All over 18
Dewey was born the fourth of eight children in 1901. Mary, his sister, was born the second of the eight children in 1896. The third child born between the two siblings died as an infant.
The family had the means to educate their daughters. Mary did go to college. It was there she met her beau, John. John was visiting his sister who attended the same college as Mary and immediately fell in love. Mary captured his heart with her sweet disposition and charm. She was also very pretty. John's family wrote to Mary's family requesting John be allowed to call on her after she graduated. Mary's family agreed.
While at college, John was a frequent visitor of Mary. Mary became good friends with John's sister and the three of them were very close. John's sister approved of Mary and John's relationship. The expectation of their upcoming nuptials was discussed often.
One of Mary and Dewey's younger sisters had become ill. The doctor determined it to be cancer. At Mary's first opportunity, she went home. This delayed the courtship between John and Mary however they did continue to write to one another.
Dewey had just recently turned 18 when Mary came home. He had missed his pretty sister terribly. With the sickness of their younger sister a sense of gloom had overcome the house. Mary was a ray of sunshine and full of stories of her exciting time in college.
The house had a sleeping porch on the back second story level. It was there Mary and Dewey spent hours talking when they could. Dewey was Mary's favorite brother. The first born, Daniel, had left to travel overseas. This meant Mary was the oldest sibling in the house and Dewey was indispensable. Mary did not know what she would do without him. Taking care of her dying sister was very difficult for Mary. It was hard for her to watch her sister suffering. The mechanics of changing the bed linens, washing, feeding, providing the medicine for her sister she could do. Seeing her in pain day to day was very trying. Dewey became Mary's best friend, protector, supporter, and eventually soulmate.
The letters to John eventually stopped. John was heart broken and took it upon himself to visit Mary.
John was surprised when he saw Mary. Her role of nursing her sister had taken a toll. She was still very pretty however her vitality had declined. Mary wanted to introduce John to Dewey but Dewey was no where to be found. It seemed he simply disappeared. John left the house declaring he would be back the next day. He was staying at a local hotel. That evening Dewey and Mary were sitting on the sleeping porch. They were sitting together side by side. Mary was upset. Dewey knew Mary was disappointed in him.
Dewey reached for her hand and entwined his fingers with hers.
"Where were you?" Mary asked.
