Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-14

rats, and we fought about it, said
Henry. "By the way, Dr. Culver lived
on the other side, didn't he? Well, there
is a whisky cure institute there nova
big one-the third in the state"
The next morning Hardesty started
out to view the property before finally
deciding not to sell. He declared that it
was hardly worth while, as he had no
pressing need for money, and it was al
ways pleasant to think OF the old times,
and the old place, and the old home.
"When we get to that corner, he
said, proud to show that he still remem-
bered things, 1--WE will turn and cross
the common, passing by old Mrs. Mar
wins cottage and swinging to the right
by Hen Gettle's dollhouse. :"
"I'm afraid we can't, " said the agent
and friend. "You mean to cross the
common, don't you, as we used to Ill
making the short cut for the river when
we went fishing? WE'LL" as Hardesty
nodded in a delighted affirmative, 1--WE
can't do it, for it is all built up now.
Mrs. Marvin's cottage site is taken up
by the residence of the mayor, and Hen
Gettle's home is now his home no lon
ger, but is three story hotel. You see
the town has been progressing in II
years. F"
Hardesty looked at his friend in won
der and not altogether in pleasure.
son the way" he said, 81 should
like to pass the old one room school
where Lo Fleetwood used to teach, and
out Of the window Of which leaped II
years ago. tits down this way, ISM it?'
cit has been moved back in the lot,
and big grocery has been built on the
front-the playground, you know, where
we used to play foot and a half and sail
ors' Bombay. The old school has been
converted into stable for the horses OF
the man who runs the grocery. We
abandoned it as school ten years ago
| and erected a pressed brick structure
down in the next block. We have been
progressing materially.
"You don't mean to tell me the old
school is used as stable?" cried Har-
desty. "And that playground gone tool
Why, the happiest moments of my life
and yours were passed there listening tc
half witted Billy Mendenall initiating
bird songs and skinning the cat on the
horizontal bar, which we bought by q
popular subscription of old iron an6
rags. ;"
eyes, it was in the way Of improve
ment. -
AS they talked they walked. HardestJ
hardly knew himself for the changes IL
the old town-the dear old town bacl
to which he had looked SO fondly. OF
there in Chicago he had been in thu
habit Of passing opinion on men ant
saying: "Ah, you poor, hustling, dc
luded mortals, you are entirely differen
4 from Squire Lo Stone and OFT Templa
and the other quiet, tranquil souls il
that other town where my old home is
am glad I have that dear place. |
will be like an anchorage to me in thi
stormy sea-" And now, and now-why
just think of it! The old school a stable
Henry" he finally remarked, ether
is just one thing seriously want to an
! must see. There used to be big cotton
wood tree over Oh the river bank-yo
l remember it--where I carved my nam
one day-my name and that of a CIR
I'm married now, but, do you know
t I'd like to see that old tree and see
t the initials are there yet. The girl wa
Ida Jordan. I suppose, of course, 81
d has IL children and'-
o "She's dead, Dave-died two yea
: after you left. And the tree has bee
Q cut down to give way to a lumber yai
d and"-
Hardesty interrupted him.
"Say," he cried, "you sell that stu
e Of mine for what you can get l don
Q want to see it again. Your town is tt
prosperous for me. There's only OF
thing more I want to know. I want
lick the man who cut down that tire
Who is he? Where can he be found?'
i cit was on my land, and cut
It down." said his friend, the agent
n Chicago Record.