The daily Alaskan., 1921-09-17
TWIN COTTAGES
By MILDRED wHITE
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4uNN St|taA tue water l-f t4ht a Ntt very laug with budding trees ca eiJbeT side. Richard had never travelled Jhe silvery lane early in the sp-inEdme. The cottage nesting farther on Us banks would be barred and forbiddlug but oI this Richard was glad. He had uo desire, In his present mood Of dis appointment and dlSllusiou, for human guunaut0ushfp. Rather Ike srieyea hermit the man fell iu his wish for solitude and meditation.
 The twin cottages faced Alm as he rounded the bend
 Mother" that word around which ceutered au ooylsh hope and adm.ra- uou. II was for sake of mother, early widowed. that Richard intended Jo be all those w0udergu, things which she had dreamed for him; for her. that he studied and r0.Icd and reached al Ia>t his measure as success. And now that mother was made comfort able rn~augh his .eEur.s ae planned eagerly Jr reach uu, loy even big ger n.aes that she might be more proud. and g.aa. And mother had failed him.
 Never. in all the stories that he raaa. had such an uuheard Of thInE happened ysua.ly j., Was the ID. grateful son who eEoped with a maiden nr a.> eluea. forsak.ac aIial devotion. For mother. his own comforting mother to have deserted her sons .arlu. protection for that O. strange w..a-huuung man-Jh.s Was the mun#eah.r stunning fact which n-.r-Ir his disappointment
 She ma written hu from their apartment .a the csly ot th.s5uew un- .u.av.l-a step she had taken while Es.nar. Was ia New York au business
 Hastily recu-uuG he found his aa.a.- >.5u away upon her wedding s.-reg and daaed and troubled, he had made his way out Go rhe .aSe -.r-. cottage. where Ee and his moth er had sraa, SD many happy hours to- -..ur-.
 There We're ua ra~es lu evidence now. but lilac bushes sent their fra -aucu across his tined face. and lu ~a..a .f his sadness the spring sweet rr,> revived su some way his sinking spirit
 Re would be quite alone on rhe beach. lr reflected. turning tae key r rn. lock. hut Richard Was m.s- taken. Immediately from au Uppe7 window %. tne twin house next door came shower Of dust sent from a ,avre mon while a girl graSp.ns The -.r handle s.a7e5 down ai him bel u-.-u.Iy. Sle was far rno pretty ga a.r. ra .-aWu. aua Iu aH reason. it >..ueH that Eioaa~T, should he the ra.-arua. He licked rhe dust from his uncovered head as she shot defiant question.
 ~Nn.-" asked this angry. ulusua. v.na- person. "arc you doing here2 rs you have been sent oa. In order to persuade me To ca baek. you can tell ...- na-h. it's nf no use. ] intend hereafter 60 live by myself. ] came .rr ta the cottage merely Co Eaiu time .rE-" Richard was alarmed Go see he girl suddenly burst into tears, 'he- aau>e there was DO place else for me ra c1." she ended mise-ahly. With ar- rarry he hastily entered the silent e.r-n-a and made his way uT the stairs
 Prom tre window Of his home he wgu.l Ia better able Co fsce rhe g.r. f.. twin house. When he was ..a>. nruu-h ro reach over and rouch ..- hand she raised rea--stained face.
 aI- was at that very window" she accused. that your mother began her matchmaking siege oa Dad Dad hover intended to marry again. Iknow he didn't. That is why he had ne study domestic science so ! could go .- Eaaptac house for him And just when ! was doing beautifully. and we were SO han0y-oh,-" the blue eyes flashed hatefu.-y-"I hate your moth e~~ finished the girl.
 Richard drew a long breath, the sit nation grew uore confusing. "W.l eua tell me" he asked quietly. just who you are and how you happen to speak or the Grays couaEe as your 1ars old Mr. and Mrs. Gray have occupied the place next door, from the year .r was built"
 Mrs. Gray" the girl explained. ts my aunt Father and J spent the remainder Of last summer with her here. after you had gone to New York. uh. we heard enough about you at the time from your mother. and ! did think she was the sweetest thing. un- r# she and Dad got to srollinC of to- cu.ler." rhe girl ended abruptly.
 "u.d Dad come back to our apart uant and find me missing. and send yon out after mes" she demanded
 Richard looked down To the lilac scented porch below. "We could talk rh.reS over better down there" he suggested.
 It was at suudown, that Richards urtle boat went slowly on up stream.
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