The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-04-18
ACROSS THE way
By SUSAN e. CLAGETT.

the road and across from big, old |
fashioned house, the very LONELINESS |
of which suggested comfort. The girl |
leaning on the gate leading to the cot
tage looked from the one to the other
and nodded her head with satiSfac-
ton.
sit win do, if l can only make the
the roof leaks there must be one or
two of the rooms that are habitable
and the place will be a riot of beauty
when the June roses are in bloom.
However, | see its possibilities be-
cause | so desire it. The place is real
ly forlorn."
"Stick to the possibilities" a pleas
ant voice said behind her. 'When the
weeds are cut and a few nails are
driven into missing palings you will
not know it."
The girl turned with q start, her
eyes cold. She had not realized she
had spoken aloud.
at does look uncared for" the man
continued, critically examining the cot
tage and its surroundings, but ! know
its possibilities. If you wish, / will
have it put in order at once"
"Are you the owner?"
81 was born here. Strange how one
lets the years pass without coming
bacf9l I have always meant to come,
but never did. / Think" he said re-
lecttFely, that I hive been waiting
for Just this" Hesturned and looked
at her. for the first time. you are a
stranger to the place"
She nodded toward the big house
across the way. Il am visiting friends,
but would like to remain all summer
! if the cottage is practicable"
at will be ready when you are
! ready" he declared.
At the dinner table that night she
told of what She had done Margaret
/ Alden listened with troubled face.
! How could you, Nan?" She said at
last. you know how we want you
with us"
Il know" Nan answered soberly,
"but l must lead my own life, Mar
garet. over there will be home. across
the way will be you, my dearest
friends, to call upon when"
Did he say what brought him?'
Tom Alden interrupted.
"Who:"
"The doctor-your prospective land
lord" Then he chuckled. Il saw him
in Washington ten days ago, but he
said nothing about coming out. | Won
der--yes, l did tell him you We're stay
ing with us. He seemed interested"
why, I never before saw the man.
She had been in her home month
when the accident occurred that ma
teTfa1fy altered her outlook upon life
, Up TO that time she had been absorbed
in her work as an illustrator and haG
succeeded beyond her utmost expecta
lions. Then the seemingly impossible
happened. She fell and broke hel
, right arm and wrist-slipped upon thC
topmoSt step of the little stairway anC
! fell to the bottom. Her nanny found
| her, crumpled heap on the floor, ant
10 picked her up rs Wallace Irwin knock
ed at the open door.
He did not hesitate. With skillfu
fingers and a sure knowledge as L
what he was about he made the cir
comfortable. AS he put the finishin;
. touches to the baEdages she opene,
her eyes and looked straight into til
keen gray ones above her. Even in he
pain their expression puzzled her. Sh
j. had seen that look in the eyes of 9th
n er men, but that it should lie in Wa
) lace TWINS caused her wondermen
:, and annoyance.
=. Nan drew more within herself an
+ he knew her reserve was due to hi
Y one moment of self-betrayal. There
after he was on his guard, but bein
g Il man of swift action he could ne
= long tolerate delay, and a few day
+ after the accident he demanded he
attention.
"Why did you run away from N
two years ago, Man,
RUIZ awas2 Why should II" Sh
i hesitated, looking at him oddly. is
really you? / did not know it,
a liGiNC SGdItItb lbI YOU ever,
- where" he answered gravely.
Is THAT was unnecessary" Her eye
Il. flashed. Uncle Dick had no right /
n make me a party to such a wilt
III parcel me out as he did his stool
D. and bonds. I preferred to make N
~ own living, as have done"
as "True. But he did leave you to n
~ with the stocks and bonds, and it W;
X up to me to find YOU"
- Her glance was curious. "Were sc
- pleased to have wife thrust upon yo
in so arbitrary a manner-to
=, forced to marry girl, a stranger, b
os cause of the knowledge she would
penniless if you did not?'
He laughed. II had seen you Sc
eral times, and the venture did L
\ look undesirable. But you gave me
\ chance to make good. That was u
fair. As for the money. | don't wa