The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-02
A POOR DREAMER.
His Idol, Woman Whose Smile
Was Very Sweet"

WOIuan cnangeO the WnOie TENOR Oh Ills
existence He met her in Westbourne
grove, one autumn afternoon, and
though she smiled not at him, but at an
old crossing sweeper who was thanking
her with excessive volubility for a six
pence, yet her beautiful face was SO
charged with sweetness that there arose
within him new sensation which he
could not define.
.'Can this be lovc?" he asked himself.
gazing earnestly after the graceful
figure disappearing around the corner.
..Pshaw! it is absurd. l don't even
know her name"
He continued his walk more slowly
toward Kensington gardens, where he
was accustomed to go for his daily con-
stitutional.
.sWhat is love?' he proceeded.
s'Unity-the dovetailing of angels-the
meeting of extremes: therefore depend
ent upon the logical faculties which
alone can classify. separate and unite.
Consequently, without thorough knowl-
edge, love is impossible. Yet her smile
was sweet-yes, it certainly was very
sweet" At the thought of that exquis-
lite vision the dull gray eyes frightened.
and the sallow, careworn face wore Il
peculiarly soft expression.
Bord rented lodgings-dingy rooms,
Uttered with books and papers, from
which his landlady was forbidden to re-
move the dust He was seldom there.
however, for he lived in dreams, the
construction of which occupied most of
his time, to the exclusion of more solid
work. Why should he work? He HIM
self did not see the need. for the pro-
ceeds of a Fellowship supplied him with
food and books. If his clothes were
shabby it was from want of thought,
rather than from want of means. A
tall, gaunt, black-bearded man. with
rounded shoulders, he went about like
a scarecrOw, most tempting object
for the small boys in the neighborhood
to pelt with jokes and orange peel.
Walking homeward through back
street he met number of them Just
turned loose from a Board School.
They were engaged in tormenting a cat
held firmly by string round its neck
At another time Bond would have gone
swiftly by. anxious only to escape to
peace and guietness, but now it was
different-why he could not tell. Some
causes are too subtle for ANALYSIS.
MY good children" he said, advanc-
ing nervously, '.you shouldn't do that,
YOU know"
They turned and faced him. du-
bious group ready to assail or flee,
according as he showed weakness or
strength.
..Why do you beat the unfortunate
animal?" he pursued.
Sos it's mine," replied the red
headed young urchin who held the
string.
Highly illogical, my boy"
..Findin's is keepin's S, you know, guv'-
nor. Master wollops me, so l wollops
my cat.
Human. no doubt, but not humane. :"
said Bond with a smile. '.Will YOU sell
it?"
They opened their eyes and grinned
ut one another. After a pause the
Young spokesman demanded: Il say,
guy nor, what'll We give?"
Ten shillings. See, here they are.
Is that enough?"
Needless to say the bargain was struck
on the spot. Bond paid the money.
put the cat under his arm and walked
off, followed by yells of laughter. In
his thread-barc clothes he certainly
looked an ungainly figure at any time.
but the struggles of the sleek and hand
some tabby to free herself from his en-
brace made him more than usually
remarkable object.
Now, why did buy this creature?"
he asks himself. ..Was a hatred of
cruelty the sole motive? No; each act
is the resultant of two or more forces.
Though the comparison may be carried
too far, the cat naturally suggests
woman; she is the Old maids COM
panion; why not the old bachelors as
we'll? am lonely. There We get to
the bottom of the Observation-Disclosures
under the guise of beneficence. Not
quite the bottom, however; why more
lonely to-day than yesterday? But
stay; only fool searches for first
causes. All, yes; her smile was very
sweet"
Though the weather was BY no means
cold he had a fire lighted in his sitting
room, in order that his new pet should
enjoy the cheerful blaze. Abundantly
provided with milk, the cat soon made
herself quite at home. Her master,
after silently contemplating her for a
few minutes, let his thoughts wander
away into the realms of fancy.
He had already given a name to the
Fair Unknown, and that name was
Eulalie- prettiest one he could think
of. He depicted her in her home, sur
rounded by smiling faces father,
mother. sisters, brothers-all uniting to
render homage to the beautiful Eulalie;
and then he saw her in another home
no less happy. himself her vis-a-vis and
sole admirer. Somehow or other the
cat purring on the hearth rug at his feet
seemed to be link between them. 1t
was absurd. no doubt; he tried to strug-
gle back into more rational mood
but all in vain; he seemed to have
drifted into another sphere in which
reason was unknown.
Next morning Bond went out into the
grove again. He was out of sorts, he
told himself, and wanted walk badly.
And get he fingered among the shops,
looked absently into the windows, and
Eith-furtive anxiety 1t the passers-by.