The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-23
DAILY SHORT STORY.
TWO WIDOWS AND A cow.
BY DONALD ALLEN.

| Mrs. Matilda Fletcher was washing
windows. hopping the floors and doins
a general cleaning up for the Widow
Perkins. Mrs. Fletcher was a married
woman who went out by the day at a
dollar a day.
Mrs. Perkins lived on a small income
and SO far as the people of the town OF
| Mason had settled the matter in their
! minds. she did not intend to marry
| again. She had been asked time and
! time again by Mrs. Shoemaker, Mrs
Schofield. Mrs. Kirk and others II she
| didn't feel 1t better to take a husband to
| build the fire in the morning.
If you We're Mr.. Perkins up in heaven
| and saw some other man building the
fire and filling the tea kettle for break
| fast wouldn't you be mad about it," she
| had made answer.
After Mrs. Fletcher had stood on 4
| chair for an hour and washed windows
she entered the house. Mrs. Perkins,
would you be mad if 1 rested my back
for a few minutes?"
why. of course not
Ever since that California earth
quake I have felt a weakness in the
knees and back. 1t was the jar, 1 sup
pose. though 1 did not wake up. Are you
affected by earthquakes
Not in the least. The only thing that
affects me is my Dreams"
You don't say? Do you have bad
dreams?'
Sometimes. and sometimes very hap
py ones. You clean house for the
Widower Jackson every Saturday, don't
you?"
Il do. and nice man he is
Mrs. Fletcher, il ! should tell YOU
something cOlifl 20
self?''
You ought to know. Mrs. Perkins.
that l am no blabber."
well. I have dreamed that Mr.. Jack
son rescued me from a ferocious bull at
the risk of his own life. 1 awoke call
ing him brave man."
Mrs. Perkins,
Then I dreamed that Elder Bascombe.s
horse ran away. and was about to run
over me when Mr.. Jackson caught him
by the brfdle.''
Did I ever
And 1 was SO weak in the knees over
my narrow escape that he had to pur
his arms around me for a few minutes"
Gross my heart, Mrs. Perkins, If I
don't believe those dreams mean some
thing. Have you had any other dreams
Mrs. Perkins,
Il had one last night. but am afraid
you will think me silly about it,
mo, 1 shan't. No one can help dream
ing
We'll. dreamed that Mr.. Jackson and
were sitting on the river bank holding
hands like two lovers"
And he was saying that he loved
your"
Il think he was
Good! Mrs. Perkins. you are a widow
and Mr.. Jackson is a widower Fate Is
trying to bring you together"
1T may be So" was the quiet reply.
You take my word for it that it is So.
No woman ever yet dreamed Of a man
holding her hand that marriage didn't
follow. And being my back Is rested I
will now go back to my windows"
There is no great rush. Mrs. Fletcher.
Take 1t easy. Do you suppose Mr. Jack
son would be interested to know that /
Of him?' y,
pliment to man to be dreamed of by
q woman.
"You could manage it somehow to tell |
him that had dreamed Of him?"
II could. He Is quite man for mys- |
teries'
IF you could manage 1t. Mrs. Fletcher,
md say that have told no one but you, !
and be sure to remember what he says"
IT can"
my COW is getting rather old, and my |
brother over in York IL going to send me |
mother. and I will give the old one to /
vou."
: May heaven bless you! shall bring |
L about or die In the attempt
Mrs. Fletcher swept and busted ana
,aked bread for the widower on satur-
lay. rs usual, and after her days work
vas done she FASTENED to the house of L
Mrs. Perkins.
81 told him." exclaimed Mrs. Fletcher L
y she entered the house. II found out 1
hat he believed In dreams. and I went U