Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-06-04
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1. GENESIS.

was poor and literary.
Mrs. Wealthy Widow lived in one
of the suburbs because she had money
and wanted to keep 1t.
Mrs. Longman was tall and untfdy-
q woman VITO always had rip In her
reeve, q tear In her skirt and some
buttons OF.
Mrs. Wealthy Widow was short.
rather stout and as neat as a pin: al
though her husband had been dead
beyond the formal period OF mourning.
she still chung to habiliments Of black.
Neither of these ladies was aware
of each others existence until they
CHANGED to meet at summer colony.
Why they became friends! II
would be hard to say. but everybody
knows there is something In the air
OF summer resting places which makes
queer friendships.
BY midsummer these two ladies
we're as intimate as the blind man and
his dog.
At the end Of the summer. Ike
David and Jonathan, they could not
bear to part.
The middle of September came. Mrs.
Longman said she ought to go back
to the city. Mrs. Wealthy Widow said
she must 60 home.
They parted with q mighty wrench
many kisses and heaps Of promises to
see each other soon.
2. THE GIFT.
II was late in October before Mrs.
Longman had her Apartment settled.
her rips and tears sewed up and was
buttoned throughout.
Then she thought Of her dear
friend, Mrs. Wealthy Widow.
Il must spend the day with her"
she said.
So she did.
Mrs. Wealthy Widow welcomed her
with opened arms. warm kisses and
not tea
The day was spent in picking over
the past summers gossip.
Mrs. Longman prolonged her visit
until the cows came home. and 1t
poured little cisterns.
Never mind" said the widow. Il
will give you an umbrella 1t Is
blue silk one. I can't use 1t as l am
In mourning. Don't bother to return
it."
Mrs. Longman didn't.
3. REVELATIONS.
Time few into November and the
widow had not returned Mrs. Long
mans visit. neither had she heard
from her.
Early in December Mrs. Longman
received a brief note from the widow.
1t was q request for the return Of the
blue silk umbrella The widow had
left OF her weeds end 1t would Just
match a new blue dress.
Mrs. Longman Immediately sent the
umbrella back by express. The re-
ceipt she carefully deposited in the
scrap basket.
Christmas came and went Mrs.
Longman had neither seen nor heard
from the widow.
The middle of January Mrs. Long
man received q still briefer note from
the widow asking for an immediate re-
turn of the same blue silk umbrella
Mrs. Longman took q postal and
wrote, Il did send it." and began to
think Of the receipt.
Time went ON as It always will. but
Mrs. Longman heard nothing from her
dear friend, not even IN answer to her
postal
One day, much 10 her surprise, she
received q letter from the Widows
legal adviser. requesting the return Of
q blue silk umbrella. borrowed the pre-
ceding October.
Darn the woman" said Mrs. Long
man, and wrote the legal gentleman
she had sent the umbrella back BY
express in December.
Where 10 the receipt" replied the
legal gentleman
Il have lost. r." wrote Mrs. Long
man.
Then what evideuce has my client
that you ever sent IT." replied the
legal gentleman.
Ny word" wrote Mrs. LongmanL
your word 10 not sufficient" -
Piled the legal gentleman
Mrs. Longmanrs indignation did NOT
permit; her to answer Az she heard
nothing more she quickly forgot al
about the matter.
Tie widow I'D not forget She
wanted that blue SIX umbrella u
matched her dress
Once more she requested her legal
adviser 10 write. demanding the 70
turn Of the blue SIX umbrella. or the
payment q I've doliars or Q threat
ened suit
O. receipt Of this last commnnscar
ton Mrs. Lopgman seli into tears ana
said. How could She!
Thea she took . sheet OF paper.