The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-09-15

M.=ssyNpF M where .S, the. the mercury me, G., ,:y
had registered one hundred in the shade
with oppressive monotony.
To a man blessed with fortune, such 6
determination offers choice of pleasures
jaunt across the Continent, Alaska, En-
gland, Paris the Rhine. John Strangford
however, had exhausted long ago the
novelty of foreign travel A visit to his old
home, his own country place now which he
had not inspected for some time appeared
sufficiently attractive, and he Immediately
experienced that bouyancy of spirit which
results from choice wisely and speedily
made. He placed his unopened books upon
the shelves, dropped some papers into Il
drawer and putting on his hat locked the
door and went down into the street
He made his way through the shabby,
perspiring crowd that surged in front of one
of the great stores on State street where
everything is sold, from shovel to a bon
net. At the corner of Madison street boy
thrust "A cluster of old-fashioned meadow
lilies into his hand. They were yellow
and without fragrance, but they brought to
mind vivid recollections of old hauuts which
he was soon to see again. He paid for them
with liberality that delighted the child
and pursued his way, past storage and COM
apartments in a pleasant neighborhood on
the North Side A burning wind blew from
the west across the parched prairies, bear
ing unsavory odors from the stock yards
and Bridgeport; while to the east the lake
stretched away to the dim skyline, as still
and glittering as molten glass, not sail in
sight.
Strangford's preparations were soon COM
pleted and an hour later the train bore him
through the squald suburbs, peopled by
gregarian Danes and Norwegians, thenceout
into the open country toward a region of
streams and forests. He wondered little
why he should ever care to go back to Gran
don. His parents were dead, he was the
last of his race, and his old friends were
scattered or had changed until they were no
longer the same. And he somewhat sadly
recalled other home e.comings-whle he was
still in college-that remote and halcyon
period when he had nurtured ambitions
and dreamed dreams.
He reached Grandon in the night and went
to u little tavern which he knew, and being
shown into clean, comfortable room, soon
slept the sleep of the just. In the morning
after late and leisurely breakfast, he went
out for stroll. He saw few familiar
faces smart Queen Ann villas, shaved lawns
and geranium beds had superseded the
weather-beaten houses he remembered The
Did homestead alone remained unaltered. 1t
stood on the edge Of the village fields join
Ing the orchard just behind tho house. He
had let the place to some decent middle
nged people without children, reserving two
rooms in the west wing up stairs for him
self, with liberty to go and come as he
pleased. These were to be always in readi-
ness for him whenever he chose to occupy
them; and Mrs. Hester, who sat by the
window sewing, saw him as he came up the
front walk, and thanked fortune that only
yesterday she had aired them and set them
in order. Presently, after an exchange of
salutations and a little commonplace con-
versation, he was seated in an arm chair by
his favorite window smoking good cigar
He surveyed the broad acres, the flocks and
herds which were an appreciable part of his
possessions, the etchings, books, and the
heavy, old-fashioned furniture of the apart.
ment with very genuine satisfaction
'After all" he reflected, here are all the
clements OF human happiness" and he con-
graduated himself that, if he had achieved
no very brilliant success, he could still look
the world in the face without shame, that
he had committed no irretrievable blunder,
and that there still remained to him undi.
minished strength, hope and health.
His luggage arrived in the course of the
morning, and thus within twenty four hours
he had left the heat. smoke and dust of the
city behind him, and was established in the
midst of summer verdure and quiet, pre-
pared to enjoy it all with cheerful spirit
and an untroubled mind.
After the early dinner, an excellent one
by the way, for Mrs. Hester prlded herself
on her cookery, he decided that he would set
out at once to re-explore the old place ia.
miliar to his boyhoOd. A horse was brought
round, and he rode down the lane, out into
the highway, and was lost TO Mrs Hester's
pursuing gaze.
The sky had been suddenly overcast with
clouds; there was a chill in the air, premoni.
tory of approaching frost here and there
the woodvine was beginning TO turn, and the
leaves of the horsechestnut, the first to fall,
were already brown and shriveled. There
was a continuous whirr of grasshoppers
the crickets chirped In tho crisp, green
grass, and he breathed the grateful frag-
rance OF mint and pennyroyal growing in
the shady fence corners. He could hear
through the stiffness the sharp decided
strokes Of the wood-chopper's axe, the cav
ing OF crows, as they walked over tho newly
plowcd burrows, while the growing of cocks
and the subdued barking of dogs echoed
family from distant farms. He reined up
his horse that II might drink from spring
by the roadside. Here the road divided,
one diverging track winding up the steep,
STONY hillside, the other crossing the creek,
runn,I parallel with tho stream until 1t
was lost 10 view behind an abrupt bend. On
one side was dense growth of willows, on
the othr.', fertile, sandy bottom-lands, plant
cd IN corn and bordered with purple iron
weod..
which shall choosel" he asked aloud,
for he had left familiar territory behind him
and MI this was new.
"Here, evidently, my hum-drum fortunes
change, Imust guess 81 which d Of the