The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-23
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Richmond
THE STRANGE SUMMON

fWeu- But We cannot live lndenntteiy
on just milk and eggs and potatoes,
excellent as they are.
Il have lain awake nights for the
last two weeks for fear | might miss
his appearance"
My dear little girl. said Judson
very gently leaning over and taking
her hands In his own, will you tell
me Just what you do mean"
Il mean that we are starved out
that ] must get back TO work. And
oh, ] hate to go She struggled with
her tears again.
The young man booked at her
breathlessly. IL he could keep her.
If only his pictures would SELF
See here, girl" he said in crisp.
businesslike manner you simply
must hot take your mother away SO
soon. And you must listen longer for
the summons! I've just the dandiest
idea, but / haven't dared suggest II,
before.
- don't want To leave yet, either.
have just found my forte-t've got
TO paint nature If want success, and
thar means staying here all winter.
Il mean to get down to real work,
and I've wanted 30 much to suggest
that your mother keep house for me
up heEe! Wen get old Brown TO do
wood. And II you must work, there's
the little school down at the cor
ner~--"
oh. If we could do IL" she
breathed.
Come home with me. you very
Impractical person" he answered.
and i Will talk with your sensible
mother"
ut is going to hs cool night"
observed Melrose as they toiled up
the steep hillside. Let US get some
logs and have a fire In the parlor
fireplace this evening. Then Wen sit
costly round 1t, and talk over our
plans
In the early twilight they brought
in their logs and arranged them on
the hearth. Then. kneeling side by
side. they lighted the ragged. dry
brush
tiny column OF smoke rose to the
mantel level and fioated out into the
room!
With a surprised exclamation Mel
rose flung open the outer door, while
the young man peered into the Chin
ney questioninsly. Reaching up his
arm. his hand came in contact with a
board that completely closed the
opening into the fue.
~ II.
Il distinctly remember Uncle Nelson
having fire in this CRATE last spring.
80 1t cannot be that the chimney Is
defective"
The board slipped easily, and az he
showed Ii loose at one end a small
tin box fell with q great noise to the
hearth below.
ut is the summons" murmured
the girl. in an awed voice.
The box was not sealed Blake
drew from 1t small folded paper.
To whom 1t may coneern--and
strongly suspect 1t will prove to be
my beloved nephew. Judson Blake!
III you will present this testimo.
NAL TO Lawyer Green, and If you
have compiled with the other sttpula-
tlone of my Will, all my property.
real and personal, shall be made
over
Blake dropped the sheet back int
tho box, and turned 10 the waitin.
girl.
Girl Girl" he cried, gladly: ii
Is the summons And we are al
right. We have got the house ant
the land and~-and everything"
We" murmured she, perplsxed.
Wet" very emphatically. And h,
threw his arms about her In Eudder
fervor.
Didn't We find the box together:
And do you suppose | would ever b.
happy anywhere without your Surel.
you've known I cared--that / coult
not speak, because / had nothing
contribute toward that bill Of fare o
yours?"
oh, we'll" she murTnured demure
ly. I'VE could have sold tho eggs oc
casionally and bought beefsteak."
Dear, precious cousin hy-m mar.
riage." he cried, earnestly, ''look
me and say that you love me, tina
you will help me make the most OF
Uncle Nelson's summons"
II will--and-rwe are going TO hav,
fried chicken for breakfast" she said