Evening star., 1913-11-25
THE EVENING STORY.
Two Widows.
copyright. 1913, by ". werner)

Copyright 1913. by W. Werner,
Dorcas Crane was darning stockings
and her sister. Lillian Mccall. was max
ing tatting- These occupations were not
more at variance than the sisters them
selves. Dorcas was large and calm; Lii
Ian was small and nervous Their indi-
viduality proclaimed itself in the way
they worked.
The postman's whistle gave Lillian a
start She always was looking for let
ters. She ran to the letter box and re-
turned It's Mercy Adams. Mercy Meek
er that was she announced. Il haven't
heard from her in ] don't know when.
And | cant, for the life OF me, tell
whether ] wrote last or she did. But,
anyway she's written now and she says
Ira Marks wife's dead-been more than
a year. Did you ever?''
Dorcas looked up at her sister thought
fully. Lillian had dropped into a chair
heavily. Her face was flushed. her
breath came tiutteringly. the sheet of note
paper rustled i'm her unsteady hand. At
nineteen she had looked just that way
the first time Ira Marks went home with
her. She had looked that way again
when she heard that he was going TO
marry Alice Wilson. Now Alice Wilson
was dead and he was free again. Lillian.
too. vas free. Dorcas thought of that
instantly. She also thought OF something
else.
Il believe" she reflected. he was the
man she wanted instead of Joe Mccall.
| liked Ira pretty well myself, but |
wasn't one to make a fool of myself over
any man. When Dolph Crane came by
/ took him and made the best of IL Lii
liam got the best bargain for all her
fussing but | never begrudged her She
wasn't one to- ever take things easy in
this world. Aloud she said quietly: SO
Alice is gone? Dear. dear: she was the
prettiest girl in oxford. excepting you
! thought one while 1T was nip and tuck
between you which got Ira Marks But
guess you amt no cause to mourn
now. You're alive and she's dead.
And Ira Marks is" Lillian bit her
Lip just i'm time She laughed excitedly
What say to our going back 10 oxford
this summer and making Mercy ADAMS a
visit know ] can get an invitation the
minute | write Mercy and ask her. I'd
like awful we'll TO 90.
so would H.. replied Dorcas. When
Dolph Crane died soon after Joe Mccall
and both women were left chiidless, with
scanty means i'm a big town far from
their old home they had decided to join
forces. They had been very well content
FOR some years Now. however. Mercy
Meeker's letter had aroused in them both
A great unrest. DoTcas understood that
Lillian wished TO go back on Ira ac-
count. She wished 10 go oN her own.
She wanted 10 see oxford folks again.
She drew a deep breath. IF YOU don't
mind me. YOU may, she said
The letter was sent and within ten
days came a reply. Mercy Adams would
he very glad TO have them both. say
about the second.
This gave them time 10 prepare ward
robe, Lillian was highly excited over her
own prospects. I've been we'll out of
mourning these six years she said II
shall have a blue foulard myself and a
pink linen and "a white skirt. And l
want a paras0l and nobby hat and low
shoes and long gloves And | don't know
but | shall afford silk stockings
DOrcas eyed her refectively. Amt you
going in kind OF heavy she asked