The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-04-20
SASAIlIW0lNlNlAllENNlWNlNlNNl
The Strange Summons
BY SUSANNA GLENN
(Copyrlghl, 1911, by Associated Literary Press.)

well. But We cannot live indefinitely
on just milk and eggs and potatoes.
excellent as they are.
II have lain awake nights for tho
last two weeks for fear ! 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"
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 looked at her
breathlessly, II he could keep her!
II only his pictures would sell!
Sec here, girl" he said in crisp.
busincss'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 | haven't dared suggest It
before
Il don't want to leave yet, either. |
have just found my forte-Ive got to
paint nature II want success, and
that means staying here all winter.
Il mean TO get down to real work,
and Two wanted so much to suggest
that your mother keep house for me
up here! Wen 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. Il 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
ut is going to be a cool night" OBJ
served Mclrosc as they toiled up the
steep hillside Let us get some logs
and have n fire in the parlor fireplace
this evening. Then well 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 tho
mantel level and noated out into the
room!
with a surprised exclamation Mel
rose flung open the outer door, while
| the young man pecrcd into the chin
ney quostiouinply Reaching up hts
arm, his hand came in contact with
board that completely closed the
opening Of the tlue.
This is certainly strange" he said
Il distinctly remember Uncle Nelson
having fire in this crate last spring
so It cannot DO that tho chimney II
defective"
The board slipped easily and as h
showed It loose at one end a small til
box fell with Il great noise to thu
hearth below
1T is tho summons" murmured thu
girl. in an awed voice.
The box was not sealed. Blak,
drew from II a small folded paper.
ITO whom 1t may concern-and
| strongly suspect It will prove to b.
my beloved nephew, Judson Blake!
IF you will present this testimonial
to Lawyer Green and If you have com
| piled with the other stpulatlons o.
my will, all my property. real anC
personal, shall be made over"
Blake dropped the sheet back int
the box, and turned to the waiting
girl.
Girl! Glrl'" he cried, gladly; "i
is the summons. And we are all right
We have got the house and the liant
an-and everything"
WEI" murmured she, perplexed.
wet" very emphatically. And h
threw his arms about her in suddel
fervor
Didn't we find the box together
And do you suppose | would ever b.
happy anywhere without you? 6urel,
you've known I carcd-that coult
not speak, because | had nothing t
contribute toward that bill of fare o
yours"
"Oh, we'll" she murmured, demure
~, I'VE could have sold the eggs oc
casionally and bought beefsteak."
Don't. precious cousIn-by-marriage,
he cried. earnestly, look at me an,
say that you love me, that you will
help me make the most of Uncle Mel
sons summons"
81 will-and-we are going to hav
fried chicken for breakfast" she said