The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-10-04
THIRTY ~YEARSAFTER

James Mitchell came out Of the
hotel office Of the Great Northern the
other morning with his cigar between
his fingers and a toothpick in his
mouth. lie had been in the city five
days on business, and a few minutes
this morning in an Office over on
LaSalle street would see it wound up.
When James left home in Denver,
a week before, his partner had said to
him: Don't be in a hurry about
coming home; take it easy; every
thing is in good shape, and We will not
miss you for a couple of weeks
lie threw his toothpick away and iii
his cigar and bought a morning pa
per. After deyouring the news that
interested him his eye caught the
name Of the town up in Wisconsin
where his last college days were spent.
"Next week j. commencement up
there. is it, and | haven't been upthere
since | left school in '6S. Believe III
run up for day and look the old town
over, and see il it has changed any"
Walking out to Dearborn street he
turned his gaze to the north. "Be
hanged il | don't do tit will do me
good. I'll be boy again for one day.
anyway Arranging his business
matters ut once he wired his partner:
Everything satisfactory; going upin
Wisconsin a couple Of days" At
1880 he was on his way, and in a few
hours was nearing the old college
town.
Il guess the best room in the house
isn't any too good for me this trip
thought James. for he was a boy
again, and bound to get his moneys
worth.
After supper he hurriedly lit a
cigar, and climbing the college hill
walked about the well-shadcd
grounds. "The building looks small
er, but the trees have grown some.
Thirty-three years this month since
! came ont Of that old camp. How
time flies"
He walked about the grounds in
the long June twilight, and returned
to the hotel by a circuitoue route.
Passing nm old-fashioned residence q
few blocks from the college he stopped
and gazed at il for a long time. son
that porch / babe Anna King good
by. wondering then when ! would see
her again, but never did. Poor girl,
she died 20 years ago" lie walked
down the electric lighted streets, look
ing in the young faces he met dorthc
usual commencement crowd was in
town.. wondering why he did not
meet Ezra or Fred, for you see he was
a boy again, and looking for boyish
friends.
The college bell awoke him the
next morning. 1T sounds natural"
unused our friend. II mustn't be late
this morning" lie shaved and
bathed, thinking his face wasn't quite
so smooth as last time he had shaved
here, the day he went home, and the
gray hairs were plenty enough now.
"Never mind, III be a boy to-day any
how" Nine o'clock found him again
walking about the college grounds
with his hands behind his back, and
a cigar in his mouth. Sitting down
on a shaded bench his thoughts went
back TO his last week at school. "My
room used TO be in the third story in
the nearest corner. Wonder what
kid had it this term. Across the hall
Snow and Taylor roomed. Snow
lost track of-Tayloris a rich lumber
man in northern Michigan" So in,
TEN had our friend become engrossed
in his thoughts he had not noticed the
bevy Of young girls, who, coming out
of the ladies' hall, sat down on the
lawn in the shade near him. Uncon.
%sciously their conversation attracted
his attention, and before he knew il
he was interested. Sweet girl grad.
yates, most of them; it sounds natural
TO hear them chatter. Wish ] could
scrape up an acquaintance. Wonder
if they would feel offended if l walked
ever and interviewed them. Believe