Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-04
A DREAMER OF DREAMS.

IA UuLkA NJ LII vi D1tGh&uos
James Bond had reached the mature age
Of 46 when the casual smile of a woman
changed the whole tenor Of his existence.
He met her in Westbourne Grove one au
tumn afternoon, and though she smiled no;
ut him, but at old crossing sweeper who
was thanking her with excessive volubility
for a sixpence, yet her beautiful face was so
charged with sweetness that there arose
within him a new sensation which he could
not define
Gan this believer he asked himself, gaz-
ing earnestly after the graceful figure dis
appearing around the corner. APshaw. it
is absurd don't even know her name.
@What is lover he proceeded "Unity-
the dovetailing of angles-the meeting Of
extremes; therefore dependent upon the
logical faculties which alone can classify,
separate and unite. Consequently, without
thorough knowledge, love is impossible
Yet her smile was sweet-yes, it certainly
was very sweet" At the thought Of that
exquisite vision the dull gray eyes bright
ened and the sailow, careworn face wore
peculiarly soft expression
Bond rented lodgings-dingy rooms,
Uttered with books and papers, from which
his landlady was forbidden 70 remove the
dust He was seldom there, however, for he
| lived in dreams, the construction Of which
occupied most of his tine to the exclusion
of more solid work A tall, gaunt, black
bearded man, with rounded shoulders he
went about like scarecrow, a most tempt
ing object for the small boys in the neigh
borhood to pelt with jokes and orange peel.
Walking homeward through back street
a nod
from a board school They were engaged
in tormenting cat held firmly by string
round its neck. At another time Bond
would have gone swiftly by, anxious only
to escape to peace and quietness, but now it
was different-why, be could not tell Some
causes are too subtle for analysis
my good children he said advancing
nervously, you shouldn't do that you
know"
They turned and faced him, dubious
| group ready to assail or fee, according as
he showed weakness or strength
why do you beat the unfortunate ami
MALI" he pursued
"Cos it's mine" replied the red-headed
young urchin who held the string
Highly illogical, my boy"
They opened their eyes and grinned at
one another After a pause the young
spokesman demanded: Il say, guv'nor,
whatll yer give for itl7
Ten shillings. See, here they are Il
that enough!'
Needless to say the bargain was struck on
the spot Bond paid the money, put the cat
under his arm, and walked of, followed by
yells of laughter. In his threadbare clothes
he certainly looked an ungainly figure at
any time, but the struggles of the sleek and
handsome tabby to free herself from his en-
brace made him a more than usually re-
markable object
Now, why did buy this creatureg7 he
asks himself. Was a hatred Of cruelty the
sole motive. No; each act is the resultant
Of two or more forces Though the com
parison may be carried too far, the cat nat
urally suggests woman; she is the old maids
companion; why not the old bachelors as
WELL am lonely. There we get to the
bottom Of the matter-selfshness under the
guise Of beneficence. Not quite the bottom,
however; why more lonely to-day than yes
terday? But stay; only fool searches for
first causes All, yes; her smile was very
sweet"
In accordance with this theory Bond at
tributed to Eulalie qualities the very op-
posite of his own, or rather, what he sup
posed to be his own. for he set a very hum
BILE value upon himself And SO he had
no difficulty in constructing his golden i'm
age, before which he, vile creature of
clay, meekly bowed his head and did obei-
sance.
He had already given a name to the fair
unknown, and that name was Eulalie-the
prettiest one he could think Of He depicted
her in her home, surrounded by smiling
faces-father, mother, sisters, brothers-all
uniting 10 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 he a link between them. 1t was
absurd, no doubt; he tried to struggle back
into a more rational mood-but all in vain;
he seemed to have drifted into another
sphere in which reason was unknown
Next morning Bond went cut into the
Grove again. He was out of sorts, he told
himself, and wanted a walk badly. And
yet he fingered among the shops, looked
absently into the windows, and with furtiye
anxiety at the passersby But of a sudden
be turned scarlet, for on the other side Of
the street was Eulalie-a queenly woman,
tall and stately, charmingly dressed, with
fringe OF dainty little brown curls on her
forehead, and a face like an angels People
turned to look at her as she went by; had
tney bowed down before her BOND would
scarcely nave ieit surprised She was at
tented ny couple OF handsome men-one
ueiereh'iai' tne otner more onserVaht OF tne
sights around. Her brothers, commented
bond' VINO mad squeezed himself INTO door
way, anu feeped umldiy at ner over the
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