hills like white elephants

Ernest Hemingways “Hills Like White Elephants” This short story reflects the ways in which Ernest Hemingway presents only the “tip of the iceberg” and the impact of the story lies beneath the surface, left to the imagination of the reader. It seems remarkably clear that Hemingway was determined, in this writing, to demonstrate an alternative way of thinking that reflected his own alternative attitudes regarding the status quo. This story was published in 1927 by Hemingway …

…went through the door with the beaded braids and the act had taken place. Throughout the story the number two seemed to be used often. There are two: character, bears, anis del toro, sets of train tracks, mountains, and strands of beads held by the women. What is the significance? Also, I could not figure out what the beads stood for or what white elephants had to do with the story. Why two white elephants?