The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-03-26

electric lines" he mused. "a few
years ago, who would have thought of
riding eighty miles across country on
a street carr"
Over the open prairie the car
dashed gaily on and entered a narrow
cut, 70 emerge in the heart of a for.
est where the snow, freshly fallen, lay
In crisp purity on tree and bush.
Here a spring gurgled out from the
side Of hill and broke through the
blanket of argent with its merry song
of babbling bliss.
The man sat dreaming, His
thoughts had Travelled far ahead of the
car to a tiny station where he would
secure a team and drive to the home
Of Grandma Lorimer.
Strange l hadn't thought of this
before" he chided. "She was so good
to me-and once she wrote to tell me
how proud she was of my success.
| know | answered that letter, but
oh, this is a hurried, rough-and.tum.
bic world, anyhow. l hope she will be
glad to see me. | wonder IL she will
be sitting in that old arm chair before
the great fireplace smoking her clay
pipe as was her custom when mother
let me go to visit her in the days
| agone?
And how she could make pumpkin
pie and custard and sponge cake-and,
hello, here's Arbor and the next is
Haileyville!"
The man got down his coat gath
cred his numerous parcels and was
ready to leave the car long before It
drew into the station. As he stepped
onto the platform, the smiling face of
the sun beamed down upon him, warm
and inviting.
I'll not ride out to Grandma Lori,
mers this day." he resolved; "TH
walk"
Acting upon the inspiration, he set
out along the road he knew so well.
How everything has changed" he
cried resentfully, Farmer Haley has
built new house and a great barr
| guess he must have prospered, and
well, | declare, If there isn't a new
bridge across Flood creek"
farmer rounded the corner ahead,
driving a spirited team.
Good day." challenged the stalwart
man.
The farmer looked at him curiously,
but did not forget to respond heart
lily, as is the rural custom.
"Ah, there's the Lorimer house!
Looks just as 1t always did, except
there's lean-to on the west!"
Buoyantly he walked up the front
path, knocked confidently at the door
and waited, He heard a step within
and out back dog barked.
"Tll bet that's Old Shep | used to
take hunting with me-" his heart said
as hand turned the door-knob.
The door swung back-and young
woman stood on the threshold.
"Er--I came to see Grandma Lori.
mer." stammered the stalwart one.
Wont you come in?" said the WON.
an. Il am sorry, though, to tell you
that the Lorimers do not live here
now. We bought the place year
ago"
"But-and where is Grandma Lori
mer?" eagerly. -
"She is dead, sir" said the woman,
softly, seeing the look of eagerness
in his face Won't you step in?"
The man stood still upon the stone
step. Finally he said:
mo, ! thank you, madam-thank
you very kindly"
WAS she a relative Of yours?"
mo, only a dear old friend--a dear
old friend who was good to me when
| was younger-and won't you take
these flowers, please? | think | will
go back now. Somehow would rath-
er remember the place with her sit
ting in there by the fireplace. Good
day"
What a strange mani" said the
woman as she watched him trudging
down the road the bueyancy of his
step less marked his head down as
though in grief