The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-02-13
is right; I am glad you are kind and un- :

~SSs"e>AS ssAASA
my relatives, OF course, it is my own
fault; I ought not to have been different
to my brothers. You see, was a bit of
a dreamer; ! read too many books when
a boy, and preferred painting pictures
to studying law, and writing stories to
sitting in London Office. 1 dreamed. a
good deal, and never went about town
like my brothers did. don't know
why I did not. My, sisters noticed It.
They were jolly girls, kind-hearted,
and that sort of thing: but they didn't
care for my taeiturn, quiet ways. II
my brothers ca me home late from a
fellows rooms they used to let them
in and help them to their rooms and
say nothing about it,: They thought
it rather good sport, and were annoyed
with me because didn't ever stop out
late, or get mixed up in row, or drink
too much.
II never: found any one who took an
interest in things liked.t Because l
wouldn't go into the law or medicine or
banking, I was kicked out from home.
Give me something to drink: Nurse.
This doesn't tire you? I am, glad. l
wanted to tell some one why 1 failed,
and all that, before died. and you
seem-Well, thought I. could work and
live with my pen, and keep my dreams
and ideals to myself BY God, Nurse,
tried! tried hard. I had money at
first. Life seemed gay and jolly. But
kept, straight. That was, one: Of my
ideals, because I felt sorry sort .qf
felt all women were sacred, and unless
loved one-so kept straight. -
But London lodging :is*not inspir-
ing. I began to long for. my books
and flowers, and my comfortable room
began to long to see my brothers and
sisters faces. Il: asked if ! might come
home and work in my old rooms.f re-
ceived no answer. i got depressed, My
ideals got mixed. Nothing seemed real
except vice. -.--:
."One night got drunk with the
lights and the noise of London.i j ]
supped at a big:restaurant, principally
Or champagne. IT met her that night.
never cared for her. and I had cared
for others and passed them by !She
,loyedaonly gnldsand Jewels; she was a
lump of icrss,SHs1elf,s y froze my ideals
with that lunapss.of feel. ''''
60 :. -. S.<x .: ..
Il wandered about town, tired OF
everything. 1 was ILL, l. grew worse.
Then they found me and took me home.
How they worried me! How they piled
me with questions! How they stared
at me! Why was 1 so different from
others?'
Il, too, began to ask myself that
question. The first time slip, break
my neck; but my brothers make it their
business to slip-gracefu1ly and care
fully.
For a long time they kept me at
home, always worrying me, trying to
make me talk, trying to make me
sensible Then. at last made them
bring me here. And at last am hap
py. i. -; f'.i''
There! What have 1 been saying,
Nurse? You must not think too badly
Of me; at the worst, Lam only fool.
Hark! it is dawn. Do you hear the
sparrows ,chattering? It reminds me of
1.-THE country. l can see the faint light
stealing through the gray curtains, and
the wind is shaking the blind to- and
fro.
would you read to me, Nurse?
don't suppose you have 'Swinburne?
He used to be my favorite poet. 1t was
he who made me dream, I think. Nurse,
wonder why 1, have never been able
to talk is any woman, as am talk
ing to you?" >sya
Then he lay for some time silent, lis
tening to. the spurious and the wind
rustling the curtains together.
The, nurse had risen. She stood op-
posite the mirror and gazed at herself.
She loosened the hair on her forehead a
little, so that the wavy curls fell natu-
rally on either side. Then, she crossed
to the bed, and bathed his temples with
some slightly perfumed water, and gave
him a clean, cold pillow for his head,
and sat again by his side.
81, too, used to read Swinburne once
he turned surprised-"b that was
long ago, when used to dream.
Dreams are bad and foolish! We were
not meant TO dreamHinsthis world
Y '"No," he replied YEARLY, Il suppose
not: but dreams are, THE only beautiful
things Id this world. Do you remem-
Der sAh, God! All, God! that day should
be so soen?'S That is what feel now.
You won't leave. me, will you, Nurse?
Wait until it is quite day. l am afraid
INV mother might come to see me, and
I never feel comfortable when she is
near mel feel afraid-it is so stupid
"All right, I won't Leave YOU" She
took his hand inshers. She knew his
hours were few. &.~.5,
And she wondered why Cod had al.
ways let him meet the wrong women.
If she had met him before, perhaps
His thoughts were similar. Nurse.
I wish had met you before" t.. :
She hesitated a moment. $50 do ]"
She touched his forehead with her soft.
scented handkerchief.
"What do you mean?".s
"Perhaps we might have both been
happier"
"Then you are not happy? Poor lit
tie Nurse! His hands gripped hers
harder. "Nurse, I wonder-would you