The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-07-07
The Two Dawns.

"aa c'uipletely worn out, OVer-Wolk-
ed, the doctor said, and decided TO take
a much needed vacation. I glanced
around with dissatisfied air, at the ar
iicles of Yirtu had PRICED so highly,
many of which had cost me more than
aone meal, tbinking how stupid had been
wording and starving myself merely to
crafty an absurd fancy for rare bits OF
chiGa and musty CID books Every piece
OF wcrk I'began with so much euthusi-
asm had proved an utter failure. l
could conceive beautiful ideas, but had
never succ, eded in placing them Oh
canyass.
So far had eked out a miserable ex-
istence; dreaming vain dreams about my
'uncreated works; feeding my too vivid
Imagination and starving my corporeal
self until my miserable body was SO thin
that it could scarcely reflect n shadow.
| cursed fate after the orthodox fashion,
declaring would abandon my art give
up all foolish aspirations aud turn boot
black.
An hour later 1 was standing in the
Erie depot, without any definite idea as
to where Ishould go, when gentleman.
holding a little girl by tue hand, came
along and purchased tickets for station
about eighty miles distant. lam unable
t. say why concluded to go to the same
place, but SUPPOSE the "1estiny that
shapes our ends" sent me there.
took seat iu the car, and suon fell
into one of NY old reYeries, from which
did not awaken until reached my des-
tin"tion. Hastily picking up my traps,
Quite the Car, ana saw the gentleman
and child standing on the platform.
There was rot vehicle of any kind in
sight; nothing but long stretch of dus-
ty roads and perhaps half dozen farm
houses scattered widely apart. l ap.
preached the stranger to inquire if there
was hotel within walking distance, and
was Informed that the nearest place
who're could obtain Lodgings was about
ten miles away.
stated that my stopping at the sta.
ton Was due to an idiotic habit of mine
trusting to chance 1.-The habit has fire..
qnently led Inc into unpleasant predica.
ments, and this is only one more instance.
However, am glad to fad companion
Ia misery, l concluded, with IL lugubri
ouS smile.
Il expected some one to meet us, but
suppose they did not recsive my letter,
he observed, Il could easily walk to tn,
farm, but it is too far for the child, ant
do not like to leave her alone while
go in search of wagon"
"You can appoint me her guardian
PRO TEN, and perhaps your Jehu vii
drive me to the village"
He followed my suggestion, and a fey
m 'ments later was ploiding along tn
dusty road, while the child aud l wer
seated contentedly under tree lookin
at an illustrated pape- l had stuck il
my pocket.
l have kuock of making friends Wit
children and dogs, and in short tim
We were chatting rs familiarly as if "
~ero old acquaiutances. The littl
dhmsel informed me that her name wa
Ida AlIyne, and the gentleman was h,
papa. She had been at school in IL
city, ard was going to spend the sun
mer with grandma and Aunt Matti
She hadn't any mamma. at least paI
always said so when she asked about he
Perhaps she was dead, but she din
know, because they would never let b,
talk about her mamma.
Nearly two hours elapsed before NJ
Allyns came back in farm wagon; the
be explained that when be reached Il
farm be found his sister had gone to Il
village for the mail, and he was obligt
to await her return.
"Now. Mr.. Conway. since fate b
lhroSn us together, ard You have re
dered me a real service, l beg you VI
80 with US and spend the night at Il
mothers. Tomorrow will drive y,
10 the village"
The invitation was rendered wi
heu'y earuestness, and being both tir
aud hungry, l gladly Nvail'd myself
it. During the drive he told me that
was book keeper in large importil
house, where he had entered as ,rrai
boy some twenty years before. Aud
explained that l was an artist with mo
aspirations Than talent, living in sta
Of chronic diseoungement, aud dreami
dreams that would never become rea
ties
"Ihe life of an artist and one devot