The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-06-27


matter how good-for-nothing he is.
he's a protection. A lone woman Is
subjected to all sorts Of sights and ILL
treatment from other women in au-
thority, particularly II she is q widow.
am a widow know"
By-and-by: And OF all the women
in authority" she continued. barring
the landlsdy Of boarding house. Ae
janitress is the most brutal 10 women
Unless you have a husband, Il Is al
most impossible to live in a fat with
ianitress"
They walked on and on IN the
drenching rain to the next fat on
their list There. the janitress was
occupied in polishing the door knobs.
Ascending the steps, they furled
their umbrellas. and stood looking at
her in frightened way.
They might have been atone lions
on a stoop, for all the notice she took
Of them.
There's a fat for rent here" asked
the widow, presently, isn't there27
No"
But" objected the widow, at was
advertised"
ITS rented"
How much was it?a
TITS rented"
4 understand that" explained the
widow, suavely; but ! should like 70
know at about what prices the fats
rent for in this neighborhood before
! inquire further"
The janitress had finished polishing
the door knob. Silently she opened
the door and closed It with herself on
the inside.
Somewhat disconsolately the pair
once more walked into the straight
and steady rain.
MY shoes are wet" complained
Elizabeth.
And SO are mine" returned the
widow.
They arrived eventually at the next
fiat on their list.
It seemed to be a day for polishing
door knobs. The janitress there pol
ished imperturbably. As they ap-
preached she added renewed Ylgor.
bending over her work in an alb
sorbed and chilling manner which had
the effect Of leaving them out in the
cold.
is there a fiat for rent here?"
asked the widow, with even more tim
idity than formerly.
It's rented came the answer
Il wish" remarked Elizabeth. audi.
bly,, that we'd known before we came
they were all rented"
The janitress turned a granite face
upon her
Did anybody ask you to Gomez"
querled she. to which question, there
being practically no answer. they vent
out again IN the rain Il showed no
sign Of decreasing 1t rather In
creased. The rows upon rows OF fat
buildings, gray and pink new ones,
brown and red old ones, swan Ia a
mist. The streets shone grayly. The
skies showed hardly at an, SO bluused
we're they.
Sometimes" began the widow. Il
think these mattresses are soured by
their life underground and cut OF tbs
sunshine; and sometimes think they
are born that way"
Elizabeth stopped short at the cor
ner Of a street.
Let's 80 home now" she implored.
"and get some tea to chez us. Ny
skirts are wet; my shoes are wet-Fm
drenched all over"
On the way: Did you say" she
questioned, wistfully that the jani-
tress was not so kind 10 women With
out husbandsg
That" reiterated the widow grim.
ly, was what said. They are brutal
to them"
There are worse things than hus-
bands reflected Elizabeth, softly
AS long as there's a janltress in the
world" decided the widow, you can
depend upon that"
Besides" sie ruminated. "a widow
after all, IS lonely sort OF creature.
know. Apparently she is the gayest
OF the gay; but In reality there are
many dark and lonely hours that she
must live through. Sometimes
widow Is the loneliest creature iL the
world"
AT home. the hallboy smillnglv
bowed them In. At the door Of her
joyous yelp greeted Eliz-
abeth She stopped and clasped Fldo
n her arms
Darling, she murmured. Il hope
'ou'll never know how near You have
'ome % living with a ianitress"
Making themselves comfortable
hey had cups Of tea. sitting cozily In
opposite chairs, slipping It.
I'm glad" repeated Elizabeth
that we never see the janitress n
his fat"
4 should think you would ba-
iodded the widow There's nobody
o make your life burden but the
Ial-boy and your husband Is here ID
vrestle with him"
Elizabeth set her cup down and
rent to the window. sho drew aside
he curtain, and calmly observed tha