The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-11-22
THE
RAINY-DAY
HUSBAND
&c by D. ]. Walsh.l

TROM her kitchen window Alice
- watched the Houghlands depart
ON their annual vacation. She
watched Mrs. Houghland rush to
the fence and hand Aunt Carrie, who
had just finished pinning dazzling
white sheets on the line, house key
and 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
ton of the Houghands coming to
grief, l suppose and next summer in
stead of seeing them wallowing in
debt We'll 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
year. She's a wise little woman. Last
year 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 months. 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 a winter of hard
work. And Mr.. HOughland agrees to
anything she says added Aunt Car
RE pOintedly.
Alice's cheeks grew quite pink.
'That Albert Houghland" she tossed
her head, "why he couldn't tie Jim's
shoestrings. How does he take care
of his family? Has he a cent laid up
for a rainy day? Answer me that?
Does he own his own home? Or build
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.
"Wel," answered Aunt Carrie tran
gully. Chinese rug or not. Albert
Houghland takes his family on va
cation every summer and let me see,
you've been married eighteen years,
and you haven't left this town except
once to go over to Coalville to your
uncle's funeral"
1--WE did intend to go last year."
Alice explained, "but there was such
wonderful opportunity for Jim to
invest his savings in that Jones prop
erty. And this spring we built the sun
porch and now Jims paying off on
bond. Maybe next year." she added,
turning away so that Aunt Carrie
would not see intense yearning in her
eyes Oh, for a Whit of stiff salt
breeze and the luxury of a first-class
hotel! For eighteen 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. | know his kind,
so intense saving for that rainy day
that he has no time nor money to en-
joy the sunshine of today"
Hes 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-
tons 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 five minutes" she antici-
pated his usual urgent query
"No hurry" he remarked genially,
and Aunt Carrie was so astonished
she dropped a fork. "Great day, isn't
Sit?" They stared at him in dismay
flor Jim never mentioned the weather
except with reference to the future
rainy-day period. "Say, Alice, how'd
you like to run down to Atlantic City
lyvith mo for 81 wool, ~
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 a little dull right now,
good time to play little.' Can you
be ready by Monday?"
Alice gave a little squeal of delight
as she flew to him.
Aunt Carrie looked at them doubt
fully. "Theres a string to it some
where, Jim. Old Pulver isn't urging
anybody to go on vacationsr'
Jim laughed boisterOusly. mo string
to this, Aunt Carrie / guess the
H.