The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-01-31

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An elderly lady with Air Of short
gray curls on each temple stepped into
the private once Of Phllahder shanks, |
merchant Mr.. shAhks; tore. b6wsd.
pointed to q seat and sbked her what
be could do for her.
Il have come to see {ou, Mr.. shanks,
Ion ! very peculiar mission. have
|biat hlSihi hlSii. | i tsss bg1fses gA By ! tN I'D I'd
~ isas paused = r. s iIsss sosssa a. 4s;is &ssp
wai lhnntinG for sote placssta basin.
theh went sod. ! IN 90 eaf 10 ma
"1'hore atH two pSrts t0iiifsofor those
who livsbso be our sksp The arst
half N entirely unlike the second. In
youth Ne know nothing Of the loneii-
ness Of old age. Many a man and
woman up to forty is absorbed in that
which has nothing to do with provid-
ing compsiionshi for old age. Then
perhaps suddenly a realization comes
to Dis Of the fact TINT we need the
home. We remainder the lost oppor-
tunities OF youth to form d connection
which would have resulted IN sohs and
daughters growing UP about us nnd"-
'Mddam,'' interrupted Mr.. Shanks,
syou are describing me. l tnve built
DIP q fortune but have neglected to
buiid UP d home I have reached the
time when would giadly give tho
fortune FOR the home. What Is there
for me when leave this Office? A.
miserable existence till the next morn.
Ing, when I resume my duties. dlnef
alone, spend a lonely evening ut my
club, and when I 90 to my desolate
apartments
"And l." interrupted the iady-"T
live in room by myself. manage to-
get along during the day, since l am
Interested IN several charitable lss0ci-
ations- president Of one ana secretary
or afiothef--but when evening comes
how can 60 out alone and where can.
I gor' s
Does your plan him to relieve such
conditions, madam
ut does. You have made It very
easy for me to propose 1t. knew you
were n bachelor and past-well, past
fifty"
"Fifty -five, madam" q
Therefore knew you would sympa-
thiHe with me. propose to establish
an exchange for those elderly people
who would like to marry. but have no
one to marry. True. the major part OF
the deficiency we can never make up
the children. Dear little things, how
would love to have them always about
me. with their funny ways, their
"And grown. madam. ! would give
my check for million for son to
succeed me in this business"
"And II l had had children when
was from twenty to thirty should
now be petting my grandchildren. |
love them best from eighteen months
to four years, from the time they are
learning to walk and to talk till they
begin to crave playmates."
"And think what q fnc thing It Is to
watch them while they nre being edu-
Gated - the boys growing strong and
mainly. the girls good and BEAUTIFUL"
But we are wasting time without
coming to the point. win enter my
name rs the first woman chnrtcr mem
her OF the exchange. would like you
to enter yours as the first man mem-,
tjer." XIX.
Gladly, madam" regretfully. I'VE
cannot. MS you say, surround ourselves
with families. We are too old. But we
may make homes for each other. No
man can make home without wo-
man.
you Will need some funds. madam,
arst Tor stationery for your notices and
invitations, then to secure a place for
meeting. trust you Will permit me
to furnish little fund Tor starter
He took a check book from drawer
what name, madnm" y
"Spinney-D. A.. Spinney."
what coincidence! remarked Mr.
shanks. pausing IN his WORK. laying
down MS pen ana looking ut the iady
through his spectacles. do you know
madam, had 1t not been for one OF
those asinine conditions incident 70
yonth might have had u home with
: lovely girl Dy the name OF spinney.
we al nave t1ose ,nemories. : one
day parted IN a PEI win q man