The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-04-01
a DREAMER OF DREAMS.

James Bond had reached the mature
age OF forty when the casual smile of
woman changed the whole tenor of his
| 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 sixpence.
| yet her beautiful face was so charged
with sweetness that there arose within
him new sensation which he could not
define
"Can this be love % he asked himself.
gazing earnestly after the graceful figure
disappearing around the corner. ssPshaw
1t Is absurd, l don't even know her
name."
lie continued his walk more slowly to-
ward henslngton Gardens, where he was
accustomed to go for his daily constitu-
| tional
8 What is love 2" he proceeded.
"Cnity-the dovetailing of angles-the
meeting of extremes; therefore dependent
upon the logical faculties which alone
can classify, separate and unite. Conse-
quently, without thorough knowledge
love is impossible Yet her smile was
sweet-yes, 1t certainly was very sweet"
At the thought of that exquisite vision
the dull gray eyes frightened, and the
sallow, careworn face wore a peculiarly
soft expression.
Bond 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 con-
struction 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 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 or,
ange peel.
Walking hOmeward through a back
street he met number of them iust
turned loose from a boarding 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 quletness, but now it was differ
ent-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, dubious
group, ready to assail or flee, according
as he showed weakness or strength.
Why do you beat the unfortunate
animal % he pursued.
Coos it's mine," replied the red dheaded
young urchin who held the string
Highly illogical, my boy"
"Findin's is keepin's, you know, guv'-
nor. Master wolops me, so wollops my
cat"
Human, no doubt, but not humane"
it 2"
They opened their eyes and grinned at
one another After pause the young
spokesman demanded Il say, guv'nor,
what'll yer gi1a?'
"Ten shillings. See, here they are.
Is that enough 20
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
threadbare clothes he certainly looked an
ungainly figure at any time, but the strug-
giles of the sleek and handsome tabby to
free herself from his embrace, made him
a more than usually remarkable object.
"Now why did buy this creature? 4"
he asks himself "Was hatred of cru
city 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 companion; why
not the old bachelors as well I am
lonely. There we get to the bottom of
the matter-selfshness under the guise of
benefcence. Not quite TO the bottom,
however; why more lonely to-day than
yesterday But stay only fool searches
for first causes. Ah, 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 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 min
utes, let his thoughts wander away into
the realms of fancy.
He had already given name to the
Fair Unknown, and that name was Eula-
lie-the prettiest one he could think Of
He depicted her in her home, surrounded
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, him
self her vis-a-vis aud sole sdmirer. Some
how or other the cat purring on the hearth
rug at his feet seemed to be q link
between them. It was absurd, no
doubt; he tried to struggle back into
more rational mood-but all in vain he
seemed to have drifted into another sphere,
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