New Ulm weekly review., 1886-03-17
A DREAMER OF DREAMS.
From the London Temple Bar.

a DREAMER UF DREAMS.
From the London Temple Bar.
James Bond had reached the ma
ture age Of 40, when the casual smile
OF a woman changed the whole tenor
of his existence. He met her in West
bourne Grove, one Autumn afternoon,
and, though she smiled not at him,
but at an old crossing sweeper who
was thanking her with excessive volu.
blllty for a sixpence, yet her beautiful
face was SO charged with sweetness
i that there arose within him a new
! sensation which he could not define.
t'Can this be lover" he asked himself
gazing earnestly after the graceful fig
ure disappearing around the corner.
"Pshaw! it is absurd. / don't even
know her name"
He continued his walk more slowly
iowa d Kensington Gardens where he
was accustomed to 60 for his daily
constitutional.
"What is love?" he proceeded.
3'Unity-the dovetailing ofangels-the
meeting ofextremes; therefore depend
ent upon the logical faculties which
alone can classify separate and unite
Consequentlywithou thorough knowl-
edge, love is impossible. Yet her smile
was sweet-yes, it certainly was very
sweet" At the thought OF that exqui-
site vision the dull gray eyes brighten
ed, and the salloW, careWorn face wore
\ q peculiarly soft expression.
Bond rented lodginggs-dingy rooms,
Uttered with books and papers, from
which his landlady was forbidden to
remove 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 himself did not see the
need, for the proceeds of a fellowship
supplied him with food and books. Ii
his clothes were shabby it was from
Eant of thought rather than from
want OF means. A tall, gaunt, black
bearded man, with rounded shoulders,
he went about like a ascarecrow, a most
tempting object for the small boys in
the neighborhood to pelt with jokes
and orange peel
Walking homeward through back
street he met q number of them just
turned loose from Board School,
They We're engaged in tormenting a
cat held firmly by a string around it's
neck. At another time Bond would
have gone swiftly by, anxious only to
escape to peace and quietness, but
now it was different-why, he could
not tell. Some causes are too subtle
.tfor analysis.
b. "My good children, "hesaid advanc-
ing nervously, "you shouldn't do that
you know"
They turned and faced him, a dubi-
'ous group, ready to assail or flee, &C
scordlng as he showed weakness or
lfstrength.
''Why do you beat the unfortunate
-aninal?" he pursued
q Coos it's mine," replied the red
headed young urchin who held the
,string.
I, Highly illogical, my boy.'
\ "Frndln,s is keepin's, you know,
:guv'nor. Master wollops me, so /
wollops my cat.
"Human, no doubt, but not hui
mane, said Bond with asmile "Will
you sell it?''
They opened their eyes and grinned
at one another. After pause the
4 young spokesman demanded: "Isay,
guv'nor, what'll yer give?'
s'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 laugh
ter. In his threadbare clothes he GER
tainly looked an ungainly figure at any
time, but the struggles of thesleek and
handsome tabby to free herself from
!. his embrace made him a more than
usually remarkable object.
ssNow, why did buy this creature?"
he asked 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 car
ried too far, the cat naturally suggests
woman; she is the old maids COM
panion; why not the old bachelors as
well? | am lonely. There we get to
{ the bottom Of the matter -selfshness
" pder the guise of benefcence. Not
le4uite the bottom, however; why more
lonely to-day than yesterday? But
stay; only a fool searches for first
causes. All, yes; her smile was very
sweet
Though the weather was by no means
cold he had fire lighted in his sitting
room, IN order that his new petshould
enjoy the cheerful blaze. Abundantly
provided with milk, the catsoon made
herself quite at home Her master,
after silently contemplating her for
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
Enlalie the prettiest one he could