Evening star., 1923-08-26
'N!s|9|%N:

7 7 pom the third Saturday OF
last May one idea possessed
the minds and governed the
actions of all the better
bachelors of NARROW and all the wild
overs. better and worse.
She was the first seen on the main
street side of the square at about 3
o'clock in the morning. Mr.. Rolfo
Williams, whose hardware establish
ment occupies a corner. caught a
glimpse of her through a window.
His clerk was only a little ahead of
him in reaching the sidewalk.
My goodness. George" Mr.. Will
liams murmured. "who is that?"
Couldn't be from a bit more'n half
a mile this side O. New York" said
George, marvelng. Look at the
clo'es."
The lady was but thirty or forty
feet away, and the murmur of the
two voices attracted her attention.
Not pausing in her light stride for
ward, she looked back over her
shoulder. and her remarkable eyes
twinkled with recognition. She nod
ded twice-first, unmistakably to MIR.
williams, and then, with equal dis
tinctness. to George.
These dumfounded men were no
more fustered than was old Mr.. New
ton Truscom (clothier. halter and
gents furnisher), just emerging from
his place of business next door; for
Mr.. Truscom was likewise sunnily
greeted.
NV goodness" Mr.. Williams
easped. Il never saw her from
Adam"
Look" said Mr. Truscom. shes
goin in Milo Carter's drug store.
Sody-water, I shouldn't wonder
JTALF an hour later. Mortimer Fole
/ / was busy drifting about the
square exchanging comment with
other shirt-sleeved gossips.
He dropped into l.. j. Fuller's tE.
]. Fuller & Co, furniture, carpets
and wall-paper).
Listen here. Ed" said Mortimer,
"what'd size do when she went into
Charlie Murdock's and bought pa
per O. pins? She went in there and
spoke right to Charlie. How are
YOU Mr.. Murdock?' she says. Charlie
like to fell over backwards! And
then. when he got the pins wrapped
up. she says, .How's your wife. Mr..
Murdock?'"
where's she supposed to be now?
Mr.. Fuller inquired, not referring to
n a -
Nope" Mortimer replied. Right
now she's went upstairs in the Car
field block to Lu Aliens office
Mr.. Fuller at once came out from
behind his counter.
where goin'. Edo" Mortimer in
quired.
out" Mr.. Fuller replied
III go with YOU" said the sociable
Mortimer. "Where'd you say you
was goin' Ed?'
"Business:" Mr.. Fuller replied
GROSSLY.
That suits me, Ed. l kind o want
to see Lu Allen. myself"
Thereupon they set forth across the
square, but when they obtained
fair view of the Garfield block, they
paused She of their quest was dis
appearing into the warm obscurity of
Pawpaw street, and beside her saun-
tered Mr.. Lucius Brutus Allen. attor-
ney-at-law. In the deep. congenial
shade of the maple trees her parasol
vas unnecessary. and Lucius dangled
/. from his hand.
Mr.. williams stood upon the corner
with his wife and 2. Borodino Thomp-
son. That's Lu Aliens lady walk"
said Rolfo, as e. J. Fuller and Mortf-
mer joined them. He always kind o
sags when he goes out walkin' with
the girls. Says toe-ward EN-. Looks
to me like he's just about fixin to
lean on her.
Don't yo worry" his wife said
testify" Lucy'd slap him in a min
ute,. She always was that kind of
girl"
Lucy" Mortimer echoed. Lucy
who.
Lucy Cope"
what on earth are you ta!kin' about.
Miz Williams? That amt Lucy Cope"
Mrs. Williams laughed. Just why
amt it?" she asked satirically. 81 ex-
pect some O. the men in this town bet
ter go get the eye-doctor to take look
at 'em, Especially"-she gave her hus-
band a compassionate glance-"espe-
cially the fat, old ones! Mrs. Cal Burns
come past my house while ago; says.
'Miz' Williams, Lucy Cope Ricketts, is
back in town. she says, and none the
men reckanized her yet,' she says, and
you better go on up to the square
and take a look for yourself how
they're behavinr"
We'll, sir" Mr.. Williams declared.
at couldn't hardly of believed it, but
1t certainly Is her.
X * *
MR.. FULLER intervened in search
1tl of information. He was not
native, and had been a citizen of
NARROW a little less than four years.
Did you say this lady was one of
the Ricketts, family. Mrs. Williams?"
he inquired.
mo. She married a Ricketts,. She's
a Cope; she's all there is left of the
Copes. Her and Tom Ricketts, got
married ten years ago and went to
live in California. He's been dead
three-four years maybe and she's
come back to live in the Copes' ole
house. Everybody knew she was
comm some time this spring. If you
want to know why the men never
took any interest up to this morning
In Lucy Cope Ricketts, goin' to come
back and live here again, it's because
oil thew aver reme m hered her she uo O