The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-31
angrily. He was tall man wearing q
farmers suit and a wide straw hat.

angrily. He was tall man wearing q
farmers suit and wide straw hat.
over his shoulder he carried scythe.
VINO are you, and what are you do
Ing here? demanded John, holly.
Leaning his scythe against the stone
wall, the man took off his big straw
hat and famed himself deliberately.
Well" said he slowly, my names
Hiram Prentice, an I'm a friend an
neighbor of the folks that have just
been burned out of house an home
An I've my opinion of a man that'll
tali, the way you have to the girl they
pretend to care for"
$50 you've been listening, have
you?" cried John, angrily striding to-
ward him with uplifted arm. "Well,
take that for your impudence."
A grasp of iron stayed the impend-
ing blow. while tie young farmer, with
the ease of a giant, lifted Jonn bodily
and flung him into the waiting car
rage. Turning the horse, he tossed
the reins to John with contemptuous
scorn.
There. git!" said he, briefly. can
III see that no harm comes to Mertice
Spaulding."
The startled horse sprang away and
was soon down the hill and out Of
sight. AS the sound of the wheels
died away in the distance, Hiram
walked quietly across the road, and
paused within the shade of a huge
maple. Crouched against its massive
trunk was Mertice, her face buried in
her hands. For little while the
young man watched her silently.
I'm thinkin' O. walkin' down to the
village. Mertice, an il you don't mind,
III walk along O. you," said he at last,
a little efficiently.
THANK you, Hiram, I'll be very
glad of your company" answered she,
and the two stepped into the dusty
highway.
By this time the moon had risen and
was flooding the world with it's glori-
GUS light. Like silver thread the
road wound in and out among the
green trees, now past open fields OF
new mown hay, now past a solitary
farmhouse, and now past fragrant
meadows, sweet with the breath Of
cowslips, and musical with the hum
Of insect life. To the country-bred
girl the five-mile walk meant no I'M
usual fatigue, yet row her heavy heart
made leaden feet that carried her.
With an effort she hid her wounds
with cheerful talk, and to Hiram Prem
tice that moonlight walk and the sweet
face Of Mertioe Spaulding left mem
DRY that remained with him always.
Ten years have come and gone. Ten
times has the earth awakened to
springtime gladness and slept beneath
the winters ermine robes, and once
more the glorious summer blesses the
earth with its wealth of bloom. On
the site of the old Spaulding home
stead has risen new dwelling, and
the lives of the inmates have long
since settled back into the peace and
quiet of other days. Although ninety
years Of age, Levi Spaulding is still
a hale and hearty old man, vigorous
In mind and body. After the first
shock of the fire he had accepted the
inevitable with patient resignation.
The loss of his book manuscript he
had keenly felt, and ceased to write
from that time. To Mertice Spaulding
the years had flowed on quietly and
uneventfully. Although John Wilder
mad come to her with apologies and
excuses, she could not forget that dark
hour beside the smouldering ruins Of
her old home. And so, when a little
later he left the village to seek en-
ployment elsewhere, she had said
good-by calmly, knowing in her heart
that it was forever. A kind neighbor
and a faithful friend was Hiram Prem
tice, and the years had not altered his
falthfulness. 1t was on the tenth an
niversary of the day of the fire that
Hiram walked into the farmhouse
Kitchen with bundle of papers in his
| hand. Tossing them into Mertice's
lap. he said:
Here's something found in the old
| dry well back of the house. was
cutting the grass, and by accident 1
pushed aside the fiat stone that COW
cred the well, and the first thing
spied was this roll of paper high and
dry on a projecting stone. Perhaps
| you can tell me what it is"
why, Hiram!" exclaimed Mertice,
grasping the roll excite&y. Its
grandpa's manuscript that we thought
was burned. How on earth could it
have gotten into the old well?"
II declare for It, Mertice," cried
grandma Spaulding, peering at the
precious roll curiously, 81 jest remem-
Der t put 'em there myself, when the
fire broke out, an 1 clean forgot all
about 'em."
Levi Spaulding never spoke word,
yet his trembling fingers chung to that
bundle Of papers as to the hand of a
long-lost friend.
Thus it happened that the long de-
layed book was finally published, and
the name and fame OF Levi Spaulding
became inseparable with the annals Of
the old hill town. A considerable sum
was realized from its sale, and, true to
his first intention, the old man placed
it in his granddaughter hands, say
ing quantity:
Better late than never, Mertice,"
and faint blush stole into the girls
cheek as she thanked him.
It was soon after these events had
transpired that Hiram Prentice
strolled over to the Spaulding home
stead one evening. AS he approached
the house he saw stylish team stand