The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-02
A DREAMER.

would look. On the wall opposite in
black frame hung the picture of snow
storm from The illustrated London News
of half dozen years ago. By his bedside
stood the table, with tumbler OF water
and bowl of fresh fiowers-lilies Of the
valley. On another table by the window
burned dim light. Here were medicine
bottle, some few articles always found in
q sickroom, a couple Of books, more flow
ers and roll Of white linen
In low chair near the dim light q
woman sat He could soc only her head
and q narrow outline of her face. Her
head was thrown far back against the pink
cushion. Her hair looked brown, streaksd
with gold where the light touched 1t. Her
dress was black. He could see the corner
Of white apron and the curve Of white
COLLAR and soft white cuffs against small,
white hands
He wished he could see more Of her. He
was afraid to move lest she heard him.
Evidently she was young. That was good.
Was she also beautiful or even prettyP
Would she be soft and gentle aRd-patient
with him or hard and stern and matter
Of faota How peaceful II was in this little
room In the center of the great, silent hos
pitall Such peace he had never felt before
In his life, though he had often sought 1t.
No one could come and worry him here,
or stare at him, or ask him stupid ques-
tons. He did not care now whether he
grew better or worse so long as be could
lie In the silent room, with the picture Of
the snowstorm on the wall, and the lilies
1,,h L. 81 10 <hn kah h.
Aslesp in the chair, and everywhere the
calm and the peace. It was even better
than his room at home There his mother
or his father, his sisters and his brothers
would have continually come, and looked
at him, and asked him how he felt, and
why he was SO stupid, and why he was
different from other people.
Here none could worry him. He was
safe.
What time was itp Evening probably,
or perhaps night.
No light came through the blind and the
gray, drawn curtains He could hear no
sounds from the street, not even the dis
tant roar of traffic which never ceases.
Should he speak to the nurse and see
what she was likeP He very much wanted
her to be pretty. He still olung to the
stupid idea that II she were pretty she
would be kind-and forgiving. Did she
know all about him, all that other people
knew or thought they knew Would she
forgive himp But he did not need forgive
ness He had done nothing wrong. She
would only consider him like other men.
Well, that would be better than thinking
him $50 different from every body else" He
was quite tired of hearing he was differ
ent."
He turned on his side again to Sleep
The nurse heard him. She rose and
came to the bedside and bent over him.
"Are you comfortable Do you want
anything"
He opened his eyes gratefully. The voice
was low and deep and soothing. The
thought also came to him that 1t was a for.
giving voice.
"No, thank you, nurse. I am all right.
I was just thinking how-how quiet and
nice it was here. What time is itP Night
time sufelyf' - -
"It Is early morning, nearly 8 O'Clock.
You will hear the sparrows awake soon
and begin to chirp and chatter In the trees
beneath your window. Will you drink this
medicine nowf'' $780,
He smiled. Eyes, II you like. But the
knowledge has come to me that medicine
is no good. don't suppose shall live
long don't want to live have moth.
ing to live for. My ideals I have found
only ideals My dreams will come to moth
ing. only want to- seem to want to
make my peace, to come to an understand
ing with some one or something"
"Hushl You must not talk. There,
will make your pillow comfortable and
smooth your sheet.
~ must talk, nurse. will talk. Do
you know have been awake long time?
I have been lying looking at you. was
wondering II and hoping you were pretty.
/ am so glad you are. I used to think, /
believe still think, that beautiful women
have beautiful minds"
"Hushl You must not talk. You will
grow excited"
Nurse, you know l cannot live longp
Well, let me be hsppy"-he gave a sort of
sob laugh-''be happy for few minutes.
Let me talk just for once. I have been
silent all my life. have thought all my
life. l never found any one to talk to
except huDy, ana sne ran away with an
other man. That was because was poor.
Bring over your chair and sit beside me.
All, that is right. I am glad you are kind
and understand me. suppose you know
how first became i'll and my quarrel with
my relatiyes2 OF course 1t Is my own
fault. ought not to have been different
from my brothers. You. see, was bit Of
a dreamer. read too many books when
boy, and I preferred painting pictures to
studying law and writing stories to sit.
ting in a London Office. / dreamed good
deal and never went about town like my
brothers did. don't know why did not
My sisters noticed 1t. They were jolly
girls kind hearted, and that sort of thing.
But they didn't care for my taciturn, quiet
ways. If my brothers came home late from
a fellows rooms, they used to let them in
and help them to their rooms and say
nothing about 1t. They thought Ii rather
good sport and were annoyed with me be-
cause didn't ever stop out late or get
mixed up ina row or drink too much.
81 never found any one who took an IN
terest in things liked. Because wouldn't
go into the law or mediciae or banking l
WAS kicked out from home. Give me
something to drink, nurse This doesn't