Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-05-06
RENTING NAY COTTAGE
By DOROTHY BLAcKMoRE.
Copyright 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)


her mother had asked her to look
about while she was visiting her aunt
in the summer resort,
Instead of going to her aunt's house
when she left the real estate agents
Office, she went straight to the cot
tage for which she had obtained the
key. She swung it idly back and
forth while she held to the long wood
en- tag that was. attached to it.
When she reached the cottage. that
had been pointed out to her as the
one she sought she looked with favor
for the first time on the prospect of
summering in America. Heretofore
she had gone to Brittany or Nor
mandy with a group Of her friends
from the academy, and they had been
wont to paint and sketch away the
whole happy summer. Now the Euro
pean war prevented her from going
and she chaffed under the restraint
of remaining sedately. by the side of
her family for an entire season.
Elaine was fond of her family, but
they did not always understand why
| she cared so little for conventional
social life and preferred to be with a
few poor struggling art students. She
was the only member of the family
who cared for the artistic in life and
who had not been fashioned from
perfectly conventional mold.
Now, as she entered the tiny gar
den belonging to the cottage, she
looked about and appreciated the ar
tistic setting of the cottage.
MAY Cottage" she read above the
doom And so named because of the
May trees in front, / suppose" she
said to herself, as she inserted the
key in the lock.
A slightly musty smell met her
senses as she entered and, owing to
the darkening sky without, a gloomy
aspect was presented.
The living room of the cottage was
nicely furnished in grass shades and
there was nothing to antagonize the
artistic taste of the girl who stood
within it.
ut smells like a tomb" she rumi.
mated; "but I'm spared the sight of
the woven notices 1 had expected to
see in all these cottages in this old
fashioned village on the sound. Why
there isn't even the traditional
horsehair furniture, nor the marble
top table nor-no, not even family
Bible!" she cried aloud.
Each room was as pleasant sur
&C
herself almost pleased at the pros
pect of living in the cottage for the
summer. She stood in dainty cham
Der looking out, when, suddenly, the
clouds burst and the April shower
that had been gathering for an houl
descended upon the world outside.
'I1l be like Goldenhair who visited
the bears cot in the woods and go Il
sleep on this lovely bed" she said t.
herself, taking off her hat. II cam
go out in this and spoil my best spring
suit"
It was not long until she dozed of
lulled to slumber by the pattering rail-
on the cottage roof
When she awoke it was to look int
the face of a young man who wa
studying her intently.
Elaine! OF all things in the world
would have as soon expected to Sc,
my grandmother slumbering here II
this strange cottage as you'll"
Roger Lane still stared while Elaine
only half awake, jumped to her fee
and pinned on her hat.
''Why-where am I? Roger! l.
You're in for rent cottage Il
South Vernon all alone and hav,
been looking at the place for my mar
ried sister to spend the summer IN"
Elaine looked as If she UNDERSTOOD
the situation. She was wide awak
now. "a shower came up and didn'
want to spoil my suit" she explained
II got the key from Mr.. Worse, tn,
real estate agent" said Roger.
"And his clerk gave me mine" add
ed Elaine. isn't it too weird 70
words?" ~ h.Ea
She laughed now and Roger joine,
her as they descended the pretty stair
way to the living room, into which
turned.
"Why are you house hunting?
asked Roger.
FBecause l can't go with the STU
dents to France. of course" she SAID
saucily,
"oh, for one more of those sun
mers!" breathed Roger. SN
They both looked reminiscent for
few moments and then they bot
turned away as If each would proven
the other from seeing what was uI
!. permost in mind. r
"If-if your people take this CO.
tage and, perhaps, am able to An
one near BY for Sis, we could nm
some sketching to do hereabouti
Elaine, could we not?" Roger asked.
1Why--we might" Elaine aIsswere
\ happily, as if the thought were
Z welcome one. "Ii shall recommen