Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-12-16
HER SUMMONS
BY JOHN WESTON.
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Sopyribnt' lSzl' western Newspaper Union
She was frail little thing, unaccus-
toned to the confusing ways Of city,
and when Barrie first saw her, his
heart went out to her. He had come
recently himself from an affectionate
Scotch home, to the cold barrenness
Of a boarding house, and his sympa-
thies were dormant. Phyllis, lowering
like some frightened butterfly In the
dingy hall, had gone forward to him
in shy eagerness, as he came down the
stair.
please" she said, ~ have rung the
bell several times, but nobody answers.
VIII you tell me where l can find
Mrs. Banby? l have rented her rear
bedroom"
Come on up" invited Barrie cheer
lily, 'I'll show you the way; Mrs. Ban
by's probably out in the yard, the rear
room is right next to NINE"
I'm glad" said the girl lmpulslve-
ly, then blushed at her holiness.
Phyllis was more glad as weeks
passed that her room happened to be
next to Barrie MacDonalds. He had
way Of leaving little surprises out
side her closed door that made her an
ticipate, and feel less lonely. Com
ing from the unfamiliar city office at
evening, 1t was cheering to find we'll
read book lying there for her perusal-
or magazine maybe, or a fresh-cut
flower I'm waxen paper. And some
times there would be fruit, or later
us the friendliness grew and the two
took pleasant walks together-there
her door. Phyllis insisted upon the
"smallness" because she had learned
that Barrie was earning his profession
there in the strange city, and economy
was a necessity. Once or twice she
took him out to Aunt Martha's In the
country for Sunday visits, and shrewd
Aunt Martha agreed in her choice Of
Barrie as friend. Barrie learned
much Of Phyllis during those visits, Of
her past sacrifices In caring for an In
valid parent, and how the brother who
should have helped had gone far away
to seek his fortune. Barrie grew more
and more sure that Phyllis was the
one girl In the world for him, but
Barrie was not sure-of Phyllis.
She liked him, that was evident; but
the liking was so genuinely natural
that Barrie feared the feeling was far
from love; so he waited She had
confessed to him, laughingly, her fear
Of the creaking old house during the
lonely night.
Sounds" she told him, las IL ghost
ly steps were coming and going in thu
halls"
so, sometimes to reassure her, Bar
rie, waking, would tap gently on the
wall. And treasured, smiling there
In the darkness, Phyllis would tap
back her response from the other side.
And then one day she went away.
Barrie was stunned by the suddenness
of his loss Phyllis no longer bright
ened by her sweet presence the gloomy
walls; Phyllis, no more singing com
panionably about her adjoining room
It was the brother who returned all
unexpectedly with his won fortune
who had carried Phyllis away. The
brother, Jeering at the shabby rear bed
ROOM had carried her few belongings
down to his car, while Phyllis quickly
and more like fitting butterfly than
ever, kissed Barrie warmly and all un.
asked, and murmured that her spirit
would come back to the little room al
night, she knew, to answer his taps
on the wall. Barrie lay miserably
that night. Later, he might hear from
her, perhaps and later they might even
see each other Occaslonally-but II
would not be the same. Phyllis would
no longer need him, call for him. Dis.
tinctly from out the silence came a
sharp summons. Barrie sat up and lis.
tened. There were the three familiar
tappings Of Phyllis upon the wall, the
usual waiting pause then three more
Barrie half dressed and ran to the
door. His breathless call brought
no response. Mrs. Banby called to
him from the lower hall.
"Say, I'm glad you're up MacDon'
AID" she said. There's been an au'
ward !. some car ran into PHYLLIS Dale
and ber brother Mr. steorns wbo
Ius, CANA In fold mo T,be brother is
rovinp at the bospItal he saws: came
tearing ON there alone with cut in
his head. He says Phyllis is lying
dead I'm a ditch near the road. Some
men have gone out after her body. It's
terrible"
How Barrie got to the ditch by the
boulevard road he never knew. And
he was there first. Instinct may have
carried him, while the brother In his