The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1908-07-23

1anitress.'
Ttsy walked on and on in the
drenching rain to the next fiat 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 a frightened way.
They might have been stone lions |
on a stoop, for all the notice she took |
of them.
There's a fiat for rent here" asked |
the widow, presently, isn't there?"
NO"
But" objected the widow, "it was
advertised"
IT'S rented"
How much was it,"
ITS rented"
Il understand that" explained the
widow, suavely; but | should like to
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
1t seemed to be a day for polishing
door knobs. The janitress there pol
ished imperturbably AS they APP
preached she added renewed vigor
| bending over her work in an alb.
sorbed and chilling manner which had
| the effect of leaving them out in the
cold
rs there a fiat for rent here?"
asked the widow, with even more tim
idity than formerly.
ITS 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"
queried she, to which question, there
being practically no answer, they went
out again in the rain. 1t showed no
sign of decreasing. 1t rather in
creased. The rows upon rows OF fiat
buildings, gray and pink new ones,
brown and red old ones, swan in a
mist. The streets shone grayly. The
skies showed hardly at all, so blurred
were they.
Sometimes" began the widow, 81
think these janitresses are soured by
their life underground and out of the
sunshine; and sometimes l think they
are born that way"
Elizabeth stopped short at the cor
ner of a street.
Lets go home now" she implored,
"and get some tea to cheer us. My
skirts are wet: my shoes are wet-Pm
drenched all over"
On the way: Did you say" she
questioned wistfully, that the jani-
tress was not so kind to women with
out husbands?"
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 janitress in the
world" decided the widow, you can
depend upon that"
Besides" she ruminated, "a widow,
after all, is a lonely sort of creature,
l 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 a
widow is the loneliest creature in the
world"
At home, the hall-boy smilingly
bowed them in. At the door of her
apartments joyous yelp greeted Eliz
abeth. She stopped and clasped Fido
in her arms.
Darling" she murmured, II hope
you'll never know how near you have
come to living with janitress."
Making themselves comfortable
they had cups of tea, sitting cozily in
opposite chairs, slipping it.
I'm glad" repeated Elizabeth
that we never see the janitress in
this fat"
Il should think you would be-
nodded the widow. There's nobody
to make your life a burden but the
hall-boy, and your husband is here tc
, wrestle with him.
Elizabeth set her cup down, and
, went to the window. She drew aside
, the curtain, and calmly observed the
, downpour, which, being outside, nc
longer depressed her.
, There are worse things than h. $
bands" smiled she, and added, hel
, eyes on the corner where the cal
t stopped and people were alighting: ''
think it's just about time for Jack u
come home"