The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-01-19
LITTLE GRAY HOUSE
BY H,LpA MORRIS.

upon II early one morning In June
when she was searching for quiet
place to read and dream.
Mildred was n teacher. and she had
come to spend her long summer vaca-
ton at willow Lake hotel She was
a, slim giSi,. pale and, pretty. with q
Soft charm that needed only rest and
fresh air to make 1t bloom into real
beauty.
The little gray house looked like a
haven peaceful enough for anyone. 1t
was shaded by a huge oak tree, and
the patch Of lawn before 1t was green
and smooth as velvet A large For
Rent" sign decorated It's front window.
Mildred climbed the steps and peered
in at the window. She saw clean
swept room with painted white wood
work and an old white wooden man
tel. There was a glimpse Of blue
walled kitchen ON beyond.
"Ohr' the girl exclaimed to herself.
Il do want to see the rest OF It I
wonder
She turned the knob softly and found
that the door was unlocked. 80 she ex-
plored the quaint interior. growing
more enamored Of the place at every
step.
1t was not hard to find the man who
had charge Of it-he lived a half q
mile farther down the road.
~That's the Gordons' house." he ex-
planned. "They're all dead now except
one young Teller that's moved to the
city. He wants 1t took good care Of,
and he'll rent 1t cheap to anybody'll
do that"
ooh, I viii take good care of It."
Mildred assured him, smiling. It'll
even paper some Of the wallis"
So she got the house for the absurd
rental Of 81 q month-less than half
the sum she paid for her stuffy room
in the hotel. Mildred had little fur
nlture In storage In the city. She sent
for this, and set about the process Of
redecorating the sunny rooms
BY the time the living room was
complete, with It's chintz curtains,
braided rugs and gate-legged table. 1t
was as delightful room as my wom-
an could wish.
There came dusty August day
with a hint Of thunder and rain In
the air. There came also a letter
a most unwelcome letter to Mildred
In her little house. 1t was from the
principal Of the private school where
she was teacher. 1t said that she
was expected to return to her post on
the 18th Of September.
She Lit a fret was really cool for
August, and she was always ready to
light fire at the slightest excuse be-
cause 1t looked 80 coy.
Mildred sat before the fire, trying
her very best to think of some plan by
which she could escape her year at
the school. If only she could paint,
OF write. or do some clever thing to
earn a living at homei The threat Of
rain had become reality. 1t began to
fall in sudden torrents. AS Mildred
stood at the window she saw man
come down the road, running. He
turned suddenly, and sought shelter
under the big oak tree before her
house. At that moment a glimmer of
lightning flashed out Mildred rushed
to the door.
"Plense come in !" she called. "You
might be struck under that tree. It
isn't safe"
"All right" he called back in pleas
ant voice, and In two or three bounds
he was on the veranda, shaking him
self like big Newfoundland.
I'm pretty wet" he smiled. II
hope
But Mildred interrupted him with a
sudden exclamation.
David Gordon!" she cried. "How-
ever did you come to me-here?"
II came to see my house." he re-
piled. "and you. Didn't you know. Mil
dred. that was your landlordf"
"Now she said. ST didn't. What
ever do you live at Mrs. Green's for
when You have place like thisY'
"why I couldn't live here alone" he
said, land make It look like this
Goodness, Mildred, what have You done
to the old place? 1t hasn't been SO
homelike-since mother diedw NJ
Mildred laughed, little ruefully.
II know it's homelike," she said
"And the worst Of IL Is I've got to
leave 1t and go back to work very
soon. I-hate to give it up"
David nodded, little absently. He
was looking Mt the brown-haired girl
in the blue gown and thinking how
lovely she WINS, how well she fitted into
the coy little room.
"Why don't you move In yourselfg'
Mildred was saying.
Il couldn't--now." he said. "It's
rented. It's your house. There's Just
one condition under which might live
here. That is"
She waited, wondering, her heart
curiously a-nutter.
"That you will. stay here with me.
Could you marry me, Mildred, even
though I offered you nothing better
than this little house, and lover
"Oh, Davidw abe whispered. a.
could. And nobody in all the world
could wish for any. morei"
Copyright, 1917. blythe Mcclure Nswspa-
per Syndicate.)
Aaldea