Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-04-26
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The Strange Summons
BY SUSANNA GLENN
Copyright. 1911, BY Associated Literary Press.)

he came suddenly upon tumbIea,
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, 'T know
I'm a loose! But why hasn't ne sum-
moned me, If he is going 20? I've
resided here just as permanently as
1 know how to and just as long as I
can.
at seems as if l cannot take my
mother hack TO that dreadful city
just as She is getting 50 beautifully
well. But we cannot live Indefinitely
on just milk and eggs and potatoes.
excellent as they are
81 have lain awake nights for the
last two weeks for fear l might miss
his appearance"
My dear little GIRL" said Judson,
leaning over and taking her hands in
his own, will you tell me just what
you do mean?"
81 mean that we are starved out
that l must get back to work. And
oh, l hate to CO." She struggled with
her tears again.
The young man looked at her
| breathlessly. If he could keep heri
If only his pictures would sell!
See here, girl" he said in crisp,
business-like manner, "you simply
must not take your mother away so
soon. And you must listen longer for
the summons! I've just the dandiest
idea, but l haven't dared suggest it
before.
Il don't want to leave yet, either. /
have just found my forte-Ive got to
paint nature if / want success, and
that means staying here all winter.
81 mean to get down to real work,
and I've wanted so much to suggest
that your mother keep house for me
up here! 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
brenthed.
| SOAAO llOlu6 Will mt SOA vel III
practical person." he answered. "ani
l will talk with your sensible mother"
at is going to be a cool night" OBJ
served Melrose as they toiled up the
steep hillside. Let us get some logs
and have a fire in the parlor fireplace
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.
tiny column of smoke rose to the
mantel level and foated out into the
room!
With surprised exclamation Mel
rose flung open the outer door, while
the young man peered into the chin
ney questioningly. Reaching up his
arm, his hand came in contact with
a board that completely closed the
opening of the f1ue.
This is certainly strange he said.
81 distinctly remember Uncle Nelson
having a fire in this CRATE last spring,
so it cannot be that the chimney is
defective"
The board slipped easily and as he
showed it loose at one end small tin
box fell with a great noise TO the
hearth below.
at is the summons" murmured the
girl, in an awed voice.
The box was not scaled. Blake
drew from it a small folded paper
ITO whom it may concern-and 1
strongly suspect 1t will prove to be
my beloved nephew. Judson Blakei
IF you will present this testimonial
to Lawyer Green and If you have com
piled with the other stipulations OF
my will, all my property, real and
personal, shall be made over"
Blake dropped the sheet back into
the box, and turned 70 the waiting
girl.
Girl! Grill" he cried, gladly; 1T
is the summons. And we are all right.
We have got the house and the land
an-and everything"
"We?" murmured she. perplexed.
Wei" very emphatically. And he
threw his arms about her in sudden
feryor.
Didn't we find the box together7
And do you suppose would ever be
happy anywhere without you? Surely
You've known cared-that I could
not sneak. because l had nothing to
contribute toward that bill Of fare OF
yours ?"
ooh. we'll" she murmured, demure-
", I'VE could have sold the eggs oc-
casionally and bought beefsteak."
Don't, precious cousin-by-marriage, p"
he cried, earnestly, Took at me and
say that you love me, that you viii
help me make the most OF Uncle Nell
sons summons
81 will-and-we are going to have
fried chicken for breakfast" she said,