The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-14
A FOOLS
PARADISE
By OTILLIA F. PFEIFFER

W ny, Dorothy it has banished you :
from all your friends How can you
laugh and be happy!" &
Dorothy Bronson. bride of a month.
warbled like a bright soaring lark and
manifested the utmost ecstacy.
Her girhood friend, Norma Deane.
had motored down from Turtle Bay,
where She and her husband were
spending a two weeks vacation. and
was wrought almost to tears as she
viewed the environment of her de-
voted school chum and favorite.
Back at Detroit. where they had all
lived, Alden Bronson poet, artist. as
Dorothy insisted Oh designating him.
had often alluded to his one property
/ possession. Golden Lake. His love took
the place of father and mother long
since dead, with Dorothy. ana his high
strung sentimentality was part of a
really superior nature Fer hours he
had entranced Dorothy by telling her
of the glories OF the spot He had not
| exaggerated them 50 fur as natural
! beauty was concerned. and Dorothy
! was not disappointed when they set
| tied down after brief honeymoon.
The father of Alden had left his son
bit of wildwood comprising several
/ thousand acres embracing Golden lake.
! There was a large. rambling old-fash-
| toned farm house and the usual sur
rOundings Of the same, and a small
cottage of more modern design This
occupied the summit of Hill rising
grandly from the lake. From its rustic
porch Alden and Dorothy could view
the country for miles around. 1t was
an ideal place for dreamers and lovers
and the newly welded pair were in
complete harmony with their environ
ment.
You see, Norma" observed Doro-
!, thy, there is the scenery"
! You'll soon tire of that ard you
can't live on it."
And then there's Alden = exulted
I Dorothy. "Oh! what beautiful poetic
thoughts come to him in this peaceful
| solitude! His sketchng, tool You
: know, he is a natural artist, and
| where could one find a more lovely
: spot?"
Mrs. Deane shifted slightly. She
was not cruel enough TO disenchant
/, Dorothy as to the impracticability of
her husband, but in her set it was
! very well known that Alden BrOnsOn's
t prospects were decidedly precarious.
Norma expanded on the gay life and
: gaudy hotel at fashionable Turtle Bay,
4 but she failed to daunt- the bright spir-
it of Dorothy, who with Alden drifted
along happy in the present and DREAM
ing hopefully of the future They
lived to themselves, not one whit lone
some, and really plying the friends
who pitied them. The winter came
! on and their experience was some
what rigorous, but their love and con
n tentment remained undiminished. And
then the little surplus money had given
a out Alden came back from visit
j. 10 the city one day looking serious
and thoughtful.
: Dorothy, dear" he said, 1--WE have
got to face the realities of our situa-
! ton. The firm that has given me some
desultory work has made me an offer
that will bring in a very liberal salary
L
Haunted me with wasting our time ia
Z this fools paradise, as they call it,
Here is the proposition: They have
contract to take some views for an ex-
ploring expedition among the South
i Sea islands and Australia, and will
: advance enough to make you comfort
able while l am away"
}, prospect of separation. Gradually she
: was reconciled to it. She, however,
insisted on remaining at Golden lake,
and a maiden sister of Aldens came
to keep her company.
81 have put the property in your
name, Dorothy" her husband advised
her, land l want you to sell it if you
: can. This is too dull life for you to
I lead alone"
: Dorothy said nothing to this. She
had made up her mind what she would
do. She missed Alden dreadfully when
he was gone, but Miss Bronson became
d priced and helpful companion. They
5 put their ideas together and planned
far ahead. Mrs. Deane one day
i dropped in at the old farm house
|, whittier Dorothy had removed. She
was actually Mortified to find dainty.
f soulful Dorothy. with the help of Miss
K. Bronson, enjoying herself with the
care of nearly five hundred chickens,
d raising them for sale to the big hoieis
: up at Turtle Bay.
1t was over year and half when
d Alden Bronson returned He had not
+ made much money. but he had ac-
. CURED an experience that equipped
him for a more practical business flu
ture.
1t was in the clear white moonlight
that Dorothy drove him to Golden Lake
from the nearest railroad station As
: they rounded the hill the cottage. en-
larged and aglow with light, greeted
him like a beacon. Then he noticed
the old farm house being transformed
into hotel-like proportions.
~,