Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-07-09
BLESS THAT STOVE
BY JUNE L. JOHNSON.
wwSS~~SS~veSSVVSSS
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)

'Now, mumsey, don't worry Well
get along all right. Give my love to
Cousin Sue and tell her I hope she'll
soon be better. And don't tire yourself
out caring for her. Yes, I'll remem-
Der to feed the cat, and that Bob is
fond of pudding, and that the iceman
comes on Thursday, and-mumsey, do
hurry or you'll miss your trsinw
With a gay wave of her hand, Mar
gerry S. watched her mother out of
sight, and then went into the house.
A whole week of housekeeping by
herself! Margery actually Rugged
herself as she thought. Wouldn't she
prepare the greatest feasts for IA
ther and Bob? She'd make their
mouths water!
Lets see, what time is it now"
unused Margery, slipping into ging-
ham apron that enveloped her from
head to foot Quarter to five. Time
to get supper ready. / guess TIL have
potatoes and salmon-and-oh isn't II
glorious to be a housekeeper And
Margery whirled around the room to
get rid of some of her bottled-up de-
light.
It was the second day Of RadfOrd
HIS furlough. AS he disconsolately
wandered about the town he wondered
gloomily what to do with the time on
his hands. Suddenly something hap
pened!
He was starting up new street,
when out of the corner house vision
in blue and white, with flying brown
curls, came dashing into his arms, so
Ii seemed.
"Oh, Tom !" breathed the vision, who
by this time had taken the shape of
very pretty, very excited young girl,
"do come i'm and see if you can fix our
kitchen range! The old thing won't
Oh II beg your pardon" And the girl
backed away in great confusion and
establishment.
81 say, what's the matter" ex-
claimed Radford. regaining his breath
and finding out that he liked this
rather extraordinary proceeding than
otherwise.
ooh, please excuse me-" stammered
Margery; 81 thought you were Tom
R, one of our neighbOrs! He's a
sailor, too, and You look exactly like
him."
I'm sorry I disappointed you" re-
turned Radford with an amused smile.
you seem to be in trouble. Pardon
me, but can't ! assist your
IF you don't mind" dimpled Mar
gerry, II would like you to see if you
could fix the old thing"
Ten minutes later flushed RadfOrd
with smudgy face Strengthened up
from over the stove and announced
cheerily to Margery: ITS all right
now; it was only clogged up. You
can use it"
With a relieved sigh Margery drop
ped into a chair. How can l ever
thank your she said. 81 never could
have fixed it myself, and l should
have had to wait until father came
home, or Bob. Oh, don't you want to
wash your faceT-jumping up-'it's
rather dirty"
81 think you said when you came
IN that you had no particular place
to co." began Margery. would you"
she gasped at her own boldness, but
bravely finished-"care to stay-for
supper-with father, Bob and me"
Egg beaters, spoons, cake tins, sift-
in ntyi-
dence during the next half-hour, while
a very pink-cheeked Margery and Rad
I ford, with an apron on, too, hurried
back and forth, both chatting merrily
as they worked.
Imagine Mr.. SIS and Bob's sur
prise when they came home that eve
ming to be met at the door by radi-
ant Margery fiOurishing an egg beat
er, while behind her doomed a tall,
good-looking sailor, with a broad grin
on his rudy face.
Folks" began Margery excitedly,
~please meet"
But she never finished, for with one
leap Bob s. reached the side of Rad
ford, and EXPLANATIONS such as these
issued from the eager lips Of the two
young men:
Great Scott! You here? Why, !
thought rdlOst track Of you forever
How the world"
"Why didn't you tell me you lived
In this district? I'd been up here
yesterdays thing Boy, but it's
good to see a familiar face"
With, eyes wide open, Marsery stared
at the excited two, who were shaking
hands vigorously, and pummeling each
other on the back. Had they gone
crazy2 But Radford settled her doubts
by explaining to. her with twinkling
eyes: ITS my turn 10 introduce, Miss
81 Your brotherS Bob, and / are, old
friends we roornedtogether in college,
and we haven't seen each other since
graduatiop."% .s-s A''i"i7l
That night theslittie party gathered
around the supper table, q eji2a1a'
After merry evening, Radford de-
parted, but not until he had left be-
hind him promises to return and talk
over again the college days with
Bob. ~ 49, ~ 81
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