The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-18
The Epening Story
Hunting Houses.

/
woman of the clerk in the village real
estate office.
II think there is one here. Do you
wish to see it with a prospect of rent
ing?" asked the clerk. ''It is fur
nished, you know
''Yes-I do know" replied the
stranger. II am visiting my aunt,
in South Vernon. and it is possible
that we might come up here for the
summer if we could find a suitable
cottage. Mrs. Melledge, my aunt.
said she thought Worse & Co. had the
renting
I'VE do; and we are having very
busy renting season for summer cot
tages, even though it is only April.
Folks can't travel abroad so they're
going to exist here laughed the
clerk. Hard luck! But-fine for us!"
Elaine Kent did not particularly
fancy the type of young man who was
talking to her in such friendly fash
ion, but she smiled and took the key.
Summer cottages, summer cottag1ng
and everything connected with 1T
bored her 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 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 II.
! When she reached the cottage tnat
had been pointed out to her as the
one she sought she looked with favor
for the first time on the Prospecs OF
sun1mering in America. Heretofore
she had gone to Brittany or Normandy
with a group of her friends from tne
| academy and they had been wont 10
paint and sketch away the whole nap
nv summer. Now the European war
prevented her from going and sne
! chafed under the restraint OF remain
ing sedately by the side of her family
for an entire season.
| they did not always understand why
| she. cared so little for conventional So
| cial life and preferred to be Win a
| few poor, struggling art students. Sne
who cared for the artistic in life and
| who had not been fashioned from a
perfectly conventional mold.
Now, as she entered the tiny garden
belonging to the cottage, she looked
about and appreciated the artisue set
| ting of the cottage.
s.NIay Cottage she read above the
door. "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, 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 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 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 prospect
Of living in the cottage for the sum-
mer She stood in dainty chamber
looking out. when. suddenly the clouds
burst and the April shower that had
been gathering for an hour descended
upon the world outside.
"I'Il be like Goldenhair who visited
the bears cot in the woods and go to
sleep in this lovely bed" she said to
heself, taking off her hat. Il can't
go out in this and spoil my best spring
suit
It was not long urtil she dozed off,
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 hcr 1ntently.
'EIainei OF all things in the world
| l would have as soon expected to see
my grandmother slumbering here in
this strange cottage as you'll
! Roger Lane still stared while Elaine
| only half awake, jumped to her feet
and pinned her hat.
"Why-where am /? Roger =
You're in a for rent cottage in
South Vernon all alone and 1 have
been looking at the place for my mar
! -iet Tar tn In sum Yrlea = Y,
Elaine looked as if she understood
the situation. She was wide awake
now "a shower came up and 1 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"
added Elaine. Isn't il 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 I can't go with the stu
dents to France, of course" she said,
saucily.
'oh, for one more of those sum-
mersi" breathed Roger.
They both looked reminiscent for
few moments and then they both
| turned away as if each would prevent
the other from seeing what was up
permost in his mind.
Tiff your people take this cottage
and perhaps. 1 am able to find one
nearby for Sis, we could find some
sketching to do hereabouts, Elaine,
could we not?'' Roger asked.
.-Why-we might" Elaine answered
happily. as if the thought were a
welcome one. 81 shall recommend
this house to mother with real enthu-
siasm f.
IF I can find one for Sis?" asked
Roger
/ .'Oh-but of course Elaine admit
| ted, blushing.
! And during .he following week
Worse & Co. rented two cottages
through having given the two keys to
! the same cottage to two individuals
1T r.rl,o rl,<- 4