Evening star., 1927-09-22
The Rainy-Day Husband.

TROM her kitchen window Alice
- watched the Houghlands depart
on their annual vacation. She
a watched Mrs. Houghland rush
to the fence and hand Aunt
Carrie, who had just finished pinning
dazzling white sheets to the line, a
house key and a big purring cat
Alice smiled as she drew back the
curtain and waved an encouraging
farewell.
Aunt Carrie came in with noisy
bang Of the screen door. They're
off, she laughed Wonder what
Jim'll say now," she speculated. de-
posting the cat on a chair and giving
Alice the key for safekeeping.
Alice stroked the cats velvety head
absent-mindely THE usual predic-
ton of the Houghlands coming to
grief, I suppose, and next Summer
instead of seeing them wallowing In
debt Wen wave good-by when they
start out on their vacation. she
frowned at the purring pussy.
Aunt Carrie chuckled. Leave it to
Maude Houghland to get away each
wear. She's a wise little woman. Last
wear when the children had been sick
all Winter we thought doctor bills
would keep them home, but Maude
told me that she and the children
needed the sea air. and off they went!
But this year" protested Alice
feebly, "Mr. Houghland was out OF
work three month";. They can't af-
ford it. really"
"Maude said they could not afford
TO stay home. She said her husband
needed a change, that he was all run
down from worry and they'd all come
home ready for Winter of hard
work. And Mr.. Houghand agrees
to anything she says, added Aunt
Carrie pointedly.
Alice's cheeks grew quite pink.
"That Albert Houghland,' she tossed
her head, "Why he couldn't tie jim
shoe strings. How does he take care
of his family? Has he a cent laid up
for rainy day? Answer me tnat!
Does he own his own home? Or build
n new sun porch like Jim did this
Spring? How about the new living
room suite Jim bought this Winter?
And the real Chinese rug? And Mr..
Houghland tripping over the hole in
his parlor carpet night after night.
She worked herself into heat.
We'll" answered Aunt Carrie tran
GULLY. Chinese rug or not. Albert
ii
cation every Summer. and let me see,
you've been married IS years, and
YOU haven't left this town except
once to go over to Coalville to your
uncle's funeral"
I'VE did intend to go last year"
Alice explained. "but there was such
a wonderful opportunity for Jim to
invest his savings in that Jones prop
erty. And this Spring we built the
sun porch and now Jim's paying off
on a bond. Maybe next year." she
added. turning away so that Aunt
Carrie would not see intense yearning
in her eyes. Oh for a whiff of a
salt breeze and the luxury of first
class hotel! For IS years she had
hoped and planned while the neigh
bors packed their bags and departed.
Next year, shifted Aunt Carrie,
"Jim Slower will be Straining to meet
another investment. l know his kind.
so intent saving for that rainy day
that he has no time or money to
enjoy the sunshine of today"
He's making good with his firm,
Alice protected her husband loyalty,
"and it's just because he pleases Mr.
Pulver and you know he never en-
courages vacations. It's his brother,
you know, always going off on vaca-
tions and getting into some trouble"
Footsteps in the front hall stopped
the conversation and both women
hastily busted themselves with the
cooking dinner
Hello, there" Jim Slower came
noisily into the kitchen, positively
beaming.
Alice looked up with concern, for
Jim was usually very quiet and not
given to beaming at all. Dinner will
be ready in minutes she antici-
pated his usual urgent query.
mo hurry" he remarked genially
and Aunt Carrie was so astonished
she dropped a fork, Great day, isn't
it?" They stared at him in dismay
for Jim never mentioned the weather.
except in reference to the future
rainy-day period. Say, Alice. how'd
you like to run down to Atlantic City
with me for a week."
Alice hastily put down the pot of
potatoes she was draining.
''Mr. Pulver suggested it today"
Jim explained, nonchalantly. He
said, why don't you take your wife
and run down to Atlantic City for
week, Slower? Do you both good
Business is little dull right now,