The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-09-10


OF II. IL was a square, three-story
brick building, with some pretension
TO architectural grace. The entrance
way was broad and approached by a
wide fight of stone steps. The trim
mings were of stone and the bricks
were newly painted.
The man stared up at the building
and shook his head
Not bit like the old building"
he said with a regretful intonation.
He was a man nearing sixty, gray
haired and portly. His figure was
straight and his eyes keen. IL was
evident that he had cared well for
himself. and that his energy and yigor
were hut little impaired.
His gaze turned from the building
and wandered about the neighbor-
hood.
Everything is changed" he NUT
tered. There is nothing l recog-
nize."
He turned away slowly with lin
gering glance at the building.
"Those were good times" he NUT
tered. 1T was nearly fifty years ago,
and yet when | shut my eyes it seems
but yesterday. Memory plays us
queer tricks
He Quickened his pace as he turned
back TO the busy highway and when
he reached the corner he paused and
looked at his watch.
Five hours 10 kill" he said TO him
self. How shall it be sacrificed?
There are no old friends to meet.
Who would remember me?"
He looked up. A street car was
approaching. 1t bore the name of a
park. The man hesitated. Then he
ran forward and boarded 1t.
The ride was a pleasant one. A
cool breeze circulated through the
car, and when the downtown section
was passed the residences had an at
tractive look and there were pleasant
glimpses of the open country.
Then the ripping blue of the lake
came in sight and the man took off
hat and let the breeze stir his gray
hair.
When the park was reached he
alighted from the car and stared
about him. 1t was pretty place, the
soping paths descending to the lake
and pleasant groves crowning the
higher ground. There were neat
buildings scattered about one side
OF the enclosure, with a dancing pa
vilion and other features OF the con-
ventional summer resort; and at the
other side were the shady picnic
grounds.
There seemed to be n picnic there
at the time, lively party If the man
could Judge by the laughter that came
to him In little gusts.
And suddenly his memory reached
back to the school picnic at Elyria.
, and the one at Bedford. and the one
at Rocky River. He hadn't been TO
picnic since those old days. a queer
longing came to him.
He turned his steps toward the dis
tant merrymakers. A young girl was
approaching. a girl Of seventeen,
light-footed and bright-faced. She
was swinging a pail and the wind
blew her fair hair about her white
forehead.
The man stopped her.
as that a picnic yonder?" he
asked.
The girl looked at him wonder
ingly.
"Why, yes" she answered, that's
the picnic ground.
rIt ,,fr
uics," the man explained. Il haven't
picnicked for nearly fifty years. Is
a school plcnic?"
Its a sort of school picnic" the
girl replied. "It's the yearly outing
OF the Stonewall School Association. v
The man looked at the group be-
meath the trees with new interest.
That's strange" he said. II went
down to look at the old building to-
day, but they had covered It up"
Did you ever go to Stonewall?"
the girl asked.
yes" he answered. But I know
nothing OF any Stonewall Associa-
tion."
at is open TO everybody who ever
went TO Stonewall. ! graduated from
there four years ago"
The man put out his hand.
"The old greets the new, my dear, ="
he gently said. Let 1905 clasp hands
with 1865"
The girls bright eyes sparkled.
"How lucky 1t is that you are here,
sir" she cried. Il am sure you will
be the very oldest graduate present. ="
He drew back little.
but / am not invited"
"Oh, you don't need 20 be invited, 3"
cried the girl. Every graduate OF
old Stonewall is welcome. They will
ell be glad 10 greet you for old Stone
walls sake. You must come, you
must indeed"
He smiled at her eagerness.
Il have no share TO add TO the
feast" he said.
There is plenty" cried the girl.
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