The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-10
EVERYTHING
JUST RIGHT
By T. B. ANDERSON

II Meta and Dorothy BlSSel, SIS
tiers, had remained at home instead of
catching the city fever. they would
not have been responsible for a sec.
| ond hegira from Brookville 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
1t looked as though the two neighhur
| families were destined to be stin more
closely linked together.
Meta was church orGanist and gave
music lessons. Dorothy had graduated
and had served as an extra district
| schoolteacher. Both we're reStleSsIy
ambitious. They had heard Of the gold
en- opportunities lying in wait in the
city for bright, up-to-date girls. Meta
had saved some money and meditated
a course at some standard musical col
lege. Dorothy had learned Of those
VINO had specialized IN some educa.
tional branch and had worked up e
phenomenal salaries
We NOI Sttiiltl III NOul way VI y
success in life. girls" said patient
plodding John Bissell, and a little lat-
er Warren and Bert Spencer stood
forlornly watching departing
train disappear beyond the little old
railroad station, hearing away from
them into the dark and uncertain IN
known the objects of their sincerest
oh +
uralIy their ardent longing TO be near
j those from whom they had parted. The
! Spencer family went through the same
. ordeal as their neighbors.
Give the boys a chance" submitted
a Richard Spencer, and Warren and Bert
followed the lead of their undjunted
girl neighbors, the former dreaming
of fame as q lawyer, his brother filled
e with enthusiasm as an embryo editor,
4 author, or whatever came along in the
literary line.
! Meta was missed at tie church or
gan and Dorothy had little student
E friends who mourned her desertion, for
she had won their love completely.
Many a time Richard Spencer straight
.r ened up from grabbing with his hCe
2 and leaned upon it, sad and dreamy
looking thinking Of the pride and
Al pleasure he had taken in the past in
It having his stalwart, diligent elder son.
Warren, in the next field, whisting
It cheerily while he did the work Of two
v ordinary toilers from sheer strength
and the ardor of living amid nature.
2 1t was the fond mother who. grieved
i over Bert the youngest. His farm
duties were lighter.
Cheerful, hopeful letters came to the
a. respective families after the departure
r. 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
II were living in a community house I'M
der careful supervision. The Spencer
boys occupied a room together nearby
and they saw one another nearly every
II day.
II In the city the brave. struggling
II souls who had found disillusion where
they had anticipated a sure fruition of
the impulses of youth and ambition
'ol had one by one sorrowed because of
IN their disappointment. The pressures
IS of Inconsistencies resulted in a general
= comparing of notes and a frank con
/. fession of longing for home. Love. too
H had blossomed the while, and centered
Cd interest away from the sordid prom
Uses of the world Meta acknowl.
of edged a lack of interest in the mi
IN nutiae of music which took in fadS and
ny fancies of melody subservient to jazz
~ doggerel, love songs and ragtime. Dor
othy resented the hard, practical train
nv ing that would take her among serious
solemn students cherishing theories
nd and fads.
isS Warren found the law promised ;
.ar hard and long apprenticeship. ans
~ Bert the road to literary fame full
/ of twists and turns and the caprice Of
Ter an exacting public.
it John Bissell and Richard Spencer
he had been away for two days attending
OF a grange convention at a neighborin,
county seat 1t was late in the after
noon when they got off of ille tram
on their return. In the hearts Of bot
,ot there was a vivid sense of return n.
ok. TO homes bereft of their brigh;e-
treasures. Each was absorbed alont
sed the line OF that suggestive thoughi
Abruptly as they passed the liitl
ae- union church of the village. they halt
"a - ed. Swelling ont upon the air was n
10 old familiar hymn. II thrilled Jeh
Tho Bissell. it made Richard Spencer lou
ing at him Queerly.
ept John. it sounds like Netta's play
Ing" he observed, and together tie
- stole to an open window of the s,ruC
ture and looked in.
ITS Netta-she has come hack" N
- tered Bissell TREMENDOUSLY. and OH
Richard, someone is waving from ou
An' porch"
Dorothy" cried Spencer-"with iii
old calico housedress on"
m "Look-look. Richard" shouted r.,