Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-08-09

ing week back in the old
home town he slapped himself on the
knee and exclaimed, by gosh, I'll do
it," 1t was forty years-forty years,
think of it!-since he had seen the
place of his birth, forty years of wan
dering like a lost sheep at first, and
then settling down on some gov
e'ment land" to raise real sheep and
acquire a modest fortune. He never
had lost his affection for the old town,
and he never had permitted himself to
get quite out of touch with it either,
for the County Times had come to him
week after week, Wherever he was, to
remind him of old places and old faces.
Guess I'll just go along with this
bunch myself" he said to the ranch
foreman; and five days later he was
on the train with his sheep. armed
with his shippers pass, and jolting
eastward. mo use spendin' lot o
money just for fool idea," he said.
When the last sheep had been deliv-
cred and the draft was in his pocket
for the last head, he climbed into a
day-coach, and in four hours was set
down at the old town. The place had
changed some, he had to admit. The
old depot was gone, and even the new
one that ne had read about was begin
ming to show signs of age. He missed
the mud, for a neat pavement of creo.
soted blocks had replaced it. The old
oil lamps were gone, and row of in
candescents shone in their place. Up
Main street, rounding curve, he
caught a glimpse of an orange-colored
interurban car. Yet, withal, Main street
still ran north and south as it always
did, across the tracks, and it was the
same old town, only in new clothes.
There seemed to be fewer idlers
around the depot. though the town had
grown; and not one of those who were
there seemed to know him. He walked
up to the new hotel, and felt just a
little lonesome when the hotel man, a
stranger, showed no excitement or
surprise when his signature was
scrawled across the page.
"Home-comer?'' asked the landlord,
acting IS though Hiram and not he
were the stranger.
"Yep-one O. the Wilkinses." an
swered Hiram.
Don't know as ever heard of
them"-and Hiram felt a bit lone
somer than ever.
But an old fellow with a badge ON,
and smile, followed by two younger
men similarly adorned, hoped from
their chairs in the lobby and came for
ward with outstretched hands.
eli Wilkins?" asked the old mar
with wide-open eyes and a look of de
light that did Hiram's heart good &c
see.
The guilty party" Hiram replied !;
and Judge Bennett, ~Red-head Ben.
nett" who swan from Maple Bend tc
Picnic Point, you remember, all but
took him in his arms.
/ by gosh, Red mean Judge
this was worth the whole darn trip
said Hiram. after they had visited.
Hi wilkins" did not mean much to
most of the young folks in the com
munity, but it meant lot to certain
persons who used to play shiny, and
likewise hockey. with MIN. So the
word spread around.
But one young person heard 1t with
interest and some amusement. Mary,
the wife Of the hardware dealer, went
right in to mother when she heard
about II.
who do you suppose is here for
Homecoming week." she asked with
teasing laugh.
How should know?''answered her
mother carelessly, yet with a shade OF
curiosity in her voice. 81
iii Wilkins, that poor father used
to Josh you about" pumped out Mary.
well, land sakes, what do you think
Of that!"