Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-01-19
CHAPTER !.
"Tonyn--For shorl.

Another winter had lifted Its icy
| fingers from the Storm Country and
Lake Cayuga, and an early spring had
brought from the South the red-breast-
| ed robins and thousands of other birds
to build their homes in the Forest
city, as Ithaca. N. Y, Is well called,
for TO the south, the east the west,
and even TO the north where the lake
cut sharply around corner, broad
forests stretched their lengths and
heights of leaf and Dough on mlnia-
ture mountains
One evening on the western side of
the railroad tracks girl stood before
a small building over which. Ike ropes
OF green, draped the branches of a
weeping willow tree. This building
was different from any Of the other
habltatlons near II In that II was well
painted, and the door stood open all
day.
Twas strange little girl that
gazed up with searching eagerness at
the two lighted signs that had arrest
ed her attention. In her arms she
held dlnlnutive guinea pig, and the
way she Rugged II close demonstrated
her love for It.
THE SALVATION ARMY" she
spelled out and thoughtfuly consd-
cred it.
Everybody Is welcome here she
read slowly. That meant that anyone
could enter II be wanted TO. she de-
cided. and as Tonnibel Devon did
want 70 go IN, she softly tIptoed up
the steps and peeped into the room
AS there was nobody in sight, she
sidled in and looked about
welcome" was curved In letters of
red above n table. and the silent young
stranger sighed She couldn't under
stand how n girlg co1ld be really well
come anywhere. OF course her moth
or liked her and missed her when she
was away. but Tony knew 81 no other
place where she was really wanted
but the canal boat. called Mary and
Dirty Mary for short. which had been
her home ever since she could re.
memher.
GLORY be 10 God In the highest. +"
swung In letters of gold across the
right wall and to the left. "Stand Still
and See the Salvation of the Lord. s.
kept her attention q little longer. She
didn't know what they meant, but the
varied colors shining brilliant in the
bright light Gained her turbulent
| spirit and made her happy. She
Rugged the pig closer. bent her head
and kissed the top of its ear.
II guess We're in q church, Gussie, "
she said aloud. "and you mustn't grunt
or squeal like you do on the Dirty
Mary. Its awful nice and quiet. amt
| It, houeyf"
Were you speaking TO meg" said a
/ voice from near the door
Tonnihei Devon struggled to her
/ feet turned around and saw young
man looking nj her 4 flame Of red
rushed over the tanned skin. but be.
cause he was smiling and kindly. she
smiled back. dimple coming to life
ut each corner Of her mouth.
"Nape." she flung out in confusion
II was talkin' to GusSie-Piglet here
Mebbe her and me hadn't ought To be
here, You Gun kick us out if you
want to-"
Philip MacCauley. the captain of
the Salvation army in Ithaca. bowed
and then he laughed,
Every one Is welcome here" he
quoted, coming forward. 'Where'd
you come fromg I've never seen YOU
before"
I'm staying up Hoghole way" re.
piled Tony II amt been around
Ithaca tong This is an awful nice
room, Amt it, huh?"
Yes. very. We like it, replied the
Young man. "Sit down don't be IN q
hurry want to talk TO YOU"
Tonnibel did sit down bur not very
comfortably She was embarrassed in
the presence of this handsome young
stranger. abaShed In the glamor of his
uniform. and all the beauty of him.
With boyish admiration he was con
templating the sparkle of her gray
eyes, shaded by long lashes as ebony
black as her hair which hung in ring
lets 70 her waist He decided that
she was very pretty. and that he liked
70 have her In the Sa.vation army
| quarters.
Can't YOU stay for meeting this
EVENING"" he asked presently. ave
have singing here