The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-10-08


Il hotel. 1t hung sumptuously framed il
plush, over the Widow Morris mante
the ono respcndent note in otherwise
modest home, in characteristic Queen
Anne village.
Ono had only to sec the rapt face OF its owner
as she sat in her weeds before the picture which
she tcarfully pronounced "a strikin likeness to
s,mpathizc with the townsfolk who looked askancc
at the bcrcaved woman, while they bore with
her delusion, feeling that her sudden sorrow
had set her mind agog
When she had received the picture through the
mail some months before the fire which consumed
the hotcl-a fire through which she had not passed
but ont OF which she had a wdow-shc
proudly passed it around among the friends wait
ing with her at the post-ofice, replying 10 their
questions they admired II
"Oh yes! That's where he works-if you can call
il work Hes the head steward in it. All that row
o windcrs where you the awnin's down, they re
his-an them that amt down. they're his, too
that is to say its his jurisdiction.
You Sec he's got the whip hand over the cook
an the so'eroom, an that key don't go out o his
belt unless he knows who's gcttin what-an' he's
firm Morris always was. He's like the iron law
oi the Ephesians."
What key1
1t was an old lady who held the picture at arms
length the closely to scan 1t, who asked the
question She asked it partly to know. as neither
man nor key appeared in the photograph and partly
10 parry the "'istorc auson"-a disturbing sort
OF fire for which Mrs. Morris rather noted and
which made some OF her most loyal townsfok bit
shy OF her
"Oh. l amt referrin to the picture she has
tened to explain 81 the keys that nc always
carries in his belt The regular joke there is to
call HIM st Peter an he takes it in good part for
lie declares. il there IS such thing as a simil-
tudc to the kingdom o Heaven IN a hotel. why its
in the proydentia supply department which in a
manner hangs TO his belt lie always humofS d
joke-'specially on himself
No one will ever know through what painful
periods OF unrequited longing the Widow Morris
had sought soace in this her only cherished relic
after the "half hour OF sly-works" which had made
her in her own vernacular. "a lonely confiagrated
widow with heart full OF ashes before the glad
moment when it was given her to discern IN 1t an
unsuspccted and novel value. First had come as
faint geam of comfort the reflection that although
her dear lost one was not in evidence III the picture
he had really Seen inside and So of course, he must
BE- in there yet
At first she experienced slight disappointment
that her man was not visible at door or window.
Bat II was only passing regret 1t was really
better 10 feel him surely and broadly withn-at
large in the great house, free to pass at VIII from
ono room TO another To have had HIM fixed no
matter how effectively. would have been 4 hmita-
ton AS il was she pressed the picture to her bosom
as she wondered if. perchance. he would not some
dsy come out Of his hiding to meet her
II was mufled pleasure and tremuously en-
ter,ained at FIRST, bet the very whmseay OF 1t
,as an appea TO her sensitized imagination, and so
v,hen finally the thing did really happen, 1t is
small wonder that II came somewhat as shock
II appears that one day, feeling particularly Lonely
and fororn. and having other comfort, she was
prcssing her tcar-stalned face against the row
,y;pdo,y-shuttcrs in the room without awnings TINS
being her nearest approach to the alleged ooeu
part's bosom. when she was suddenly stafueu oy
peculiar swishing sound as oi wind-olowh ram
ybcrcupon she lifted her face to perceive that
VS. indeed raining. and then, glancing back at tn
photograph she distinctly her husband rushin'
irom ono window TO another, drawing down IN
sss,es on the side OF the houses that would hav
been cxposed TO the real shower whose music wa
N her cars.
This was great discovery, and, naturally enough
ii set her weeping. for. she sobbed it made her Ice
for minute that she had lost her wido"hoou d"
that, alter the shower. he9 be coming nome
II might well make any one cry to suddenly los
tie pivot upon which his emotions are Swuns
ut any rate Mrs. Morris cried. She said mat sn
cried all night first because it seemed 80 Spooky
sec him whose remains she had so recently oufle
faith waving recognition in tho DEBRIS dasni'
Sbout now in so matter-of-act way
And then she wept because, after all he DID n'
come.
This the formal beginning OF her sense
personal eompanionshp in the pieture-coInp",
iouship Of delight in It, for there IS even de's
j. ;cars-n some situations iii life lSpeeis"y
ts true OF ono whose emotions arc her only guide
seems to have been the case with the Widow Morn
hiler seeing him draw the window-saShes-''
h lad drawn them down. ignoring her pre-
enee-she sat for hours waiting for the ram
stop 1t seemed have set in for long spe
for when finally fell asleep. from sheer disa