The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-31


gracious as sunlit September after
noon. Advancing and extending her
hand she greeted Miss Miles with:
This is very kind OF you to take
this interest and call
Miss Miles, with simply q change
but no abatement of the enduring
smile, replied, Il have wanted for
long time to get acquainted with
you, Mrs. Hanson, for | have been
much interested in seeing you and
your husband go past, and | am also
interested in your dear little daugh-
ter Margaret. When saw her this
morning couldn't resist asking her
to tell me her name and where you
lived. She told me. TOO, you were
going TO be at home this afternoon,
and / made up my mind It was no
more than neighborly to get acquaint-
er, and so came right up today"
Eyes, Margaret told me you were
intending to call She makes more
acqualntances and friends than eth
er her father or me, for Jack and |
keep so close at home that we meet
very few people socially"
1T seems to me- Mrs. Hanson, It
is q mistake not to mingle more with
people, and II might be of great bene-
flt to your husband. When / planned
to come here ! made up my mind
would suggest TO you that your hus-
band attend the meeting of our
nelghborhood club There is no
knowing what good effect II might
have"
II will think about It, Miss Miles,
but my husband doesn't care to meet
many people. and as long as that's
his wish, of course | raise no OBJ
lection"
yes, yes" sympathetically said
Miss Miles, IL can see how you feel"
ITO be sure" resumed Mrs. Ham
son, 1--WE went into society a good
deal while we lived in Medford. but
as Mr.. Hanson got worse we rather
dropped out of things, and when he
got GO bad that we had to leave Med
! ford and come in here / didn't have
the courage TO try and find new
friends"
do you like 1t better here than in
Medford?"
81 feel that we must live here
whether we like It or not While we
lived out of town | nearly worried
myself TO death to have Mr.. Hanson
| going on the train in his condition"
81 should think it would have been
very dangerous" said Miss Miles,
and, after pause, she continued
with, Il believe 1t to be my duty to
ask IL something can't be done about
Mr.. Hanson, and want to speak
with you seriously"
Mrs. Hanson had been glancing out
of the window somewhat absent
mindedly, and now turned and said
hurriedly, Don't say anything more
about It just now, please, for see
Margaret is at the door. | try TO lei
her suspect as little as possible about
her fathers condition. The subject
is too painful TO be gone into much
before her."
THAT is only toe true" murmured
Miss Miles.
Excusing herself TO her caller, Mrs
Hanson let in Margaret. Her entry
made a vision of red cheeks, long
black curls and sparkle. She greeted
Miss Miles with, There don't yor
think my papa will be comfortable
now this evening? have been ou
shopping for him. Here's a jar oi
tobacco, this funny great long ella,
pipe which he tells me is called {
church warden and here's his even
ing paper"
81 try to make Jack smoke cigars,
said Mrs. Hanson, for / think they're
better for him, but he says You jus
let your man have his pipe, Dora
and be comfortable | fear, though
he thinks to smoke anything but
pipe would be extravagant."
The visitor inquired gravely o
Margaret, Doesn't Il hurt your. faith
er to smoke, and doesn't it trouble
you to see him do it?"
| iJOld Nalllt W Nui 6hi uooioAahN
with, mo, think both Maragret an
| are very glad to see him get som
comfort that way II he can. Whei
he gets home at night and settle
down with his pipe he really seem
TO be enjoying himself, and" turn
ing TO Margaret, that's how we wis
TO see dear papa. isn't it,"
Yes, indeed. ! know how hard
is for poor papa and how weak he IL
and II We can make him comfortabl
here we want to-"
TO get on safer ground, Miss Mile
spoke of the flowers growing in
! window box.
Are you fond of 1owers?" inquil
ed Dora. I'VE all of us think tn
world of them. We had a beautifr
little flower garden while we wer
in Medford, and 1t is one of tn
things we miss greatly now. We can
any of us seem to get along withou
q something living and growing to loo
at, and that is why l try to alway
have a few blossoms"
Mamma, dear" said Margare
looking at the clock, who will com
| t, nd