The Topeka state journal., 1911-03-18
THE EVENING STORY
The Strange summons.
(By Susanne Glenn.)

VINO mad dreamed the old man had
anything to will? Sharp eyes asked
this of each other while lips spoke
commonplaces.
Amy of my aforenamed relatives
who desire to participate in a share of
my property, must permanently take
up residence in my home on the noun
tain," read the lawyer monotonously.
Any such person while in residence
there to whom I may give a personal
summons, shall present evidence of
such summons to my lawyer, who is
instructed to make over my property
to said person. Any attempt at
fraudulent evidence will be useless. as
my lawyer and myslef understand
each other thoroughly
Judson Blake, sitting in dusky
corner, watched curiously the faces be-
fore him. He was the only person in
the room who had known the dead man
Intimately, and he was enjoying to the
utmost the singularity of the will
Some of the faces held a look of baf-
lied greediness; some expressed cor
tempt; Others, anxiety and supersti-
t1ous fear. Opposite him was a slip of
girl in blue gown. The pale face
under the dropping hat seemed to
grow pinched during the reading; but
when her troubled eyes met Judson,s
she rose impulsively and came to his
side.
This is Mr.. Judson Blake?" she in
quired- Il am Melrose Madison. Have
you seen the place, Mr.. Blake? Would
it be very ridiculous for me to go?''
Its greatest drawback is the lonely
situation, but we can scarcely feel
loneliness, dear cousin-by-marriage ge.'
he murmured.
DO you think they will all go " ex-
claimed the girl incredulously. 'And
you?'
Money is a great magnet" he re-
turned, inscrutably.
1t isn't the money entirely" de-
MED Miss Madison land vet. if is
money! I did so want that place for
mother: it would mean life and health
to herr"
Go by all means, Miss Madison,
and go early. 1 shall start tomorrow
If you will come up on the train
Thursday I will meet you both at the
station"
Judson Blake found the little noun
tain house as its late owner had left
it. While he arranged his quarters
he seemed to see everywhere a pair of
grateful blue eyes.
The long summer days that follow
ed passed happily. Judson tended the
sa1i gaIden I'm miiked the COW. and cared
and the flock of speckled hens. He
took long walks with a girl whose
pale face had become rounded and
tanned. and whose blue frock was sad
~ 1dOcOs ocLWS0n times ne painted,
with a determination to win, new to
him.
AT the weather-beaten little house
relatives came hopefully, and went
away in disgust. The sick woman
grew strong and happy. But no one
trio spirit of Nelson Blake
Reveling in the beauty of changing
colors. Judson was returning I'D the
mountain one day in early fall when
he came suddenly upon a tumbled,
fearful mass of faded blue gown and
yellow hair
Miss Melrose,'' he cried in alarm,
sitting down beside her, my dear lit
tie cousin by marriage, what can be
the trouble?'
"Oh, OH" sobbed the girl. qI know
I'm a goose! But why hasn't he sum-
moned me, if he is going to? I've
resided here just as permanently as
know how to. and just as long as 1
can.
1T seems as if I cannot take my
mother back to that dreadful city just
as she is getting so beautifully we'll
But we cannot live Indefinitely on Just
milk and eggs and notatoes. excellent
as they are.
81 have lain awake nights for the
last two weeks for fear I 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?"
IT mean that we are starved out
that I must get back to work. And
oh, hate to CO." She struggled with
her tears again.
The young man looked at her
breathlessly. If he could keep her!
If only his pictures would SELL
'.See here, girl" he said in crisp.
businesslike manner. you simply
must not take your mother away so
soon. And you must listen longer for
the summonsi I've just the dandiest
idea, but haven't dared suggest it,
before.
81 don't want to leave yet, either.
have just found my forte-Ive got
to paint nature if I want success, and
that means staying here all winter.
Il mean to get down to real work,
and I've wanted SO much to suggest
that your mother keep house for me
up herei Well get old Brown to do
the outdoor work and get up our
wood. And If you must work, there's
the little school down at the corner"
"Oh, if We could do it," she
breathed.
Come home with me. you very i'm
practical person. he answered. "and
will talk with your sensible mother"
sIt is going to be cool night"
observed Melrose as they toiled up
the steep hillside. Let us get some
logs ana nave Hre IN tne parior Hf6-
place this evening. Then we'll sit
costly round it, 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
A tiny column of smoke rose to the
mantel level and aoated out into the
roomi
With a surprised exclamation Mel
rose flung open the outer door, while |
the young man peered into the CHM