Evening star., 1925-12-09
THE WIDOWS MIGHT
BY HAZEL DEYO B.ATCHELOR

MISS carson as particularly attractive,
but Mrs. Churchill was absolutely fas-
cinating. She had a certain dash about
her. "A vividnesS that rested charm
ingly on her slim shoulders. He was
quite captivated by the situation and
more than "A little interested to see
how things turned out.
After time he left his chair, and
once more Joined Jack. who was still
sitting on the vera nda rail. Elsie and
Dean had Joined him. and when Mar
tin strolled up Jack introduced him to
the others. They were all four carry
ing on desultory conversation as
Fay came wearily up the walk to the
inn. Luck had been with her. for
shortly after George Waldron had
whlZzed by her in his car a pa ssinc
motoriSt had given her a lift. The oC-
cupantS of the car. a man and a
woman. had seen the little figure in
the shawl ploddinc her way along the
road. and Fay had been only too glad
for chance to ride. They had left her
at the entrance to the inn and had
asked no questions, for which FAY was
grateful. but now. AS she glanced up
AT the veranda and saw Mr.. Martin
in the midst Of the little group. her
heart leaped and then seemed to stop
beating altogether.
OF course. the situation meant only
one thing to her. She had no doubt at
all that they had discussed her and
that her ruse had been discovered. BY
this time they all knew the truth. and
a little later every one in the hotel
would know it, and she would be the
laughing stock of the place.
She drew little shivering breath
and then wearly but determinedly she
climbed the vera nda steps. Jack saw
her first. and made a step toward her:
the others whirled around as she came
toward them. For n moment no one
spoke. Perhaps to the three who had
known her only as Mrs. Churchill she
seemed suddenly n different person.
Her mouth dropped slightly at the
corners like that of tired child. her
eyes looked very large in the small
white blur OF her face II was as if
a light had suddenly been extinguish-
ed within her, and the change was
startling.
1t was Fay herself who broke the
silence. and even her voice seemed
different
Now that you all know the truth -
she said. little reathlessly, Il may
as well tell you how it happened" In
her excitement she did not notice Mr.
Martins warning look; she simply
took for granted the fact that her ruse
had been discovered. and she mist ook
siiV SiiciIC VI tnc OtDcfS lDt mute dCCu-
sation.
You see" she went on. hurriedly.
II wanted to be popular. and because
had never had any experience l had
no self elf-confidence. So | decided to be.
come a widow with past and came
up here as Mrs. Churchill That's
all, and il sounds very silly: but felt
| that | owed YOU the truth after being
such humbuS and playing such a
trick on every one"
The expressions on the faces before
her varied. Elsie's face wore look
of sly triumph. Jack looked da zed, as
though he had hardly taken in the
import of what she had said. Deans
face, as usual. told nothing of his feel
ings. 1t was grave, inscrutahl but
Mr.. Martins expression was. perha ps.
the strangest Of all. His face was n
mixture of pity, amusement and
chasrin. Fay could not understa nd
just why he should look at her that
way: but she did not stop to ascertain.
She simply turned on her heel and
fed.
Copyright. 1881
Continued in tomorrow's Starr