Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-06-21

A Living
Memoir
LONG Parted Friends fortui- {.
tollsly Reunited
: a N1EN1ORIAsL DAY STORY
Dy Emma Archer Osbosne y,
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, l90l ,-,,.y..,

= Copyright by American Press Asso- :
II citation. lg1. .....,.,,r =
00o0o0O000ooooooeoo0Oo6oOo
''There's Just one thing more wish
to speak about" said Mrs. Walker, the
matron. addressing the board Of lady
managers Of the Old Peoples home 90
they prepared to leave the sti6 look
ing parlor which they were gracing By
their presence at the monthly meeting.
land that's Mt. Prentice"
"What's he been doing nowr' asked
Mrs. Banks. the president, In . voice
Implying that the person mentioned
sad been heard from before.
"Well." replied the matron, with an
aggrieved look and an injured air, mo
matter what do be persists in drtv-
ing nails into the woodwork and the
walls of bis room. and right after our
spring vanishing and papering too"
"Have you suggested to him that
that's rather destructive?" mildly ven
tured quiet little Mrs. Wing.
"Why-why." the matron hesitated.
"Have you said anything to himF'
also asked the president. III. e..
"Not exactly said anything" re,
piled the matron. but I've done
things. When he has been away Wis.
iting I've taken out the nails, left him
a lot Of moiding hooks-oh. well, you
see. he's the kind I can't exactly say
things to-"
II know: I know" nodded the presi'
dent. Hes a nice old man-just like
a sweet old lady or a dear innocent
child. A good deal over eighty. isn't
be, Mrs. WalkerT'
''Eighty-six." the matron replied.
''And you couldn't scold him any more
than you could scold 4 week old baby.
But his being sweet and all that
doesn't repair the woodwork and the
| walls" she added practically. "spme.
body ought to forbid his doing it.
some member Of the board. perhaps!'
what does he need 30 many naila
for?' asked Mrs. Wing evasively.
ITO hang his treasures on. - be
calls them. though they're nothing
more than 60 much trash a. far as ]
can see. He still has few old things
stored away In the attic Of his friends
house in Jersey. and whenever he goes
over there he Tugs back something to
! have with him in his room. He al
ready has gone away beyond the allot
ted number Of articles an inmate II
allowed. and when cleaning day comes
well. such time as we have with
his old rubbish. Lately. he has taker
to hanging things up. and that's why
he is driving so many nails"
Every one Of the ten women present
was gazing pensively down at thu
cherries green and oak ingram carpet
| "What manner Of rubbish has her
inquired Mrs. Banks softly.
I'm the first place" went on the mar
rator. there's the family portraits
pictures from ceiling to door. prett.
maryland can't begin to say how
many Of that son he lost In the war
As far as he knows all of his people
are dead. but he misses his son tn
most--has q sort of insane idea tina
he will come back some day. It affect,
his mind at times"
"Poor old soul!" breathed Mrs. Wing
who had buried boy Of her own ,
couple Of years before.
"How can he expect the son to re
turn IL he was killedT' some one in
; terjected.
"Well. he wasn't killed exactly: b
was taken prisoner and reported dead