In the Onyx Lobby

"In the Onyx Lobby" by Carolyn Wells is a story set in the early 1900's that explores love, dreams, and competition. It mainly tells the tale of Miss Letitia Prall and Mrs. Everett, two women who have disliked each other for a very long time. Richard Bates, a young man with ideas for new inventions, finds himself stuck between his desire to create and what his family wants him to do. As Richard falls for Dorcas Everett, the story heats up; both lovers must face their mothers' anger and the stress from their families' conflict. This sets the scene for a puzzling murder that mixes personal relationships with ideas about social class and the results of holding onto anger for too long.