Middletown transcript., 1922-10-28
Summers and
Winters
By JANE OSBORN

6.s....s......
90 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
Marvin Dawes arrived In Oak Lawns
on the four o'clock train from the city
on November 1. AS usual he was not
u day late. He hailed waiting sta
tion taxi to convey him and an assort-
ment of bags and boxes that had ar
rived by an earlier train out the old
Cedar Swamp road. He stopped at the
post Office on the way for the keys that
we're always left with the postmaster
on October 81 and as often called for
by Marvin Dawes on the following day.
You don't happen TO know u woman
that wants to work as cook or house.
keeperr" asked Martin of the postmas-
ter. "The Jap l had SO many years
has gone to San Francisco and left me
tn a lurch.'
why don't you get another JapT
was the postmaster's not too civil an
aver. ''They always said you were so
partial to EN-
Marvin Dawes laughed. well, l
was," he admitted. But the fact is,
1 had feeling that the old place
would be little more cheerful If there
was woman in the kitchen. l thought
perhaps you might hear Of some one
who'd like the place. If you do, let me
know" And so Marvin was off to the
old homestead on Cedar Swamp road.
One of the boxes he had brought up
from the station contained the essen
tials for quickly made supper, which
Marvin prepared for himself with NO
very great skill or enjoyment. The
next day arrived the faithful Pat with
Marvin's two saddle horses 1t was a
standing agreement between Marvin
Dawes and Patrick Shean that on or
closely following every November first
he, Pat, should report for duty until
the following May first. During the
six warmer months Pat always found
work elsewhere, but lie would never
consent to permanent position that
would make it impossible for him to
return to Marvin with the coming OF
November.
Ut - WOlh SOLSintCu Ill. tdhlhS Natc
of the two horses, one of which Mar
win kept for himself and another for
occasional guests. This and work about
the old place kept him only comfort
ably busy. AS a cook Pat possessed
neither variety nor skill, but he goOt
naturedly consented to fill In the
hreech left by the departure of the
Jap. The postmaster either could no
or would not secure successor.
''As usual" Marvin told Pat the da!
OF the latter's arrival, "the place ha!
been set in frightful confusion. The.
do it out Of spite. 1 suppose. They Sc
to work to turn the house into sum
lner cottage. The screens are still In
Those fiimsy white curtains have beer
left in place of the heavy winter dra
perry. The porch is cluttered with
lot of new wicker chairs and things
There's new refrigerator in the kitch
en-, and you've seen, l suppose, tina
they've added sleeping porch to on
of the bedrooms upstairs. You'll hav
TO help me put the place back in con
dition for winter. It's absurd to thin
of the place as n summer house. Be
cause Of course it isn't. 1t WASH
built for that sort Of thing"
And Pat with n chuckle agreed.
Pat knew as well as did Marvi
Dawes the conditions on which Mai
vim held the right to occupy the oil
house In winter.
Marvin's grandfather before hi
death had been reluctant to leave tn
old homestead, an exceptionally we
built house of twenty rooms and NOR,
with several acres of well pante
lawns and groves, to either of hi
daughters. These daughters had b,
come estranged through the bushes
quarrels of their husbands and ce
tainly would not wish to share the oil
place. So he had stipulated in his wi
that his daughter Lucy should hay
the entire use of the place from Ma
first to the last day of October, whi
Uarice should have 1t from NOvembt
first to the last day Of April. A fun
was left adequate to pay all take
and upkeep expenses of the house, {
there might never need to be any dl
pute between the two sisters about IL
old house.
Clarice had died leaving the right
the house to her son, Marvin Dave
who had become SO attached to Il
house in his boyhood that he new
failed to arrange his affairs so th
he could occupy it during the montl
of autumn and winter. Lucy, too, hs
died only year before, and the rig
10 occupy the house from May first
the last of October had been hand,
down to grandniece of her husban
also named Lucy
Marvin Dawes had no luck in findlI
n housekeeper or cook and he stu,
the winter out none too comfortab
under the rule of Pat in the kitche
On the last day of April they departe
leaving the keys as usual with Il
postmaster.
On May Lucy arrived with Iri