The Clio messenger., 1920-03-18
EVERYTHING
JUST RIGHT
BY r. B. ANDERSON


catching the city fever, they would
not have been responsible for a sec
ond hegira from Brookvlle on the part
or Warren and Bert Spencer, brothers.
The Bissell and the Spencer farms
~joined and the four had grown up to-
gether as playmates. In later years
Warren had courted Meta and Bert
had kept company with Dorothy. and
II looked as though the two neighbor
families were destined to be still more
closely linked together.
Netta was church organst and gave
music lessons. Dorothy had graduated
and had served as an extra district
schoOlteacher. Both were restlessly
ambitious. They had heard of the gold
en- opportunities lying in wait in the
city for bright, up-to-date girls. Netta
had saved some money and meditated
course at some standard musical col
lege. Dorothy had learned of those
who had specialized In some educa-
tional branch and had worked up 10
phenomenal salaries.
1--WE won't stand in your way of
ssccess in life, girls" said patient
plodding John Bissell, and little lat
er Warren and Bert Spencer stood
forlornly watching "a departing
train disappear beyond the little old
railroad station, bearing away from
them into the dark and uncertain I'M
known the objects of their sincerest
devotion. Then there came about nat
urally their ardent longing to be near
those from whom they had parted. The
Spencer family went through the same
ordeal as their neighbors.
"Give the boys a chance" submitted
Richard Spencer, and Warren and Bert
followed the lead of their undaunted
girl neighbors, the former dreaming
OF fame rs a lawyer, his brother filled
with enthusiasm as an embryo editor,
author. or whatever came along in the
literary line
Netta was missed at the church or
gan and Dorothy had little student
friends who mourned her desertion. for
she had won their love completely.
Many a time Richard Spencer straight
ened up from grubbng with his hoe
and leaned upon it. sad and dreamy
looking. thinking Of the pride and
pleasure he had taken in the past in
having his stalwart, diligent elder son,
Warren. in the next field, whistling
cheerily while he did the work of two
ordinary tollerS from sheer strength
and the ardor of living amid nature.
it was the fond mother who grieved
over Bert, the youngest. His farm
duties were lighter.
Cheerful. hopeful letters came to the
respective families after the departure
of these dear ones and very often the
desolated ones spent the evening in
company, their one theme the loved
children far away The BisSell girls
were living in community house UNI
der careful supervision The Spencer
boys occupied room together nearby
and they saw one another nearly every
day.
In the city the brave. struggling
souls who had found dislllusion where
they had anticipated sure fruition of
the impulses OF youth and ambition
had one by one sorrowed because of
their disappointment. The pressures
of Inconsistencies resulted in general
comparing of notes and frank con-
fession of longing for home. Love, too.
had blossomed the while, and centered
interest away from the sordld prom
ises of the world. Meta acknowl-
edged lack of interest in the mi
nutiae Of music which took I'm fads and
fancies of melody subservient to jazz
doggerel, love songs and ragtime. Dor
othy resented the hard, practical train
hg that would take her among serious,
solemn students cherishing theories
and fads.
Warren found the law promised n
hard and long apprenticeship, and
Bert the road to literary fame full
of twists and turns and the caprice OF
an exacting public.
John Bssell and Richard Spencer
had been away for two days attending
n grange convention at neighboring
county seat II was late in the after
noon when they got off of the train
on their return. In the hearts of both
there was vivid sense of returning
10 homes bereft of their brightest
treasures. Each was absorbed along
the lire of that suggestive thought.
Abruptly as they passed the little
union church of the village, they halt
ed. Swelling out upon the air was an
old familiar hymn. 1t thrilled John
Bissell. 1t made Richard Spencer look
at him queerly.
"John, it sounds like Netta's play
ing" he observed, and together they
stole TO an open window of the struc-
ture and looked in.
Its Netta-she has come back ut
tered Bissell tremulously, "and oh !!
Richard, someone is waving from ouI
porch"
"Dorothy," cried Spencer-"with the
old calico housedress on"