Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-23

lived In his humble little home on the
lonely mountain side. But now that
they had been summoned to the read
Ing or his will, the lawyers once
was crowded with expectant relatives.
Who had dreamed the old man had
anything to will? Sharp eyes asked
this Of each other while lips spoke
common-places.
ANY Of my aforenamed relatives
who desire to participate In share
LOT my property. must permanently
take up residence In my home on the
mountain" read the lawyer monoto-
nOusly.
ANY such person while in resi-
dence there to whom may. give 9
personal summons, shall present EVIL
denca OF such summons to my lawyer.
who Is instructed to make over my
property to said person. Any at
tempt at fraudulent evidence will be
useless, as my lawyer and myself
understand each other thoroughly"
Judson Blake, sitting in a dusky
corner, watched curiously the faces
before 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 look OF
baffled greediness: some expressed
contempt; others, anxiety and super
stitious fear. Opposite him was q
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
inquired. II am Melrose Madison.
Have you seen the place, Mr.. Blake?
Would it be very ridiculous for me
to go?" .
cts greatest drawback is the lonely
but we can scarcely feel
loneliness, dear cousin by-marriage,
he murmured.
'sDo you think they will all go?"
exclaimed the girl, incredulously,
"And you?"
Money is, a great magnet" he re-
turned. inscrutibly.
1T isn't the money entirely" de-
MED Miss Madison, "and vet, 1t is
money! did so want that place for
mother; it would mean life and health
to her!'
Go by all means. Miss Madison,
and go early. I shall start tomorrow.
II you will come up on the train
Thursday will meet you both at the
station
Judson Blake found the little noun
tain house as It's late owner had left
1t. While he arranged his quarters
he seemed to see everywhere pair OF
grateful blue eyes.
The long summer days that fol
lowed passed happily. Judson tended
the garden, MIXED the COW. and cared
solicitously for the old sorrel horse
and the.' flock OF specified hens. He
took long walks with a girl whose
pale face had become rounded and
tanned, and whose blue frock was
sadly faded. Between times he 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
received a summons from the eccen-
trio spirit OF. Nelson Blake.
Revealing in the beauty OF changing
colors, Judson was returning up the
mountain one day in early fall, when
he came suddenly upon a tumbled,
fearful mass OF faded blue gown ana
yellow hair.
"Miss Melrose," he cried in alarin,
sitting down beside her, "my dear
little cousin by marriage, what can
be the trouble?"
[. ooh, OH sobbed the girl. II know
I'm a goose! But why hasn't he sum-
moned me, II he is going to? I've
resided here Just as permanently as
4 know how to, and just as long as !
can. >.5s9&
1T seems as If cannot take my
mother back to that dreadful city
lust as she is getting 80 beautifully
we'll. But we cannot live indefinitely
on Just milk and eggs and potatoes,
excellent as. they are. -
az 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?"
~ mean that we are starved out
that must get back to work And
oh, hate to CO." She struggled with
her tears again.
The young man looked at her
bre athlessly. If he could keep her!
If only his pictures would sell!
see here, girl he said ina crisp
businesslike manner, ), you simply
must not take your mother away SO
soon. And you must listen longer for
the summons! I've just the dandiest
Idle a. but ] 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.
II mean to get down to real work,
and I've wanted so much to suggest
that your mother keep house for me
ND here! Well get old Brown to dc
the outdoor work and get up our
wood. And If you must work, there's
the little school down at the cor
ner--
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