Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-12-03
BLESS THAT STOVE
BY JUNE L. JOHNSON.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure NeWspa.
per Syndicate)

NOW, mumsey, don't worry! Wen
get along all right. Give my love to
Cousin Sue and tell her hope she'll
soon be better. And don't tire yourself
out caring for her. Yes, I'll remen-
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 train!
With 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
Their and Bob? She'd make their
mouths waterl
Lets see, what time is 1t now?"
unused Margery, slipping into ging-
ham apron that enveloped her from
head to foot. Quarter to five. Time
to get supper ready. / guess I'll have
potatoes and salmon-and-oh isn't it
glorious to be housekeeper And
Margery whirIed around the room to
get rid of some of her bottled-up de-
light.
It was the second day of Radford
H-'s 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 a vision
in blue and white, with flying brown
curls, came dashing into his arms, so
1t seemed
ooh, Tom !" breathed the vision, who
by this time had taken the shape of
very pretty, very excited young girl,
do come in 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.
II say, what's the matter?" ex-
claimed Radford, regaining his breath
and finding out that he liked this
rather extraordinary proceeding than
otherwise.
"Oh, please excuse me-" stammered
Margery; II 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 you?"
eff you don't mind" dimpled Mar
gerry, 81 would like you to see If you
could fix the old thing"
Ten minutes later a flushed Radford
with a 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
thank you?' she said. ~ never could
have fixed it myself, and should
have had to wait until father came
home, or Bob. oh, don't you want to
wash your face?'.-iumping up-"it's
rather dirty"
ct 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-
ers and such were very much in evil
dence during the next half-hour, while
very pink-cheeked Margery and Rad
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 tlfe door by radi-
ant Margery fiourishing an egg beat
er, while behind her doomed a tall,
good-looking sailor, with broad grin
on his ruddy 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 I'd lost track Of you forever |!
How the world"
"Why didn't you tell me you lived
in this district? I'd been up here
yesterday, first thing! Boy, but it's
good to see familiar facet"
With eyes wide open. Margery stared
at the excited two, who were shaking
hands vigorously, and pummeling each
other on the back. Had they gone
crazy? But Radford settled her doubts
by explaining to her with twinkling
eyes: 'It's my turn to introduce, Miss
s. Your brother Bob and I are old
friends; we roomed together In college,
and we haven't seen each other since
graduation"
That night the little party gathered
around the supper table.
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