de-
lighted you would be to have them in
the vicinity, and repeated that you
remarked the other evening when we
passed by, that green house with the
shade trees in front of it would be
ideal for your folks :"
; It'll be back in a jiffy. Just going
over to the house to look it over"
he answered "I'll bring the family
back for dinner"
"You poor girl" said Lydia, SYM
pathetically, as Hernhina'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?
"No, never"
ut means that people often grow