Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-10-30

horror. "Cut doUn birches"
as diplomatic as Tom is stubborn.
So everything was fine. They got
their marriage license that afternoon
just before our town clerk closed his
shoe store.
never saw two people as happy as
Tom and Carlotta were, in that little
stone house for couple of years. They
called it Paradise Found, which I
thought was positively idiotic. But 1t
seemed that Carlotta had never been
happy before in any of her many
transient homes.
When a very young girl she had been
fought over in the divorce courts
most bitter and notorious litigations.
The pood kids pictures were spread
all over the papers. Her mothers rep
utation was ruined. Her father sud-
denly committed suicide. Then her
mother made two more marriages re-
spectively distressful and weird. and
the last one is still hanging on shakily
somewhere out in California. When I
heard all this realized how frightened
saw her when she thought herself
alone her face still looked sad as if
she were scared such happiness
couldn't last.
Probably they bored most visitors
with their pride and plans but some
how I didn't mind their infantile
boastfulness. For instance, suppose
was out there! Tom would tell me all
about the magnificent trout in the
streams I never caught any there,
myself, though I think he managed to
hook a few eight-inchers. On worms.
Nevertheless he believed himself to
possess hordes of great rainbow and
browntail trout and felt generous when
he invited you to fish. The trees, Of
course, had him in a frenzy.
What trees they we're! The finest
white pine and birch in the state &C
cording to Tom, although previously
he had allotted that honor to Mrs.
Hapgood But if he spotted a tent
caterpillar you would think he was
seeing a hideous automobile accident.
Spraying and pruning went on fever
ishly.
And Carlotta would sigh and snatch
tiny weed from her rock garden as
if this pastoral life were a heavy
chore. spent lots of Sundays out at
their place and I had to be wary or
she would have me Juggling rocks all
day for her garden. Yet her strawberry
shortcake might have been worth 1t.
That girl had an amazing flair for
cooking.
OF course they squabbled Justly
rT-l, ftxrN ivNfr 0f
constant disagreement. "Carlotta and
her view" Tom would jeer. "She could
see it by walking fifty yards, but she
wants to sit on the doorstep and hold
it in her lap"
Her usual retort was, Tom and his
workroom! He's too lazy to clear it
out so he can work in it! Charts and
boxes! He keeps fishing tackle on and
in his desk A can of worms in the
letter basket"
Still I agreed with Mrs. Hapgood,
who remarked in her soft, placid voice:
Their slight dash of discord is as
necessary as salt is to sweet corn" She
was out at the Gilbraiths' a great
deal Just as did, she seemed to take
vicarious pleasure in the Gilbraiths'
contentment, and found that she was
touchingly enviouS of their content
ment This surprised me for I had
supposed she was completely satisfied
with her own rather snowy opulence.
One day when Tom and Carlotta
were outdoors making silly picnic
out of filling a window box with dirt
and geraniums and things, Mrs. Hap
good looked wistfully about the tiny
living ROOM Hank" she said, my
lawns are beautifully manicured,
aren't they?"
Certainly are, Mrs. Hapgood."
"And my patio is charming, and my
Adam dining room is perfect, and my
library is restful?"
"An of that and more"
Then why do long for little
house like this?" Her wide blue eyes
were puzzled and childlike. This is
ideal. But perhaps it's not the house
at all; maybe it's something they've
put into it. don't mean furniture"
II see what you mean," said.
Hank" she said in very low voice,
I'm not superstitious, but don't you
think it was almost too daring of them
to call this place Paradise Found? Al
most like challenging the gods?"
I had had the same feeling but I
wouldn't admit it. you are super
stitious And romantic" smiled,
patting her hand.
About this time a young achitect