The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-07-21
VISITS HIS
OLD HOME
Mysterious Stranger Visits
The City.
On HIS WAY TO FLORIDA
Walks Four Thousand Miles
To Home.
Without Letting Anyone Know His
Identity lie Departs From the
Scenes of His Boyhood Days For
the Last Time.

Monday just as the sun marked the
noon hour, a stranger, travelstained
and weary as the mysterious stranger
OF the fiction writer, knocked gently
at the door of the mouse occupied by
Frank Detwiler on South Prospect
street.
Pardon me, was his greetings and
something of the old school courtesy
was in his manner, but | was born
in this house just fifty-three years
ago and thoughts of the home of my
childhood mas called me from the
other side of the world to look once
more upon the old familiar scenes be-
fore they must pass from my vision
forever.
The unusual statement interested
The tenants of the house who immed-
lately sought TO know something of
the strangers history.
my name has died in the memory
OF all my boyhood companions, and
4 have no desire to renew It since
such renewal would serve only as n
mirror to reflect the flight of the
years. | came uranounced and will de-
part in the same way. Fortune has
favored me with considerable of this
worlds goods, ! have visited the ut
termost parts Of the earth, but alwajs
] have visioned the little home in
Ohio, the place of my birth. No land
was so fascinating. no people so
charming that this quiet noon did not
intrude itself in hearts desire and call
with q call not to be denied Recent.
IT, | have become affected with tube"-
tt'osis, and realizing the beginning of
tEe end ! suddenly decided to cast
everything dg.]- and hearken to the
call ! have trave'ed four thousan
miles for this moment, and / am am
ply repaid"
All efforts to learn the identity of
the stranger proved futile. This much
he volunteered, that he would walk
to the old Baker farm one mile south
OF the city where ne onced played
the games dear to the heart of BOYS
with the Baker boys who lived at
that place. From there he would
journey to Green Camp, from Green
Camp to Prospect, and from there to
Waldo all of these towns being rich
in memories. Later, in order to check
the ravages of the disease from which
lie is suffering he will walk to Florida.
The nan is a dreamer and a senti-
mentalist, slngularly free from the ma
terialism and matter or fact spirit of
the times. That he was moved al
most to the point of complete break
down by the "reminiscences of youth
was evident to the neighbors who
gathered to listen to his interesting
story
Il must be on my way" he said
at length with many hand shakings
Or home or my childhood, | shall
never see you again, never again
After all, fate Is exceedingly kind
she has allowed me the farewell for
which ! have yearned many weary
days and nights. l have stood by the
old we'll and drank of its sparkling
waters, more fragrant and refreshing
Favored as they are with memories,
than any nectar of the gods.
And with this the mysterious
stranger shouldered the little bundle
OF clothes neatly tied and swung on
the end OF a staff, placed the staff
over his STOPPING shoulder and with
out one backward glance, disappeared
down the open road