Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
In the Next Cot, a Short Story.

asked Wilkins innocently. do YOU know
anything that both of us like?"
DO you mean something that We
admire. so to speak? Something that we
both feel an interest in?"
The Stony Lady shut her lips firmly
and opened them just enough to say:
Now YOU are going to be silly. -,
That is what she means. Willy"
Wilkins said Try to think of some
thing we both adore"
Willy thought deeply.
From where l am sitting. he said at
length my eyes are looking straight at
the back of one thing that Wilkins ana
desire. l can't see it's face. because
it is looking angrily at the back OF the
cab into which Wilkins will bump in a
moment or two But I can see its hair.
one golden lock of which. like sun
beam escaped from prison
The Stony Lady's hand quickly touched
the hair at the back of her head
Its not true" she said land YOU two
are ungallant to attack me when You
know | cant jump out of this car IL IS
taking a mean advantage. You never get
me alone but you poster me with
We'll. then said Willy cheerfuly.
why don't you marry one or the other
of US and get rid of us? We have asked
you often enough. At least l have
Me. too said Wilkins. How does
the account stand now? Is Willy ahead
or are we even?
put you out of your misery. said the
Stony Lady with seriousness that meant
either that she was deeply in earnest or
not at all in earnest. is that you don't
either of you really know what you want
or why you want II. You are two chill
dren and you will never be anything else.
When. l marry 1 shall choose a strong,
forceful man. who has some reason for
living and who will want me because /
am needed to fill out his life. 1 hate to be
3 7 TOW
like to have. but that you could joke
about if you did not secure
Wilkins glanced at her face and jerked
his lever quickly, causing the car to swing
recklessly around a slowgoing wagon
into the park entrance. The Stony Lady
swayed against him.
Pardon he said. but the fun had left
his eyes and he drove his car ahead at
greater speed.
. You two remind me of children, moth
ing more" said the Stony Lady. Did
you ever hear baby awaken i'll the night
and cry and cry and cry for drink. after
IL had been given drinks and drinks and
drinks? All babies are that way. They
all want things they don't need and
oughtn't to have. You two are the same.
You cry for me as if | were a drink. You
simply haven't anything else to cry for,
so YOU cry for me-"
Willy was leaning forward to catch her
words
IF you got me-" she continued you
wouldn't be pleased. You wouldn't care
for me. | wouldn't satisfy you. because
there is Eothing in you TO satisfy. You
would still cry for other things you don't
want
Il admit the logic said Willy. but
object to it's application. Can't speak for
Wilkins. but | should never cry again
I'd forever coo blissfully."
Wilkins said nothing. He was thread
ing his way in and out among the car
riages in the park, anu it may have been
that this required all his attention
The Stony Lady had been courted in
this light and airy manner by these two
for more months than l dare tell you, and
by Willy longer than by wilkins. The
Stony Lady had aided and abetted Will
ly's nonsense. Everybody did. Thus,
through his airy love making. she had
adopted a tone of frivolity in fighting
their advances.
This vein of seriousness in the Stony
Lady was new. 1t made Wilkins feel that
he had been making a free fool of himself.
He had been using fireworks instead of
shells. He had not quite APP
preciated the Stony Lady.
AS the car darted from the upper en-
trance of the park into the broad path of
gayly, as much to himself as to Wilkins
and the Stony Lady. for they had fallen
into a thoughtful silence. Wilkins was
pushing the car 10 reckless speed, for
him. and a mounted police eyed the car
\ great beer wagon with high
piled barrels doomed just ahead and then
quite suddenly. the car seemed to rise in