The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-07
! RENTING may COTTAGE
. BY DOROTHY BLACKMORE.


and everything connected with it
bored Elaine Kent this spring. But
her mother had asked her to look
about while she was visiting her aunt
in the summer resort
Instead of going to her aunts 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
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.
1T smells like a tomb" she rumi-
mated; "but I'm spared the sight Of
the woven notices 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 a family
Bible!" she cried aloud.
Each room was as pleasant a sur.
prise as the first, and Elaine found
herself almost pleased at the pros.
fect Of living in the cottage for the
summer. She stood in a dainty cham.
Der looking out, when, suddenly, the
clouds burst and the April shower
that had been gathering for an hour
descended upon the world outside.
I'll be like Goldenhair who visited
the bears cot in the woods and 60 to
sleep on this lovely bed" she said to
herself. taking off her hat. Il can't
30 out in this and spoil my best spring
suit"
It was not long until she dozed OF.
lulled to slumber by the pattering rain
on the cottage roof.
When she awoke It was to look into
the face Of a young man who was
studying her intently.
elaine! OF all things in the world!
would have as soon expected to see
my grandmother slumbering here in
this strange cottage as you!"
Roger Lane still stared while Elaine,
only half awake, jumped to her feet
and pinned on her hat.
"Why-where am I? Roger! L"
you're in for rent cottage in
South Vernon all alone and I have
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 awake
now. "A shower came up and I didn't
want to spoil my suit" she explained.
Il got the key from Mr. Worse, the
real estate agent" said Roger
And his clerk gave me mine" add
ed Elaine isn't it too weird for
words?"
She laughed now and Roger Joined
her as they descended the pretty stair.
way to the living room, into which it
turned.
"Why are you house hunting?"
asked Roger.
Because / can't go with the stu.
dents to France, Of course" she said,
saucily.
"Oh, for one more Of those sum-
mers!" breathed Roger.
They both looked reminiscent for q
few moments and then they both
turned away as If each would prevent
the other from seeing what was up
permost in mind.
If-if your people take this cot
tage and, perhaps, am able to find
l., 10