The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-13
HIS Fathers SUMMONS.
BY A. T. r

OF the Gregorys Just SO great pleas
ure was evinced by the Wards when the
head Of the Gregory family was chosen
by the people to represent them in con.
gress. The close bonds OF friendship
were never ruptured
George. the only son Of Judge Ward,
went to New York, prospered, married
and finally became the head of -four
ishins trust company. Old Gregory's
son, John, however, acquired a good
law practice in Weston and always lived
there. He annually Visited his old
chum. George Ward, at the latter's pala-
tial New York home. A. faithful cor
respondence was always maintained
between the two.
One day Ward learned Of his fathers
death by a telegram from young Greg
ory. The sad news was not unexpected,
as the old judge had had two paralytic
attacks short time previous. The
telegram was received and read by the
1inancier's samanuensis on Monday morn
ing. 1t said the funeral would occur
Wednesday at II o'clock. Ward hastily
thrust the message-unread-in his
pocket and rushed uptown to inform
his wife. They hurried to the depot in
cab, Just catching the train for the
west.
Aboard the cars this message was hur-
riedly scribbled off and sent from the
| first stop:
John Gregory, Weston, O."
Am coming; IL O'Clock train, Penn
sylvania railroad. Draw on me any
amount. George"
Then came time for sober reflection
and thought. He wondered If in his
earlier years he had caused his old fa-
ther, now dead, any anxiety; he re-
membered the kindly advice the Judge
had given him on going out into the
world; in fact, q thousand and one
things, which escaped him in the rush
to catch the train, were thought of and
gone over between the two.
George, dear" finally the wife said.
where Is the message"
There was moments silence as
Ward fished and poked his fingers
through numerous pockets, bringing
forth the unread yellow paper. Mrs.
Ward read 1t once, twice, then said
slowly:
why, George, this seems very
strangely worded telegram. 1t says
Father died last night, suddenly; apo
pleXy. Funeral Wednesday, II O'clock
John Now why did he only say
'father?' Why didn't he say your
father% Suppose it is his father who
is dead after all"'
Ward took the message from his
wife's hand, studied its meaning care
fully and then remarked:
well, It's this way. You know, John
is countryman and has done as they
all do in sending wire. He used all
the words possible in the ten-word
limit and to have added the extra your
would have been a fragrant breach OF
country custom. No, there's no use
building false hopes on the wording
1t is my father who is dead"
Mrs. Ward said something about q
rather elastic meaning" and they set
tied back into their seats to impatientiy
await the journeys end. Late thai
night S. Junction was reached anG
they retired at the hotel. A train lef
the next morning for Weston.
Mrs. Ward arose early and set out t
have mourning bonnet made before
train time. Her husband. meanwhile
lounglng about the hotel office, wa:
greeted by Frank Dobson, friend oi
his boyhood.
But what on earth brings you ou
here at this time of the year?' exclaimed
| DODSOu. lou lOOh us uleldHCHOly d.
an owl, too"
MY father died Sunday night" sadly
replied Ward. I'm on for the
funeral"
What! Well, that's too bad. Sun
day night, eh? Queer didn't hear of it
1 left Weston Monday morning. Tn,
judge was q fine old man and l sym
pathize with you deeply"
Ward was then eSpied nv Mr. Raw
Ter, postmaster at Weston, who cam,
and shook his friend warmly by tn,
hand. He was on his way home from
Lake O..
II suppose the Judge will be tickleC
to death to see you. Taking him b!
surprise?"
Father died Sunday night Ireceive(
word just in time to come on for tn
funeral"
Judge Ward deadv' exclaimed tn
postmaster. "He must have died yer!
suddenly, for when I left home Sunda.
had not heard of his illness. How diC
you learn of it?"
John Gregory wired me early Mon
day morning. Father died suddenly
apoplexy. Here's the message" bring
ing forth the queerly worded telegram
The postmaster took it and gave
perceptible start as he grasped it's pc
culiar construction. A perpleXe,
frown wrinkled his forehead as he stu
died it second time.
by jove," he finally exclaimed, EN-
phasizing the ejaculation by an ex
pressive slap on his knee. Your fathe
amt dead. This means old man Greg
ory."
"W-w-hat-" commenced the as
tonished Ward.
Il know 1t. DR.. Scudder was hastil.
called in to see him the morning left
The men at the station had heard of 1
and were talking Of It,"
Wards expression was a study. Hi
face turned pink and white alternately
Could 1t be true, he thought, after all
his father was alive and their ol,
neighbor the subject of Johns tele
gram? Then, too, he recalled the mis-
giving of Mrs. Ward aboard the train
and here come Dobson and the postmas
ter recently from Weston In entire ig
norance Of his fathers illness. Pshaw
he had been ninny.
Upon my word, l believe you ar
right, he said to Rawler. MY wifi
called my attention to the Telegram
reading 'father'-not your father l
shows there is something in woman
intuitiveness-- and l ridiculed the idea
; To say the least, I've been u fool"
Ward rushed away, almost crazy Il
his excitement, to find his wifi
. and stop the purchase Of the bonnet
Her husband was usually so calm an
imperturbable, Mrs Ward thought hin
gone draft, as, bursting into the littl
millinery, he exclaimed:
Here, don't buy that bonnet! Fathe
; isn't dead It's old man Gregoryr'
"Why, George, w-what! How did
all happen?" she gasped. She was nc
quite sure of Mr. Wards reason.
. IT'S this way. You were right abou
; the telegram. 1t Is Johns father VIII
; is dead" He then explained to her no,
he had received the information.
well, am-"
Never mind now-pay your bill an
let's get out. We must hurry for ou
train. l ought to come this far for oil
Gregory's funeral, anyhow"
, When they reached Weston, Joh
Gregory was awaiting them with
conveyance. After change of greetin
and some directions ahout the ,ppa 81,